Excessive nocturnal vocalization
Even with your head buried under the pillows, your furry friend's meows are as loud as a plane taking off. In fact, your cat will tend to think he's a rooster until you wake up and pay attention to him or feed him. Why? Maybe because his internal clock has been programmed to wake up at dawn...
It is not uncommon for cat owners to have been unable to get a good night's sleep for years. Their cats routinely wake them up throughout the night, especially between 3 and 5 a.m. This feline behavior can be caused by their natural instincts, or by other factors, or both. A good night's sleep is becoming a thing of the past for many cat owners, and they can count themselves lucky if they manage to get about four hours of sleep each night. However, this can be very dangerous in the short and long term because, let's face it, if you don't get enough sleep, whether you're driving or at the office, you're going to fall asleep at some point.
Common Reasons for Your Cat Vocalizing at Night
- Your cat's internal "hunting" clock is set for the morning (between 3 and 5 a.m. to be exact) instead of being set for the evening.
- Your cat is not active enough during the day and therefore, he is more awake at night. Your cat's last meal was much earlier the previous morning and therefore, the hunger he feels wakes him up in the middle of the night.
- A change of environment (e.g. you moved and in this new house there is more light coming through the windows, which wakes your cat up earlier).
- A change of schedule (yours or his).
- You have reinforced your cat's behavior by giving him more attention every time he meows.
- Health issues may be a concern, especially if the behavior has appeared suddenly, without any change in the cat's environment.
What can you do to get your cat to sleep through the night without waking you up?
Feed later in the evening. If you only feed your cat during the day, it might be a good idea to consider giving your cat one last meal before you go to bed. Feeding your cat late in the evening will ensure that your cat feels full for several hours, helping to ensure that he or she has a better night's sleep, and so will you.
Keep your cat awake longer during the day. If you can, try to keep your cat occupied by playing with him a few times during the day. This will keep him awake longer and may help you get a few extra hours of sleep. You can also provide him with toys that contain food. By reaching for the food, your cat will play, expend energy, and stay awake. This will automatically help him sleep more at night.
Reset your cat's internal "hunting" clock. One of the important strategies to reset your cat's "hunting" clock would be to get him to play more, to hunt more. To reset his clock for nighttime instead of daytime, use a wand toy and play with him during the evening, before bedtime. It may take a few days before you start to feel the effects, but it is a very effective strategy that will give you the chance to catch up on the hours of sleep you missed.
Ignore the behavior. As soon as your cat meows, it is important not to reinforce the behavior by giving him attention. If you do, you may end up “training” him to meow more and creating a real problem. If your little feline is used to getting a response from you when he meows, as soon as you stop giving him attention, he will redouble his efforts to get it. This is called behavior reversal, or, if you prefer, “making things worse before they get better.” So be very patient! It may take a few weeks, but if you continue to ignore the behavior, things will improve on their own.
In short, cats are a bit like children! They need to be kept busy and move around as much as possible so that they can then get a good night's sleep. Feed them at more regular times, making sure to give them a little snack before bed, give them enough play during the day, don't cater to their every whim, and you should be able to enjoy a good night's sleep in no time, and so will they!
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