Training cats with nocturnal behaviors
Here the problem the cat is up most the night playing wanting to
go outside tearing around the house and wake me up in early
hours of the morning to go out. Once I do let him, out he does
not want to come back in and once I do let him in, he wants to
play.
Does this behavior sound familiar to you? Cats that have
nocturnal behaviors can be trained to have activity time when it
is convenient for you.
Few step that you may want to change to help with this problem:
Change the feeding time to around the time you are making dinner
for the family. Cats usually have to go potty shortly after they
eat. This gives you time to feed him , then let him out side for
potty and some play time before you sit down to enjoy your
dinner. Feeding him to close to bedtime will only result in
getting up in the middle of the night to let him go out for
potty.
Allow the cat water until a couple of hour before bedtime. He
will have to go out to potty and give him playtime at that time.
Letting him have water all night long, will only allow him to
have to go out in the middle of the night to go potty or you
will have accidents in the hallways in the morning.
Set up good playtime in the evening for him. Good exercise,
with fun filled activities will help him to sleep better.
If possible do not allow him to sleep during the day; this will
also get him to sleep during the night. If he is going to be up
during the night, do not allow him to have free ring over the
house. Set up an environment that is some what contained with
quiet actives for him to play.
When he comes in your room in the middle of the night have
something that will make a noise to chase him out. Cats do not
like sudden loud noises, so this will make him run. After a
couple of times, he will not want to come in again.
Patience is going to be the biggest thing for you and the
family to get his routine to change so that he is not up all
night and sleeps during the day. When you and a family member
find him sleeping during the day, you will need to wake him and
play with him. Letting him sleep will not end the night
activities.
When you are all out doing your daily activities and he is left
alone all day, well yes he is going to sleep. One good
suggestion is call him at home. Set up the answering machine to
be able to play a section that you have recorded just for him.
Maybe once or twice a day you will have to call, but in the end
kitty will not sleep all day and start sleeping at night.
Are you a user of catnip for your cat, you may want to put this
up for the nighttime. Catnip is a mint smelling, taste that cats
love. By removing this out of the area, the cat cannot smell
with help with the training a lot. Cats' keen smelling sense
will put up any scent that is left behind.
Nocturnal behaviors are natural behavior for your cat. However,
you do not have to follow their routine of being up all night
and wanting to play. You can change their routine slowly and
quiet easily to allow you and family member to sleep and keep
your routine. Do not allow kitty to train you, kitty will allow
you to train him with time and patience.
Giving in to your cat for routine will not give you the
relationship with your cat that You are looking for. When you
are able to change the routine, remember to reward the cat for
the change. This will help with the companionship that you and
your cat needs.