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Sometimes it feels as though our cats know our schedules better than we do, preempting that morning alarm by near seconds and waking us up with screaming instead, adorable… And whether a furry alarm is preferable or not, it is pretty impressive that they seem to instinctively know when it’s go time in the mornings. But how do our kittens know precisely when to wake up each day?
Cats love routine
This one may be obvious, but living with cats most of us will notice their love for routine. Dinner at the same time, select napping spots at selected times of the day, midnight zoomies. And as well as their own schedules, they get to know their human’s routine pretty well too. If you arise at the same time each day, your cat will learn your patterns and beat you to it, ready for breakfast!
Cats know when you’re waking up
And it’s not just your alarm clock they get to know, cats can also sense when you’re stirring. A human’s sleep pattern goes through 5 stages, and through each cycle our heart rate, breathing and activity levels change depending on how deep of a sleep we’re in. Ever felt like your furball was watching you sleep? Well, they probably are and sit waiting for those lighter levels of sleep they can recognise so they’re ready to pounce at the perfect opportunity to wake you up properly.
Cats are crepuscular animals
Sounds complicated, but essentially our favourite furries are most active at dawn and dusk due to their ancestors’ history of hunting. Our cats’ eyes work best in these lower light levels and are better equipped to catch prey. Obviously these days they don’t need to rely on hunting for their meals, however they don’t seem to be able to shake their instincts when it comes to early morning activities.
And so we can conclude – it’s a mix of nature and nurture and even though the wakeup calls can be a little earlier than expected, we wouldn’t change our loud, furry, persistent alarm clocks for the world! Check out how to help your cat sleep throughout the night here.
