How to Stop Cats from Ruining Your Sleep

Does your pet cat let a mouse into the house at 3 am? Do they hurl at you? Or is your cat meowing to wake you up? Cats are calculated animals. Sometimes this makes you lose sleep. If this is the case, you can take steps to keep your pet under control.

Table of Contents

Change of circumstances

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/12/Keep-a-Cat-Happy-Step-1.jpg/v4-728px-Keep-a-Cat-Happy- Step-1.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/12/Keep-a-Cat-Happy-Step-1.jpg/v4-728px-Keep- a-Cat-Happy-Step-1.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Find out why cats bother you at night. Cats often wake up at night for some obvious underlying reason. Maybe they are bored, hungry, or need you to clear the litter box.

Cats often stay indoors all day when you are away and have little interaction. They sleep all day and can become bored at night because there is no one to play with. ^{[1] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/c9/Travel-Long-Distance-With-a-Cat-Step-7.jpg/v4-728px-Travel-Long- Distance-With-a-Cat-Step-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c9/Travel-Long-Distance-With-a-Cat- Step-7.jpg/v4-728px-Travel-Long-Distance-With-a-Cat-Step-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Do not feed the cat. One of the worst things you can do is immediately sit up and feed your pet when they squeal or jump on you. They will think this is an effective way to get food and will continue this behavior. Not giving in for a long time before surrendering is also not the way to go. This action may even encourage them rather than giving in in the first place. Cats will assume this is a game to see how long it takes you to wake up and feed them. Delaying rewards is like a cat’s instinctive chase. ^{[2] X Research Source} It’s best not to feed them.

READ More: How to Make Donuts

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/dd/Meditate-Deeply-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Meditate-Deeply-Step-1- Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/dd/Meditate-Deeply-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Meditate- Deeply-Step-1-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Eliminate temptation. Cats love to jump from above and grab things. While you are sleeping, you are the perfect target for your pet. Look around the room to see where cats often jump. Look for high shelves, headboards, or closets that they can jump on to reach you at night. If possible, remove the object from the room or move it somewhere else so that the cat can’t pounce on you. This will prevent your pet from jumping up and grabbing you. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/15/Care-for-Your-Cat-After-Neutering-or-Spaying-Step-5.jpg/v4-728px- Care-for-Your-Cat-After-Neutering-or-Spaying-Step-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/15/Care-for- Your-Cat-After-Neutering-or-Spaying-Step-5.jpg/v4-728px-Care-for-Your-Cat-After-Neutering-or-Spaying-Step-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Limit your cat’s exposure to pests. If your cat is ruining her sleep by bringing insects to her bed, you need to stop doing this. Keep cats indoors at night if they are domestic/feral. This will prevent your pet from bringing a captured animal to your bed in the middle of the night. If your cat uses a separate door to get out instead of a litter box, this may not be a good choice. In this case, you should keep the cat in a room with a separate door. This allows them to go outside but not approach your bedroom to put them in bed at night.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/c7/Introduce-Dogs-to-Cats-Step-2.jpg/v4-728px-Introduce-Dogs-to-Cats- Step-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c7/Introduce-Dogs-to-Cats-Step-2.jpg/v4-728px-Introduce- Dogs-to-Cats-Step-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Keep the cat out of the bedroom. You can keep your cat in another room at night. Prepare a mattress, food, water and a comfortable place to sleep. This keeps the cat from entering the bedroom in the middle of the night and lets you sleep peacefully. ^{[4] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

If you want to reward your cat for good behavior, you can make a compromise. Keep your cat away from the bedroom on weeknights, but allow them into the room during the weekends when you can get little sleep if woken at night.

Cat training

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/6b/Stop-a-Cat-from-Biting-and-Scratching-Step-7-Version-4.jpg/v4- 728px-Stop-a-Cat-from-Biting-and-Scratching-Step-7-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6b/ Stop-a-Cat-from-Biting-and-Scratching-Step-7-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Stop-a-Cat-from-Biting-and-Scratching-Step-7-Version-4. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Ignore the cry. When cats start meowing at night, you need to make sure they don’t have a problem. If your pet is not sick and has enough food and water, they may be trying to get attention. If the cat repeats this behavior every night, you need to ignore their meows. It may not be easy at first, but you will eventually get used to it. If you approach your cat every time it meows, you are reinforcing the pet’s bad behavior.

Do not punish or pay attention to the cat. Pets are looking for your attention, even if you’re punishing them.
If your cat won’t stop, you should hang the toy on the claw post at the end of the bed so they have something to play with instead of bothering you.
In case your cat still won’t stop bothering you, you can buy earplugs or headphones to block out the noise until they stop. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/2e/Care-for-Your-Cat-Step-11.jpg/v4-728px-Care-for-Your-Cat- Step-11.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2e/Care-for-Your-Cat-Step-11.jpg/v4-728px-Care- for-Your-Cat-Step-11.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser -output”></div>”}

Feed the cat before going to bed. You can feed them right before bed if your pet wakes you up for a midnight feed. You can feed your cat more when snacking. This action mimics the cat’s natural rhythm. They hunt, eat, groom, and then rest for energy for the next hunt. If you feed your cat before bed, they will feel full and want to go to sleep to store energy for the next hunt. This also trains the cat to recognize that a late dinner is a time to prepare for bed.

You can also buy timed feeders to feed your cat at night. Instead of waking you up, the cat will learn to find its own food bowl. ^{[6] X Research Sources}^{[7] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a9/Have-Fun-with-Your-Cat-Step-15-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Have- Fun-with-Your-Cat-Step-15-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a9/Have-Fun-with-Your- Cat-Step-15-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Have-Fun-with-Your-Cat-Step-15-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Play with them. One of the main reasons pets wake up in the middle of the night is because they feel bored. If cats are left alone all day, they will want to play and use energy while you are at home. Try to spend time playing with your cat every day. Drag the toys around the floor for them to chase. You can let the cat play with toys alone to distract. When cats use their stored energy during the day, they sleep well at night.

Buy toys that simulate the movement of animals such as birds or mice. Play a game of ping pong or a fake mouse. You can stuff cat grass into your pet’s toys so they can play on their own while you’re away.
Play with the cats until they are tired. This helps your pet get a good night’s sleep.
If cats like to socialize, you should let them play with your fellow humans. In addition, you can raise more cats to keep them active all day. ^{[8] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/d7/Stop-a-Cat-from-Clawing-Furniture-Step-5-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px- Stop-a-Cat-from-Clawing-Furniture-Step-5-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d7/Stop-a- Cat-from-Clawing-Furniture-Step-5-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Stop-a-Cat-from-Clawing-Furniture-Step-5-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Prevent cat biting behavior. If your pet likes to bite fingers or paws, you should prevent this from happening at night. Before going to bed, cover yourself with a blanket. You can also wear socks so your cat doesn’t think your toes are prey. You should give them something else to nibble on instead.

Give your cat toys that contain catnip, sedum balls, claws, or anything else they like to chew on.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/11/Discipline-Cats-Step-15.jpg/v4-728px-Discipline-Cats-Step-15.jpg”,” bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/11/Discipline-Cats-Step-15.jpg/v4-728px-Discipline-Cats-Step-15.jpg”,”smallWidth” :460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Stand up for. There should be no hesitation in making decisions for cats. If you decide to keep your pet out of your bedroom or other room in your home, you’ll need to follow this plan. When cats understand your actions, they will adapt to the new environment. If you give in, the cat will know that everything is returning to its original position according to their will.

Steps

Change of circumstances

Cat training

Related Posts