Dealing with Nighttime Troublemaker Cats
Jacque Lynn Schultz, C.P.D.T., Companion Animal Programs Adviser. National Outreach
Certain cats believe that nighttime is the right time for making merry. Whether it's a rousing game of Hop on Pop or the feline equivalent of the Hallelujah Chorus, nighttime escapades can turn a cat keeper's sunny disposition cloudy within a few sleep-deprived nights.
In the wild, cats are most active at dawn and dusk -- the most opportune times for hunting birds and rodents, respectively. To maintain the energy needed to successfully stalk and pounce, the average cat sleeps approximately eighteen hours a day by taking multiple catnaps. With their cats' inherent need for so much sleep, why do so many humans find themselves an unwilling audience to feline nocturnes?
Youthful Energy
When it comes to excessive nocturnal activity, single kittens and
feline adolescents are the worst offenders. The youngsters are
bursting with energy and an abundant desire to engage in play.
They are easily set in motion -- and predatory play -- by the
smallest twitch, such as a toe wiggling under a light blanket.
Some sleepers have even been awakened by a kitten batting at
their eyelids during the rapid eye movement stage of sleep!
If this is you, don't despair. Engaging young felines in interactive play an hour or so before bedtime can tire them out. What cat can pass up swatting and leaping at a feather wand or fishing pole toy? Providing a late snack can also buy you some peace, as can making the bedroom as dark as possible, since cats cannot see in total darkness. They are quite adept at getting around in low light, however.
The extremely playful cat may need to retire to her own playroom at the other end of the home. Here, she can expend her energies knocking around ping-pong balls or dangling toys to her heart's content without disturbing her human companion. This nighttime isolation is usually only necessary until the cat matures. For working households, the addition of a second young cat with a similar activity level can be a godsend. The two felines will become fast friends while stalking and pouncing on each other as the humans go about their business.
Who's in Charge Here?
At quarter to five, you feel a light tap on your cheek; at ten to
five, a more insistent tap. By 5 a.m., the tap is replaced by a
head bump, a furry body wipe to the face and an impatient screech
near your ear. At this juncture, how many cat caretakers have
bartered for an extra hour or two of sleep by getting up and
filling the food bowl? Unfortunately, the cat has now been richly
rewarded for the behavior, and rewarded behaviors become fixed
behaviors. Grisabella has trained you to do her bidding. But you
can change these behaviors with time and patience. Assuming you
feed your cat the appropriate amount of food to fulfill her daily
nutritional requirements, when the cat comes tapping, turn over
and ignore her. When she ups the ante, pull the covers over your
head or play 'possum. No matter how insistent she becomes, do not
get up and feed her or you will be putty in her paws. Unrewarded
behaviors will eventually disappear.
Moonlight Serenade
Nocturnal arias come from two quarters – estrous females
and geriatric felines. The case of the hormonally charged female
vocalizing for suitors is simple to solve: spay her! The
geriatric cat presents more of a challenge. If your senior feline
begins to keep you up nights, a trip to the veterinarian is in
order. Elderly cats may appear more restless at night for many
reasons. As mammals age, their sleep-wake cycles change. As some
senses dim, others become hypersensitive. Their ability to handle
environmental changes lessen, and they become more easily
stressed. Illnesses, such as hyperthyroidism, can also be
responsible for excessive vocalizations. In most cases, the
specific reason for vocalizations in your cat can be determined
through careful history taking and medical testing. By making a
few changes, you will soon find yourself nodding off to the
throaty purr of a contented cat.
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