Struggling with sleepless nights because your cat wants to party at 3AM? You’re not alone! Learn how to sync your cat's natural rhythms with your schedule so you can finally get a good night’s rest.

Why Do Cats Keep Us Up at Night?

Cats are naturally crepuscular, meaning they’re most active during the twilight hours of dawn and dusk. Cats are right in the middle of the food chain—both predator and prey—and these low light conditions provide enough visibility for cats to stalk their prey while also offering some concealment from larger predators.

Because of these evolutionary traits, cats have developed circadian rhythms that make them active at these times. But fear not: it is possible to guide their body clocks to better align with your schedule! The key is establishing a daily rhythm and consistent rituals, especially when it comes to food.

How to Train Your Cat to Let You Sleep

Step 1: Establish a Feeding Schedule 

First things first, if you’re free-feeding your cat, stop! There are many reasons why I discourage free-feeding, but it’s especially detrimental when you’re trying to change their body clocks. Allowing your cat to graze all day long means their body is in a constant state of digestion, making their energy levels unpredictable. By switching to scheduled meal times, you can control their energy peaks to better align them with your daily routine.

Ideally, you want to feed your cat three meals a day, with no longer than six to eight hours between meals. Within a week or two, your cat will learn to expect food at specific times. Their energy levels will be more regulated, making them less likely to bother you at night.

Step 2: Sync Their Energy with Yours

To help your cat's energy levels match your schedule, focus on the timing of their last meal. If your bedtime is 11 PM, the final feeding should be around 9:30 PM. But don’t just feed them and expect them to settle down—they need an outlet for all that energy, and a robust interactive play session right before their last meal of the night will get them to the perfect point of exhaustion. This “Hunt, Catch, Kill, Eat, Groom, Sleep” cycle mimics your cat's natural behaviors and signals that the day's activities are winding down.

Step 3: Ignore Nighttime Disturbances

Now comes the challenging part. If your cat still wakes you up at 3 AM, you need to ignore them completely. No getting up to feed, no playing, no acknowledging them whatsoever. Any attention, positive or negative, reinforces the behavior. In order to successfully train your cat to let you sleep, you need to make sure that annoying behavior in the middle of the night serves no function and is not in any way rewarded.

Be prepared for about 10 days to two weeks of this process. It will be difficult and you’ll find nights where you almost crack, but I have faith in you. You can do it!

Step 4: Incorporate Holistic Modalities

In addition to adjusting feeding schedules and playtime, my Holistic Solutions can play a crucial role in helping your cat settle down for the night. Add a few drops of Quiet Night into your cat’s water or apply it directly to their fur to help them relax and adapt to the new nighttime routine. The flower essence blend is crafted to soothe your cat’s nerves and reduce late night restlessness, making it easier for them to stay calm and sleep through the night.

Homework Time

Alright, let's recap your homework to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep:

• Switch from Free-Feeding to Scheduled Meals: Transition your cat from grazing all day to eating specific meals. 

• Align Your Schedules: Make sure your cat's mealtimes and energy levels align with yours by timing their last meal of the day.

• Play Before the Last Meal: incorporate the "Hunt, Catch, Kill" cycle into your evening routine to drain your cat’s energy before bedtime.

• Ignore Nighttime Waking: If your cat wakes you up at night, ignore them completely to break the cycle.

• Think Holistically: Flower essence remedies like Quiet Night can help your cat adjust to their new schedule.

By following these steps, you can gradually align your cat's schedule with yours, ensuring a peaceful night’s sleep for both of you!