Cat: Excessive Nocturnal Activity

Why does my cat seem to be most active at nights?

Some cats are active at night or awake very early in the morning. Since many owners are out at work or school during the day the cat may spend the daytime hours in rest and relaxation, especially if it is the only pet in the household. The cat’s day then begins when the owner arrives home to provide the cat with play and social interaction. Typical complaints are cats that nibble or even attack the owner’s ears or toes in bed, walking across the owners whilst they are asleep, night time vocalisation, or explosive, uncontrollable play sessions across the furniture and/or owners, during the night or early morning. Some owners inadvertently reward the behaviour by giving the cat a little food, affection, or attention to try and calm it down.

How can I stop my cat from keeping me up at night?

It can help to schedule and encourage play during the daytime and evening hours, so that the cat’s schedule more closely matches that of yourself. Catnaps in the evening should be discouraged!

 It may also be beneficial to take on more than one cat at a time so that littermates can keep each other amused. However adding another cat later on is unlikely to be beneficial as cats are not generally very tolerant of the presence of strangers within the household and the introduction may create more problems than it solves.

Cats can be fed from dispensers which make them work for their food and allow them to eat throughout the day and night, without human intervention. This can be beneficial since cats are naturally snack feeders and if they cannot gain access to food during the night they may be more motivated to seek human interaction.

If the cat continues to disturb you during the night, confining your cat out of the bedroom, and providing it with a comfortable sleeping area and litter tray may do the trick. If the cat remains awake, providing the cat with ample opportunity for scratching, climbing and play in a confined area may occupy the cat until it becomes tired.

"If the cat continues to disturb you during the night, confining your cat out of the bedroom, and providing it with a comfortable sleeping area and litter tray may do the trick."

Cats that are vocal when locked out of the bedroom must be ignored. Going to the cat or giving attention in any way will only serve to reward the demanding behaviour. Cats that scratch or bat at the bedroom door can be kept away by the use of a baby gate or a panel of soft fabric as a shield. If the cat is overly vocal, lock it away in as sound proof an area as possible such as a utility room or a suitably large cat carrier or dog crate in a distant bedroom. Nested corrugated cardboard boxes around the cage help to further reduce the noise.

What if it is necessary to have the cat sleep in the bedroom?

If you decide that your cat would do best if allowed to stay in the bedroom, you must remember that any attention whatsoever will further reinforce the behaviour. Reacting to the demanding cat with inattention needs to be coupled with rewarding any calm and non-interactive behaviour within the bedroom. 

It should be noted that punishment is generally contra-indicated in cats because punishment that is too mild is likely to be ineffective and may actually serve to provide enough play or attention to reward the behaviour. Punishment that is too harsh on the other hand could lead to an increase in anxiety, fear of the owner and even aggression. 

Is there medication that might help?

If all else fails and the cat does not sleep through the night with behavioural techniques alone, your veterinary surgeon may be able to provide some medication to help your cat fall asleep for the first few nights. It must be recognised that this is a treatment of last resort and not a permanent cure for the problem.

It may also be necessary to investigate other possible causes of the behaviour, so specialist behavioural help may need to be sought in refractory cases.