Nighttime active cats

Cats may be known as animals which spend a large part of their lives sleeping, but when they are awake, they can be very active. Cats are often most active during the night. The cat wants to play and eat then or just wants company. Especially young cats can cause so much sleeplessness that it drives their owners crazy.
The cat’s ancestor, the African wild cat, especially lives at night. The domestication of cats changed their activity pattern in a pattern in which he is much more active by day than his ancestors, but cats still are awake at least twice a night. The good news is that you can teach your cat to let you sleep quietly.

Important:
If you have a cat which usually leaves you alone at night, but suddenly starts wandering through the house restless and miaowing plaintively there might be a medical problem. If your cat suddenly starts eating more, he might be suffering from an overactive thyroid gland, a disorder which can be controlled well with medicines. In such a case you might better be on the safe side and take your cat to the veterinarian.

What can you do?
•  Plan some playing moments during the evening for you and your cat. Playing together works best, you can use toys which imitate the movements of mice and birds. Games with ping-pong balls, soft balls and fake mice are great for cats which love catching.
•  Try to play until your cat is tired.
•  Give your cat a main meal just before you go to sleep. Cats tend to go sleeping after a large meal. If your cat keeps waking up for food during the night, it might be a good idea to purchase a system with a timer so that your cat has fresh food during the night on beforehand specified times. Adjust the portions in this case so that your cat doesn’t get too thick.
•  Make sure you have a varied offer of games and activities to keep your cat busy during the day. Should your cat doesn’t go outside, for example because this is too dangerous, you might consider (if possible) a special outside run or a separation system around your garden so that your cat can play outside safely.
•  If your cat loves to play with other cats you might consider purchasing a second cat. If the cats like each other they will play with each other and might leave you alone at night. However, they might also decide to start playing together during the night.
•  If your cat tries to wake you in the middle of the night or tries to play with you, it might be necessary to banish the cat out of your bedroom. There are cases in which playful cats unintentionally wounded their owner at night. For example if the cat sees your eyes moving under your eye lids and hits your face in order to play. If your cat scratches your door at night while he miaows loudly, you might discourage him by placing something against the door which he hates, like a piece of vinyl carpet which you hang up upside down, foil or double-sided scotch tape. As alternative you can make a “booby trap” outside your door. For example by placing your blow-drier or vacuum cleaner at your door, which you connect to a switch on/off button which you place in your bedroom. On the moment that your cat awakes you, you can switch on the button. The cat will get so frightened that he probably will not dare to come close to your door again!

What you shouldn’t do:
•  Don’t get up to pay attention to the cat, unless you of course suspect that something is wrong.
If you get up and give your cat food, or if you only play with him for a little while or stroke him, you will encourage him to try to get attention much longer the next night. Even grumbling at your cat can work negatively because some cats still find negative attention better than no attention at all.