A beloved pet brings comfort, love, and purring. However, without proper training, an animal can become spoiled and do whatever it wants. For example, waking its owners early in the morning, jumping on them, and biting their feet. The pet doesn't let up until the owners wake up and pay attention. This article will explore the causes of this behavior and how to address them.
Tire your pet out before bed
Cats are nocturnal animals, so their main energy surge occurs at night, but their biological clock can be adjusted to suit you.
It's long been known that cats sleep 18 hours a day, but they spend the other six hours eating, grooming, defecating, and, of course, playing. Without this last "item" in their daily routine, a cat will sleep and replenish unspent energy at night. To avoid this, play with your cat a few hours before bedtime. This way, your cat will rest at the same time as you, and sleep for 8-9 hours.
Also, don't forget to give your pet attention during the day. Purchase scratching posts, toys, and other equipment from a pet store in advance so your cat can release energy during the day and evening.
Stress and apathy are the result of a lack of attention from the owner.
Another reason for a cat's nighttime wakefulness is stress due to a lack of attention from its owner. We recommend playing with your cat during the day and before bed to help it feel a tactile connection with its owner and prevent boredom and depression. Although there's no official term for "feline depression," animal psychologists say cats can succumb to apathy and negative emotions.
Never leave empty bowls overnight.
After active play, when you see that your pet is tired, be sure to feed him high-calorie food.
After eliminating all irritants and distractions, ensure your cat's needs are met at night: the litter box is clean and the food bowl is full. A cat's digestive system is designed to completely digest food within 6-8 hours, after which it needs to eat again. Count this time to avoid your cat waking you up early in the morning because of hunger.
Another option is to use an automatic food bowl that dispenses food at a set time. This way, the cat will know that the bowl will automatically deliver food early in the morning without waking its owners.
Make sure your cat is physically healthy. Consult a veterinarian. Your cat may be bothered by something and trying to tell you this.
Try a spray bottle
If all the above tips don't help, resort to extreme measures - spray the animal with a spray bottle.
After a few times of this “shower,” the cat will understand that it is doing the wrong thing and will break the bad habit of being an alarm clock.
Feeling safe is the main criterion for sound sleep.
For a cat, the home is divided into three zones: the "eating zone," the "protected area," and the "safe zone." The latter zone should be inaccessible to other animals and small children. The cat should feel completely protected in its sleeping area.
It's worth noting that from an early age, you should determine where your cat will sleep: with you or on a bed, for example. The point is that a cat will get used to one place and only feel comfortable there, and any change inevitably leads to stress and anxiety. If you find it unacceptable for your cat to sleep with you, then never, under any circumstances, bring your cat into your bed overnight.
Finally, it's worth emphasizing once again that it's best to train your pet from a young age so it knows the rules and is accustomed to its owners' daily routine. While it's possible to retrain an adult cat, it will be much more difficult. Take care of your animals, but don't forget about training them so you and your pet can live in harmony.
