How do you get your cat to sleep at night?

“Today, at 6 am, our cat Bella started her activity. We adopted her when she was 4 months old and she is currently 1 year and 8 months old. The problem we are facing is that she wakes up early in the morning sometimes even at 4 am, starts meowing and scratching at the door and seems to want the whole family to wake up and get ready to play.

We tried different strategies, like locking her in another room or even ignoring her, but they didn’t work. It seems that the possibility of closing him in another room deeply displeases the cat and manifests himself as such by meowing for a long time and scratching the door. Once awake, he simply walks around the house meowing, waiting for someone to be available to pay attention to him. How could I handle the situation so that my family and I can rest properly?”

Before making any recommendations, it should be borne in mind that the cat is very similar to humans: it has certain development cycles and natural phases in its biorhythm. In addition to this information, the cat displays certain behaviors depending on its age and its placement within the family.

Up to 1 year, even 2 years, the cat can be considered adolescent age, the beginning of maturity. Not all cats develop at the same rate: some mature early while others mature later. This is why it is important to recognize and successfully manage “adolescent behaviors”. A cat of about 1 year has attitudes similar to those of a 14-15 year old teenager. The energy level increases, the hormonal system becomes active, so all this affects his behavior. Additionally, the cat will want to test the limits of family members. The good news is that these manifestations will decrease as it grows.

Below are some tips and tricks that can help you train your cat so that he can enjoy longer sleep and more peace in the house at night:

1. Ignore 100% of manifestations

Pet trainers recommend treating some manifestations of the cat seriously. For example, if she wakes up at night, the first impulse is to talk to her, play with her or offer her something to eat. Even if we feel like we’re ignoring it, our actions send other messages to the cat. Feeding, playing or any vocal message provides stimuli to the cat and he interprets them as rewards because he knows that if he behaves in a certain way he will receive the desired response.

Therefore, the best course of action is to ignore it completely: even if you know that it is active, it is necessary not to pay attention to it, no matter in what form. If you find it difficult to tolerate his meowing, you must at least be patient until he stops: this will teach him that he will receive a reward (play, food, attention) after the moment of silence.

2. The importance of a schedule and routine

Any activity we do every day becomes routine over time. Naturally, the cat has two moments of maximum activity: at dawn and at dusk. In these moments, all of nature is reconfigured, rhythms alternate and play (mice, birds) begins to make its presence in the environment. How can we mark certain important moments so that the cat interprets them as we want?

• A regular meal plan – it is recommended to offer the cat 2 main meals a day, in the morning and in the evening, the latter should be carried out approximately 1.5 hours before going to sleep.
• Involvement of other family members in the pet’s education – If you want a change in your cat’s behavior, it is important that the whole family follows the same rules towards the animal. It is necessary to remember that cats and humans do not have the same biorhythm, but with a little effort on our part we can achieve harmonization.

3. Don’t isolate the cat in one room

One of the most unpleasant and traumatic situations for a cat is that of being separated from its socialization space and its family. The cat is a territorial animal and likes to be in control, which is why the bed and the sofa are its points of reference as it retains the olfactory imprints of its owners.. Think about what would happen if the cat was isolated and the family members retreated into the rooms and closed the door: this would accumulate a surplus of energy that will inevitably have to be consumed.
Therefore give the cat access to the space in which he feels comfortable even during the night. When the cat has an open space and the opportunity to smell its owners’ scent, it will be calmer and more relaxed for a longer period of time. This will contribute to a more peaceful sleep at night. The belief that you are close to him gives him security.

The cat is an independent and very affectionate animal. We can always identify or build a middle ground to enjoy the presence of the other. Although animals and humans do not have the same biological rhythms, we can educate ourselves in such a way as to harmonize in a pleasant way with the animal next to us. This process should take place in a relaxed manner, without pressure and trauma for the cat.