The next time your cat is active at night, think of the bobcat, lynx and puma. They’re wild cousins to your domestic cat and they follow instincts your cat would have out in the wild. Although she’s indoors, your cat has natural senses and instincts that come alive at night. Unfortunately, they might inspire behavior that’ll keep you up past your bedtime.
How the night comes alive for your cat:
- Prime hunting time for wild cats is late at night and early in the morning. For your house cat, this is prime time to pounce after anything that moves or makes a sound, including other pets, insects and even you!
- Vocalizing or meowing at night is her way of “speaking” to neighborhood cats, attracting other cats, expressing her insecurity or getting attention.
- Darkness isn’t much of an obstacle to your cat with her keen eyesight. Her eyes are especially sensitive to side-to-side movements, which lets her spot anything moving across the ground from far distances.
- Cats have acute hearing as well and can hear high-pitched sounds. The sounds of outdoor cats, small animals, outside noises and even indoor insects may pique her curiosity.
- Your cat’s whiskers not only help guide her, they also help her hunt and smell by directing air currents to her nose and mouth.
Tips to get some sleep
- Try to spend time with your cat before and after work, and any time you can during the day. Also set aside a little playtime before bed to wear her out with interactive toys.
- Try to change her body clock to make her “hunt, eat, sleep” cycle work for you. Read tips on our blog.
