How to Keep Your Kitten From Waking You at Night

Now that kitten season is approaching, the question is arising among the growing population of new owners: How do I keep my kitten from waking me up at night?

Frequently, owners are being awakened from their peaceful slumber by highly energized kittens running across their sleeping bodies, attacking feet, and meowing for attention. The timid kitties that seemed so sweet and cuddly when they first arrived, have transformed into little rambunctious devils that are testing the patience of sleep deprived pet lovers. This is commonly referred to as the "midnight crazies", or just "night crazies", and while it is a common problem there are various solutions. The challenge is finding the right solution for your kitten, and maintaining consistency when training your kitten.

The solution begins with understanding the problem. During their midnight escapades, kittens are simply doing what cats do best, which is following their natural instincts. Their ability to see fairly well in the dark, and their acute hearing, make it ideal for cats to hunt prey between dusk and dawn. Your kitten's crazy behavior is believed to be a kind of practice for survival (hunting, fighting, escaping) at the peak hours when its senses are heightened and it is most alert. The first option to changing this behavior is to bring out these hunting skills at more appropriate times. This can be during the day, or even better, one and half to two hours before bedtime. During this time, try and remember the "rules of cat play", as it can make playtime more fulfilling for the kitten. Cats like to stalk their prey, chase and catch it, and eat it. Giving your kitten a treat after playing makes it more enjoyable, because it is both rewarding and satisfying. Some wet food can make your kitten sleepy after playing. And Mary Anne Miller, member of Cat Writers' Association, suggests 2-3 tablespoons of (Stage 2) meat baby food. It has a good texture, but no onions, which are bad for cats. Giving a high protein snack after playing is also a good way of bringing playtime to an end, making it easier for the kitten to focus on other things. The exercise also tires your cat before bedtime, but be careful not to finish playing right before bed, as your kitten may be even more hyper than before.

Keep in mind, your kitten may have never lived with people before, and really just doesn't know how to behave. With this in mind, spray bottles are a popular alternative for getting some peace while you rest, or even a hair dryer. If your kitten wakes you up by meowing or by attacking your feet, squirt it in the face. It won't hurt the cat, but it will be startled enough to think twice about repeating the action. If your water bottle isn't handy, sometimes saying "no" loudly is effective, but some pet lovers believe this will make the kitten fear you.

If all else fails, sometimes confinement is the best option. If your kitten is especially destructive at night, keep it in a single room for the night, whether it be a bathroom or a spare room. Make sure there's sufficient space, as well as everything it needs (litter box, food/water, toys, scratching post, etc.). The important thing with this method is not to be a softy. Don't give in if your kitten starts crying. If you do it is like rewarding the behavior, and your kitten will continue to meow for attention.

Whichever method you choose, keep in mind that it can take days to train your cat or change its schedule. In the meantime, to catch some Z's, keep plenty of toys around for your kitten at night; A kitty condo and scratching posts may be effective. If the kitten can entertain itself, it will be less likely to wake you up for some entertainment. Also making sure the kitten eats before bedtime can help, so that it doesn't wake up in the middle of the night out of hunger. If problems still persist, perhaps a kitten is not for you, and a grown cat would be a better option. Enjoy your kitty!

Bibliography

Miller, Mary Anne. "Cats and Night Crazies!". http://www.thecatsite.com/Behavior/175/Cats-and-Night-Crazies.html.

"When Your Cat Gets the 'Midnight Crazies'". http://www.petplace.com/cats/when-your-cat-gets-the-midnight-crazies/page1.aspx