We often think of cats as being creatures who do their own thing, and aren’t bound by the rules and routines of their humans.
However, cats can benefit from routines, as they often like to do the same things at the same time each day. A bedtime routine in particular can be really beneficial for your kitty, teaching them when it’s time to sleep and increasing the chances of them staying asleep until the morning, at which point they’ll no doubt want some of the best cat food!
Registered cat behavioral consultant Molly Kelsey, known as The Cat Counsellor, has explained on Instagram how you can create a bedtime routine for an adult cat, and we think it’s well worth taking note!
1) Prioritize play: “Play with them using a novel toy that looks and moves as prey would for 10-15 minutes,” says Kelsey. “Slowly wind this down at least 30 minutes before bed.”
2) Offer a bedtime snack: Kelsey suggests offering your kitty a portion of their daily food, either in an activity feeder or scattered across the floor for them to hunt. If your cat has wet food, you could use a textured mat. She explains in the caption that cats often have a quick nap after they catch and eat their prey, so it’s the same sort of thing.
3) Encourage sleep mode: “Dim the lighting and opt for sleep bulbs (block blue light) in sleep areas,” recommends Kelsey. “Provide a calm environment with a Feliway plug-in diffuser and cat music or brown noise on a low volume.”
Cats spend a lot of their time asleep, but just why do cats sleep so much? Our kitties sleep an average of 15 hours a day, though this can vary depending on factors like age and health, and are crepuscular, which means they’re most active at dawn and dusk.
They’re genetically programmed to hunt at these times, to give them an advantage over other predators who hunt at different times. However, domestic cats do break up their daytime sleep schedule in order to spend time with us, so they don’t sleep all day.
Cats might sleep to cool down when it’s hot, to get through cold and wet weather, and simply to recharge their batteries. Take a look at these six cat sleep positions to learn more about your cat’s sleep, and, if you’re concerned that your cat is sleeping too much, it’s a good idea to consult your vet just in case.
