Most cats that sleep during the day do so for two clear reasons: they are nocturnal animals and/or they don't get enough exercise. However, they are not the only reasons why they are more active at night, since environmental or he alth factors can also come into play. In general, this behavior is usually accompanied by other signs that can help us better identify the cause and discover if it is a problem or part of its nature. In this way, paying attention to all its reactions is essential to understand the animal and help it.
If you have just adopted a feline that won't let you sleep, or suddenly becomes restless at the end of the day, in this article on our site we will answer the question why your cat does not sleep at night detailing the most common causes and we will help you solve the problem with our tips.
The cat, a nocturnal animal
By nature, the cat is a nocturnal animal that prefers the dark night to go out to hunt, feed and carry out its daily activity. Due to the species' evolution to survive in the wild, it enjoys excellent night vision, which allows it to see much better in dimly lit environments than in a fully lit or daylight one. This is so thanks to the anatomy of the eye, adapted to hunt at night, made up of an eye tissue called the tapetum lucidum that has the ability to absorb light before it reaches the retina. Once absorbed, this tissue reflects it and provides the animal with much more developed vision in the dark. For more information, you can consult our article on "How do cats see?".
Although some domestic cats have managed to adapt their sleeping hours somewhat to those of their human companions, many others still retain their natural behavior and are more active at night. This, added to a series of factors that we will detail below, can mean that your cat does not sleep at night and does sleep during the day.
The importance of a suitable bed
It is no secret to anyone that cats are much more exquisite animals than dogs, and not having a comfortable and safe bed may be the reason why your cat does not sleep at night. However, choosing the ideal cat bed may not be so simple, since first we have to get to know our furry companion and discover his tastes in terms of shape, size and structure.
Today we have countless beds and pet mattresses, and to select the perfect product it is essential to observe the animal and Pay attention to your preferences. In general, cats prefer beds that provide warmth and security, just the right size to roll around in, since larger ones are not as cozy for them. Thus, if you notice that your feline has a certain predilection for your bed or the sofa, and never lies down on his, it is probably because he does not like him and you should change it.
He doesn't like to sleep on the floor
Many felines prefer heights to sleep, and if at nightfall you forbid access to the highest places in the home, the animal will choose to rest in your absence. Thus, if you suspect that this may be the reason why your cat does not sleep at night, place shelves large enough to place their bed on one of them, or get a structure for cats with several levels and observe their behavior.
Lack of activity and exercise
Cats that do not usually do any type of exercise are more likely to be active at night due to the accumulation of energy Despite having a reputation for being calm and sedentary, felines are also animals that need to exercise and stay physically and mentally stimulated through play. Unfortunately, the myths that have arisen about the species have led many cat guardians to believe that they do not need to receive so much attention from them, and nothing is further from the truth. These animals also need to spend hours with their human companions, play and exercise, as well as receive affection and feel properly cared for.
The lack of play, in addition, produces a high state of boredom in cats, which can lead to these animals, even, to become destructive with furniture, household objects, etc. Therefore, it is also possible that the cat does not sleep at night and meows to get your attention. Discover how to play with your cat and start having fun with him.
Do you spend many hours alone during the day?
In relation to the previous point, cats that spend many hours alone during the day and do not have proper environmental enrichment take the opportunity to sleepIn this way, when night comes they are fully rested and ready to enjoy your company, trying to play with you or, if they can't, running around the house, jumping, meowing…
On the other hand, as we said, the lack of mental stimulation can also lead to boredom in cats, as well as stress and frustration. All this translates not only into the cat not sleeping at night, but also into a series of symptoms such as the aforementioned destruction of furniture, not using the litter box and even showing some aggressiveness.
He is hungry?
If your cat doesn't sleep at night and also comes to your bedroom to meow next to you and get your attention, it's He may be begging you for food. And if when he does it you get up to give him what he wants, the animal understands that in this way he gets what he wants. He doesn't do it to bother your sleeping hours, he just doesn't know that it's something negative for you and something positive for him. Without realizing it, you reinforce his behavior instead of guiding him towards what is best for both of you
This is possibly the easiest cause to check and combat, since it is as simple as changing the cat's meal times. Thus, before going to bed, make sure you feed the animal correctly and see if it comes to you or not once asleep. Another option for cats that tend to ask for food late at night can be the use of an automatic food dispenser, since it is not recommended to let the animal go hungry so as not to disturb our sleep. In this sense, we recommend you consult the article on "Amount of daily food for cats".
She's in heat
The heat in cats is much more intense than in dogs, leading them to despair if they fail to mate. During this period, both females and males are more active at night, producing loud moans and meows that disturb their guardians' sleep. Their suffering is such that their instinct can lead them to try to run away from home to find a partner. Thus, if your cat does not stop meowing at night, does not let you sleep, is restless and is more than 6 months old, it is likely that she is in heat. For this reason, and to avoid unwanted pregnancies, sterilizing the animal in time is the most recommended solution.
You are sick or in pain
If you have already ruled out the above causes and you still wonder why your cat doesn't sleep at night and meows constantly, don't hesitate to go to the vet to check if it is a he alth problem. Although excessive meowing is usually related to emotional pain, they can also emit them to let us know that they feel physical pain or something is wrong with their body. For this reason, we recommend that you review the 10 most common signs of pain in cats and visit a specialist to submit the animal to the pertinent tests.
How to make your cat sleep at night?
As you have seen, there are several causes that explain why your cat does not let you sleep at night, and it is even possible that the answer lies in more than one. Thus, it may happen that your feline prefers to sleep during the day for several of the reasons mentioned, and not for a single reason. Therefore, the first recommendation is to find the cause or causes to combat them and help your furry companion to have a better quality of life. That said, check out the following tips:
- Play with your cat and make him exercise As we have said, performing physical activity is very important to keep him stimulated and tire him so that, when night comes, fall asleep. For this, it is best to play at different times of the day. And if it is not possible, carry out the activities during the afternoon.
- Offer him a good bed. A comfortable, warm and safe place to sleep is key, so don't skimp on it and look for the most suitable mattress.
- Prepare a correct environmental enrichment Especially if you spend many hours alone during the day, it is essential that you have toys and objects that keep them stimulated and entertained. You can opt for scratching posts with different levels, food-dispensing toys, intelligence games, and even olfactory stimuli such as placing catnip in different parts of the house.
- Adapt your meal times. As we have indicated, feed it before going to bed to ensure that it does not go hungry during the night and can sleep.
- Consider adopting another cat If the cause is lack of activity and you can't provide the hours of play he needs, he may more appropriate would be to incorporate a new member to the family. Of course, this must be a thoughtful decision, analyzing the character of the cat, choosing the new tenant thinking precisely of him and carrying out a correct presentation between the two.
- Bear in mind sterilization You have already seen that heat is one of the most common causes, so choosing to sterilize to the animal may be the best solution. In addition to getting both of you to sleep at night, cats especially suffer during this process from not being able to do what their instinct tells them to do. On the other hand, sterilization has multiple advantages, such as reducing the chances of suffering from breast cancer, uterine infection or avoiding marking within the home.
