The habit of some cats not sleeping at night is so intense that even their owners are surprised to think, “Do cats sleep at night at all? How to make a cat sleep instantly?” The answer is quite simple and straightforward. Yes, you guessed it right. It is totally up to you.
Most people who take cats as pets have to admit that they often have to stay up all night because of their extra active cats. Cats have been nocturnal animals since the beginning of their creation. Naturally, cats are more active at night than us, but they are not really nocturnal. Rather these are called crepuscular.
Crepuscular prefers to hunt in the morning and evening. Cats sometimes lose their normal rhythm due to being active during both time periods. The resemblance to rats and cats not sleeping at night came naturally. As, rats are their natural prey.
So, proper training is needed to put your cat to sleep instantly. You need to create a new routine for your cat so that you have time to play together during the day and feed him through regular time changes.
Why Don’t Cats Sleep At Night?
Cats are sometimes very active at night or very early in the morning. Usually, your cat’s natural instinct for hunting and traveling occurs during this time. However, cats may have other causes of excessive nocturnal behavior.
Leaving the cat alone at home can also be a reason for it not to sleep at night. This means that if you leave your cat alone at home during the day while at work or at school, your cat may spend most of the day sleeping or relaxing. As a result of taking all the rest during the day, they will not feel tired at night, so they will spend the night in an active state.
Boredom is also a big reason. If your cat is alone for most of the day, it may become bored and look for more interaction and attention. Cats are trying to be social animals: Your cat may have extra energy or wake you up to pay attention. It can also be a form of social play for your cat.
This also happens due to hunger. Cats often wake up at night to eat, which suits their natural instinct to hunt early in the morning. This can happen occasionally even if the feeding time changes.
You also need to keep in mind the issues of old age. Changes in the duration of their sleep are also common with changes in the age of cats. You may find that your cat is more active at night, which can usually be caused by health problems as part of aging processes.
Your cat’s sleep also depends on the state of health. This is because certain health conditions can also cause your cat to be hyperactive, uncomfortable, or voiceless and destitute at night. These health conditions may include pain, anxiety, hyperthyroidism and chronic illness.
It is normal for your cat to be active at night, but if it is very unusual for them not to sleep at night and it lasts for a very long time, it is best to take them to a vet.
Read our this article : Why do cats meow back at you?
How To change a cat’s Nightly activity
If you think that waking up and calming or feeding your cat will change your cat’s behavior, then this is completely your misconception. No matter how your cat behaves at night, it is best to ignore it as much as possible. Paying attention at night means indulging them in this behavior and they can understand it very easily. As a result, your pet cat may later learn to stay awake for food and attention.
If you feel tired or frustrated, remember that nightly activity is very normal for your cat. Avoid punishing your cat in any way for this normal behavior as it can create more pressure on your feline friend. If your cat doesn’t sleep at night, it’s best to change your schedule of daytime activities to practice and play with your cat more.
8 tricks you can use to make your cat sleep instantly
Getting your cat to sleep in just a few minutes can be a daunting task. Especially if you don’t have a routine set of your own. Most cats usually sleep for about 16 hours in the morning so they rarely need to sleep at night. This is more likely to make you exhausted as you spend your time focusing on them instead of your own rest.
Making sure your cat has a regular routine, 30 minutes of exercise during the day, and a few things that give you a place to relax in the evening will help your cat fall asleep very quickly.
Here are some more ways you can make it easier for your cat to sleep instantly,
- Play With Your Cat During The Day
A certain amount of time to play is important for cats of all ages, although we may think that the need for it decreases as they get older. The best way to ensure that your cat can fall asleep according to your schedule is to make sure it gets enough stimulation during the day.
If you can play with your cat for at least 30 minutes a day, that would be great for them. They will be satisfied if you play 15 minutes before you go to work in the morning and 15 minutes before you feed them in the evening.
Playing with your cat will not only free them from some of their excess energy but will also keep them calm. This is also important for their health. Cats that suffer from loneliness and are constantly neglected can develop a variety of behavioral problems and suffer from depression or anxiety.
- Keep Your Cat Busy When You’re Out
If you’re lucky enough to have multiple cats, they’re more likely to keep each other busy during the day when you’re at work. However, if you have only one cat, it can be difficult to get the cat tired while you are not there.
Switch your four-legged friend’s toys regularly but remember that interactive games and puzzles are best for them. Since they are able to keep your pet properly stimulated. Even if a cat perch is installed on a window and a bird feeder is installed outside, your cat may be busy with these when you are not at home, which is a positive step in your case.
All of these activities will make your cat feel more tired as the evening draws to a close, so persuading him to go to bed will not be too difficult for you now.
- Keep The Lights Dim
Cats can see in very low light, so they will probably be able to move effortlessly even if the lights are off. However, they may take some time before they get used to their new environment so it’s a good idea to keep the night light a little low to make things easier in the beginning. If you want your cat to fall asleep with you at about the same time, keep your bedroom dark and quiet.
- Keep Toys Near Your Cats
It is very rare for your cat to fall asleep with you and not wake up until you do. Cats are known to sleep in sessions that can last from a few minutes to a few hours, but they do not get about 8 hours of continuous sleep like humans.
A special playtime space should be created in a room other than your bedroom to keep your cat from getting bored and looking for recreational opportunities when he wakes up in the middle of the night. This will discourage your cat from waking you up.
- Create Hiding Places
As you may have noticed, cats often love to hide here and there. They feel safe when they are hiding somewhere, so make sure there are several hiding places in your home that are safe. This can be a great way to calm your friend before you go to bed.
Cats are known to love cardboard boxes but they also love tunnels, cat caves, and anything they can fit into. Most of these places will do their job for a limited time, but keep in mind that pets get annoyed at one point just like us, humans. So, it may be a good idea to switch hiding places every 2-1 weeks.
If your cat loves warm places, you may want to consider using a hot pad or a few plastic bottles filled with hot water around the cat’s bed. If you use a radiator, it will definitely make your bedroom warm and comfortable which will help a lot to keep your feline friend off to sleep through the night.
- Keep an eye on their health
Before you start changing your pet’s sleep schedule, you should be sure of their health. Geriatric cats can often suffer from underlying health problems whose symptoms you may fail to notice, especially if you spend more than 10 hours outdoors each day.
Cats can have a variety of physical ailments ranging from urinary tract infections to chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and even hormonal imbalances. All of this can put stress on their bodies and affect their sleep.
Elderly cats may find it more difficult to fall asleep for these reasons, and may even have sleep disturbances due to hearing loss. If your pet cat is over 8 years old, take it to the vet at least three times a year.
- Make The environment Friendly
A comfortable and reassuring environment also plays an important role in getting your cat or kitten to sleep instantly. If you own a new cat or you have adopted a kitten from a shelter or a place where it lived with its mother, brothers, and sisters, it is best to use its previous blanket from the shelter. Because they are familiar with this thing and will think it is comfortable.
A hostile environment makes it easier for cats to feel at home, safe and comfortable. More often than not, cats happily sink into their favorite blanket or bed and fall asleep instantly.
- Try Cat Calming Products
If nothing else works to calm your cat down, there are lots of pet products available today. But you may need to try a few to get a product that is able to keep your feline friend calm. Sprays and diffusers with pheromones can calm a restless cat and help it fall asleep faster, but supplements and drops can also do the same.
Should you sleep in the same bed with the cat
It is best to wait a few days before sharing your bed with the new kitten. Kittens take time to train in litter boxes so it is wise to invest in a separate bed for kittens if you want to keep your sheets clean. If they are really young, they may have problems getting out of your large bed. Also, your kittens are more comfortable there if they have their own place to play and move.
While many owners allow their cats to sleep in their beds, letting your kittens spend the night on their own is also important for their development.
Thank you so much for reading our article, comment to share with us all the experiences your cat and you have had without sleeping at night.