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It can be so frustrating when your cat keeps waking you up early in the morning! Whether it’s incessant meowing or relentless scratching, an early alarm call from your feline friend is the last thing you want. So, if you’re looking for how to stop your cat from waking you up at night or in the morning, here are 20 tips that will help.
The 20 Ways to Stop Your Cat From Waking You Up
1. Train Your Cat
Work with your cat on commands like “quiet” and “stay” to teach them that meowing and scratching aren’t acceptable behaviors around sleeping humans. Note that this may not work with all cats, as cats aren’t as easily trained as dogs. But with patience, you may have success.
2. Make Sure They’re Getting Enough Attention
Ensure they have plenty of attention before bed so they don’t feel lonely or neglected. Giving them attention can also help your cat to feel more relaxed and less stressed, so they won’t be begging for your attention as often.
3. Stick to a Sleep Schedule
If your cat is waking you up earlier than you’d like, try going to bed at the same time every night so that their wake-up call doesn’t feel as disruptive. Sticking to a schedule helps your cat to develop a routine, and if you sleep and wake up at the same time every day, your cat knows what to expect and won’t wake you prematurely.
4. Create an Environment That Encourages Rest
Provide them with comfortable places to sleep where they feel safe and cozy. This way, they will be encouraged to rest as well instead of keeping you awake.
5. Feed Them Before Bed
Feeding your cat before bedtime can help relax them, just like humans get sleepy when they get a full belly. Or provide your cat with a chew toy or puzzle feeder to occupy their time while you sleep.
6. Give Them Plenty of Exercise During the Day
Ensure your cat has plenty of physical and mental stimulation during the day. This can help tire them out and make it easier for them to stay asleep at night. Cat trees and cat playgrounds are a great way to provide exercise for your kitty. But you can also use interactive toys, wands, and laser pointers.
Looking for toys that will cater to the many needs of your cat? The Hepper Hi-lo Cat Scratcher is one of our favorite cat products, and it will encourage your cat to get active. Its clever three-angle design offers multiple ways for your cat to climb, stretch, and exercise. Made of a sturdy plywood base and a replacement cardboard insert, this scratcher is an option that cats can enjoy for years to come. If your cat requires a little encouragement for self-play, the Hepper Catnip Mice Toy Set is a fantastic choice for their instinctual needs. Made with natural, bite-resistant hessian fabric and filled with organic catnip. Cats can satisfy their natural prey instincts while getting the physical activity they need to thrive. At Catster, we've admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
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7. Close Your Door
If you have a door that can be closed, shut it before bed so that your cat can’t come in and bother you while you sleep. Your cat may try to scratch to get in the first few nights, but don’t open the door. Eventually, your cat will learn not to bother you while you sleep.
8. Don’t Let Them Sleep With You
Some cats like to cuddle up with their humans, but it encourages waking up if they’re too close. To avoid this, keep them off the bed entirely or provide them with an alternative sleeping space if they must sleep near you.
9. Establish a Routine
Create a consistent nighttime routine with your cat so they understand when it’s time for bed and can settle down without disturbing you. A routine is different from a schedule, but the two go hand in hand. It’s important for your cat to know what to expect at the same time every night.
10. Use a Nightlight
Although cats have excellent night vision, some cats may not like being left alone in the dark. If your cat is meowing or scratching because they’re unhappy in the dark, try using a nightlight to create a calming atmosphere in their sleeping area.
11. Make Sure They Have Access to Water
Cats often wake up if they get thirsty during the night, so make sure there’s always fresh water available for them to drink at any time of day and night. This goes along with creating a routine. Make sure their water bowl is filled at bedtime, or even better, get them a water fountain!
12. Move Your Cat’s Sleeping Area
Try moving their bed or mat away from where you sleep so that they don’t feel tempted to jump on top of you while you snooze. Giving them their own space to sleep away from yours can encourage them to rest. But at the very least, they won’t be bothering you as much if they do decide to stay awake.
13. Provide a Scratching Post
If your cat’s scratching on things in your room and that wakes you up, provide them with a designated scratching post that’s not close to where you sleep. They can scratch away without disrupting your rest.
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If you are looking to improve your cat's health and increase their energy, check out the Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher. At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
14. Play Music or Nature Sounds
Playing calming music or nature sounds in their sleeping area can help keep them relaxed and quiet at night. If too many outside noises are happening in your cat’s sleeping area, it can keep them awake.
15. Try Feliway Diffusers
Feliway diffusers are designed to mimic natural feline pheromones and can help relax cats, making them less likely to meow or scratch to wake you up.
16. Cover Their Bed
Put a small blanket over their bed or mat to make them feel more secure while they’re sleeping and less likely to disturb you when they wake up in the morning. This can give them a space in which they can feel more secure knowing that they can sleep safely.
17. Spritz Water
If your cat is awake and being disruptive, try gently spraying them with water from a spray bottle to redirect their attention away from waking you up. Your cat will learn to associate this action with them waking you up, and hopefully, they will stop. However, we don’t really recommend this one if you can help it, as doing this could have long-term negative effects on your relationship with your cat.
18. Invest in Toys That Activate Automatically
Provide your cat with toys that activate automatically at night so they don’t get bored and start bothering you while you sleep. Just make sure the toys don’t make too much noise, as that can be just as disruptive to your sleep as your cat waking you up.
19. Give Them Somewhere High Up to Sleep
Cats like to feel safe and secure when they sleep, so provide them with plenty of elevated surfaces where they can snuggle up without disturbing you. Cat trees with condos are a great way to provide this.
20. Play With Your Cat Before Bed
Taking time to play and interact with your cat before bed can help tire them out. Whether you’re playing with wand toys, interactive toys, or something else, getting them worn out can help them sleep longer during the night without waking you up.
FAQ
How Can I Make My Cat More Comfortable at Night?
To make your cat more comfortable at night, try providing them with a cozy bed away from where you sleep, installing a nightlight in their sleeping area, and covering their bed with a blanket to make them feel secure. You may also want to consider playing relaxing music or nature sounds in their sleeping area and providing them with plenty of access to water so they don’t wake up thirsty. Finally, make sure you give them plenty of physical and mental stimulation during the day so they’re more likely to sleep and be calm at night.
What Should I Do if My Cat Wakes Me Up at Night?
If your cat is waking you up at night, the best thing to do is ignore them. Any attention that they get will make it more likely for them to wake you up the next day. Consider making it physically impossible for them to wake you up by closing your door. If this is not possible, timed automatic feeders and interactive toys might help to keep them busy.
What Should I Do if My Cat Meows at Night?
If your cat is meowing at night, there are a few things you can do to discourage them. First, you may also want to make sure that they aren’t meowing for a reason, as some cats may meow to let you know that something is wrong. However, giving them attention every time they meow at night will only result in more meowing so once you ensure they are safe, you need to ignore the behavior. You may want to consider investing in Feliway diffusers as they can help relax cats and reduce their need to meow at night.
How Can I Make My Bedroom Cat-Proof?
To make your bedroom cat-proof, try closing the door of your room so they don’t have access to it when you are sleeping. You may also want to ensure that all electrical cords are tucked away and out of reach and that anything fragile is inaccessible. Finally, make sure all windows are securely shut to prevent them from escaping or getting into other areas of the house.
What Should I Do if My Cat Sleeps With Me?
If your cat sleeps in the room with you, there are a few things you can do to make sure they are safe and comfortable. First, consider giving them a cozy bed or blanket away from where you sleep so they don’t disturb you. If they are still restless during the night, try playing calming music or nature sounds to soothe them and help them drift off to sleep.
Conclusion
Creating a routine and a relaxing environment can help make sure your cat is sleeping and remaining calm through most of the night. Cats’ sleep cycles differ from ours and they do not sleep throughout the night, but they certainly can learn to be calm and respect our sleep. These tips should help you and your furry friend get a better night’s rest! With some patience, understanding, and dedication, you can both enjoy a peaceful slumber. Happy sleeping!
See also:
- Why Does My Cat Wake Me Up Every Morning? 5 Reasons
- Why Does My Cat Wake Me Up at Night? 8 Reasons & What to Do About It
- How to Discipline a Maine Coon Cat (13 Tips & Tricks)
Featured Image Credit: Vesharub, Shutterstock
