Why doesn’t my cat sleep at night?.In this article from Animal Expert we will answer the question why your cat does not sleep at night .We will explain the most common causes and help you to solve the problem with our tips.
You may also be interested: What to do if my puppy cries at night?
Index
- The cat, a nocturnal animal
- The importance of a proper bed
- Doesn’t like sleeping on the floor
- Lack of activity and exercise
- Do you spend many hours alone during the day?
- He is hungry?
- Is in heat
- You are sick or sore
- How to make your cat sleep at night?
Why doesn’t my cat sleep at night?
The cat, a nocturnal animal
By nature, the cat is a nocturnal animal that prefers the dark night to hunt, feed and carry out its daily activity. Due to the evolution of the species to survive in the wild, it enjoys excellent night vision , which allows it to see much better in a dimly lit environment than in a fully lit or daylight environment. This is so thanks to the anatomy of the eye, adapted for hunting at night, made up of an eye tissue called tapetum lucidum that has the ability to absorb light before reaching the retina. Once absorbed, this tissue reflects it and provides the animal with a much more developed vision in the dark. For more information, you can consult our article on ” How do cats see?”
Although some domestic cats have managed to adapt their sleeping hours a little to those of their human companions, many others still retain their natural behavior and are more active at night. This, added to a series of factors that we will detail below, can make your cat not sleep at night and does during the day.
The importance of a proper bed
It is no secret to anyone that cats are much more exquisite animals than dogs, and not having a comfortable and safe bed may be the reason why your cat does not sleep at night. However, choosing the ideal cat bed may not be so easy, since we must first meet our furry companion and discover his tastes in terms of shape, size and structure.
Nowadays we have an endless number of beds and mattresses for pets , and to select the perfect product it is essential to observe the animal and pay attention to its preferences. In general, cats prefer beds that provide warmth and safety , just the right size to turn around in, since larger ones are not as cozy for them. So, if you notice that your feline has a certain predilection for your bed or sofa, and never lies in his, it is probably because he does not like it and you should change it.
Doesn’t like sleeping on the floor
Many cats prefer heights to sleep , and if at night you prohibit access to the highest places in the home, the animal will choose to rest in your absence. So, if you suspect that this may be a reason that explains why your cat does not sleep at night, place shelves large enough to place his bed on one of them, or get a multi-level structure for cats and observe their behavior.
Lack of activity and exercise
Cats that don’t usually do any type of exercise are more likely to be active at night due to energy buildup . Despite being famous for being quiet and sedentary, cats are also animals that need to exercise and stay physically and mentally stimulated through play. Unfortunately, the myths that have arisen about the species have led many cat handlers to believe that they do not need to receive as much attention from them, and nothing could be further from reality. These animals also need to spend hours with their human companions, play and exercise, as well as receive love and feel properly cared for.
The lack of play , in addition, produces in cats a high state of boredom, which can even lead these animals to become destructive with furniture, household objects, etc. Therefore, it is also possible that the cat does not sleep at night and meows to catch your attention. Discover how to play with your cat and start having fun with it.
Do you spend many hours alone during the day?
In relation to the previous point, cats that spend many hours alone during the day and do not have the correct environmental enrichment take advantage of it to sleep . In this way, when the night comes they are fully rested and ready to enjoy your company, trying to play with you or, if they do not succeed, running around the house, jumping, meowing …
On the other hand, as we said, the lack of mental stimulation can also develop boredom in cats, in addition to stress and frustration. All this translates not only in that the cat does not sleep at night, but also in a series of symptoms such as the mentioned destruction of the furniture, not using the litter box and even showing some aggressiveness.
He is hungry?
If your cat does not sleep at night and also goes to your bedroom to meow next to you and attract your attention, it is possible that he is asking you for food. And if when he does you get up to provide him with what he wants, the animal understands that in this way he gets what he wants. He does not do it to disturb your sleep hours, he just does not know that it is something negative for you and yes of something positive for him. Without realizing it, you reinforce his behavior instead of guiding him to what is best for both of you.
This is possibly the easiest cause to check and combat, since it is as simple as modifying the cat’s feeding schedule. So, before going to bed, make sure you feed the animal correctly and see if it comes to you or not once asleep. Another option for cats that tend to ask for food in the wee hours of the morning can be the use of an automatic food dispenser, since it is also not recommended to let the animal go hungry so as not to disturb our sleep. In this sense, we recommend you consult the article on ” Amount of daily food for cats “.
Is in heat
The heat in cats is much more intense than in dogs, leading them to despair if they fail to mate. During this period, both females and males are most active at night, producing loud moans and meows that disturb the sleep of their guardians. Their suffering is such that their instincts can lead them to try to run away from home to find a partner. Thus, if your cat does not stop meowing at night, does not let you sleep, is restless and is more than 6 months old, it is likely to be in heat. Therefore, and to avoid unwanted pregnant women, sterilizing the animal on time is the most recommended solution.
You are sick or sore
If you have already ruled out the previous causes and you still wonder why your cat does not sleep at night and meows constantly , do not hesitate to go to the vet to check if it is a health problem. Although excessive meows are usually used to be related to emotional pain, they can also emit them to let us know that they feel physical pain or something in their body is not going well. Therefore, we recommend you review the 10 most common signs of pain in cats and visit the specialist to submit the animal to the relevant tests.
How to make your cat sleep at night?
As you have been able to verify, there are several causes that explain why your cat does not let you sleep at night, and it is even possible that the answer is found in more than one. Thus, it may happen that your feline prefers to sleep during the day for several of the reasons mentioned, and not for a single reason. Therefore, the first recommendation is to find the cause or causes to combat them and help your furry partner to have a better quality of life. With that said, check out the following tips:
- Play with your cat and make him exercise. As we have said, being physically active is very important to keep you stimulated and to tire you out so that when night falls, you drop. For this, it is best to play at different times of the day. And if it is not possible, carry out the activities during the afternoon.
- Offer him a good bed. A comfortable, warm and safe place to sleep is key, so don’t skimp on it and find the most suitable mattress.
- Prepare a correct environmental enrichment. Especially if you spend many hours alone during the day, it is essential that you have toys and objects that keep you stimulated and entertained. You can choose scrapers with different levels, food dispensing toys, intelligence games and even olfactory stimuli such as placing catnip in different parts of the home.
- Adapt your meal times. As we’ve indicated, feed him before bed to ensure he doesn’t go hungry at night and can sleep.
- Consider adopting another cat. If the cause is lack of activity and you cannot provide them with the hours of play they need, perhaps the most appropriate thing would be to add a new member to the family. Of course, this must be a thoughtful decision, analyzing the character of the cat, choosing the new tenant thinking precisely of him and carrying out a correct presentation between them .
- Be aware of sterilization. You have already seen that heat is one of the most common causes, so choosing to sterilize the animal may be the best solution. In addition to getting both of you to sleep at night, especially the cats suffer during this process for not being able to do what their instincts dictate. On the other hand, sterilization has multiple advantages, such as reducing the chances of suffering breast cancer, uterine infection or avoiding marking within the home.
