As temperatures rise and it gets light earlier, some pet owners are also starting to wake up earlier and earlier...
However, they weren't born early risers; rather, they had a "living alarm clock" at home:
Who hasn't experienced their cat's various ways of waking them up in the morning? The intensity and methods of waking them up are incredibly diverse.
Some people may have been gently patted awake.
Some even wake up feeling sweet and itchy.
But sometimes, you might wake up gasping for air...
There are also various chest-bouncing dances, random punches to the face, and even... being woken up by a big butt.
There's also the possibility of being awakened by the overwhelming pressure of a "hungry tiger pouncing on its prey"...
If you ignore it, it will meow endlessly.
Locked out? Then you'll continue to receive 100-decibel scratching at the door to wake up, or...
The most frustrating thing is that the wake-up calls are way too early! They're often before 6 a.m., sometimes even 5 a.m. or 4 a.m.
So, how exactly do we politely decline our cats' elaborate wake-up call services?
Why are cats so energetic so early in the morning?
This is actually a cat's normal biological clock setting.
Cats are crepuscular animals, with dusk and dawn being their most energetic times. As the sun sets, they can move freely in the dim light, gaining a favorable position for hunting.
However, after living with humans for a period of time, domestic cats will actually adjust according to their owner's biological clock.
You'll find that they gradually transform from little devils who cause trouble all night into little angels who can snuggle up next to you and sleep together at night. This is a sign that cats' biological clocks are synchronizing with humans.
However, cats cannot sleep deeply for long periods of time, and their concept of "it's time to get up in the morning" is probably different from yours.
A cat's "alarm clock" is not determined by the hour and minute hands, but by temperature, birdsong, and light.
In summer, it gets light around 4 a.m., which is obviously early morning for a cat, so it's time to get up!
But why is my cat calling me so early?
Cats certainly have their reasons.
I'm calling you to get up and play.
Sometimes, when your cat wakes you up in the morning, there's not much of a reason; they just feel you should get up and play with them since they're all awake. Some cats even turn waking you up into a game.
I'm hungry
Most cats wake their owners simply because they want food. Their food bowl might be empty, or they might want a treat. However, sometimes it could also be...
If I call you, there will be food!
The first time, your cat might not be waking you up for food; it might just be bored or wanting you to scoop its litter box.
But it noticed that you got up and gave it food!
So gradually, the cat will:
Waking them up at this time means they can eat snacks or breakfast.
These two factors combined led to a habit. You could say it was you who introduced them to a new way to get snacks—simply bothering their owner in the morning!
How can I train my cat to stop bothering me in the morning?
There's actually quite a lot to do, but it's not very difficult.
You can "fuss" with it before bed.
During the day, especially before bedtime, try to play with your cat. This will help them sleep more soundly at night and make them less likely to wake up too early and bother you.
Pretend you can't hear me!
Trust me, if you can be patient a few times, your cat might leave with a little resentment. But be careful, if your cat really has a need, you should still try to address it, but pay attention to the method you use.
Solve their problem with an automatic feeder!
Attention! If your cat is truly hungry, please do not get up to feed it when it wakes you in the morning, otherwise you'll have to endure all sorts of creative ways to wake it up for the rest of your life.
But you can let an automatic feeder solve this for you (not an advertisement!).
If your cat usually wakes you up around 5 a.m. to feed you, you can set the automatic feeder to feed a little before 5 a.m. so that it can get food before it wakes you up. This way, your cat may gradually stop bothering you.
Of course, you don't have to feed them too much. A dozen or so kibbles or treats at a time may be enough to satisfy your cat temporarily.
When you wake up, the first thing you should do is not to feed them.
How many people are woken up by their cats, and even decide to get out of bed, only to leisurely go to feed them?
Please don't rush to do this in the future. You should get up first to use the litter box, drink water, brush your teeth, and wash your face, and then feed the cat and clean the litter box. This way, the cat won't completely associate "satisfying me" with "waking them up."
What if the cat isn't hungry, but just wants to play?
That would be a bit troublesome, but it's not unsolvable.
Before bedtime, leave your cat some toys where they can hide treats. Cats are more likely to play in the morning, and after playing, they'll get a satisfying feeling of having completed their hunt.
Keep your bed in the shadows as much as possible, but place small items like glowing digital lights or reflective toys near or under the bed. Bright light will attract your cat, making it think, "You're not fun, they are."
What should you do if your kitten wants to play a "hunting game" with you?
Younger kittens might get excited and want to play a mock hunting game with you in the morning. For example, they might pounce on your paws or hands as prey, scratching and biting them, or chewing on your hair.
At this point, cover the cat's head and paws with a blanket and ignore it. After a few tries, the cat will give up on its own. However, after you get up, you should play with the cat for a while as compensation, using a string or feather toy.
After all, growing cats need hunting simulation games.
Should we keep our cats out of the bedroom?
If you really don't want your cat to disturb your sleep, you can indeed ask it to leave the bedroom at night. But please note:
Do this from the beginning of raising a cat
Don't suddenly ask your cat, who usually sleeps in the bedroom, to leave. This will hurt them and may even cause them to act aggressively. From the moment you get a cat, you need to consider whether you'll sleep with it and whether you're confident in handling the sleep disturbances it causes.
Prepare enough nighttime toys
Once you decide to do this, you should provide your cat with ample nighttime entertainment. After all, cats that don't sleep with people don't have a biological clock like humans, so they won't even have time for peaceful nighttime sleep together.
I still hope everyone can get a good night's sleep. After all, cats still have a day to sleep, and we can't take away their freedom to sleep in half an hour later from their owners, can we? We also need to recharge so we can work harder to buy cat food.
