Our cats can wake us up too early, preventing a good night’s sleep. While we love that our cat wants to see us and seeks a little affection, we all need our rest. Meeting the care needs of our cat is an important responsibility, but it is not the only one we have. We also need to ensure our own well-being so that we can be a healthy guardian for our animal, something a lack of sleep can seriously deplete.
This is why Animal Wise not only explains why your cat wakes you up in the morning, but also how to stop it in a way that is healthy for you both. Before we dive into the three main reasons why your cat wakes you up every single day, you should know that cats are Kpuscular animals. This means they are much more active at dawn and dusk than during the night or day.
SPIRITUAL MEANING of CAT COAT COLORS the ENERGY They Transmit
Cats and Their Nature For CAT WAKE ME UP
This characteristic is a legacy of their past as wild animals. Indeed, the ancestors of cats used to hunt prey that came out either at dawn or dusk. Although your cat’s bowl is always filled with food, they haven’t lost this habit as it’s ingrained in their genes. Genetics partly explains this behavior of waking up early in the morning, but it’s not the only reason.
Let’s now look at the three main reasons why your cat wakes you up every day. They are hungry. We won’t be telling you anything new by revealing that cats are animals of routine. If you feed them long before going to bed, it’s logical they will ask for food earlier in the morning. As Kpuscular animals, this could be at the break of dawn.
Hunger as a Reason For CAT WAKE ME UP
In many homes, cats are used to being fed earlier during the week because you go to work. So, it’s normal they expect the same on Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately, for our beauty sleep, cats do not yet understand the concept of the weekend. They are sick. Although this is usually not the main reason for this behavior, you should always keep this possibility in the back of your mind, especially if your cat starts waking you up every morning when they didn’t do so before.
In this case, don’t hesitate to take your cat to the vet to ensure this behavior is not caused by a health problem in your feline. Discover in the video we share above how to know if your cat is sick. They are trying to get your attention. Different cats get attention in different ways, but meowing is common.
Attention Seeking For CAT WAKE ME UP
Many do it to ask for food, to be petted, or simply to play a little. It is therefore possible that your cat associates positive reinforcement with meowing. In other words, your cat has learned and understood that after they meow, they will receive a reward such as food, playtime, cuddles, or just simply your attention.
When they meow in the morning and you wake up, the cat has achieved their objective even though your reaction is not positive because they woke you up early. Even if we give them negative attention, such as scolding, our response simply reinforces this behavior. If you’re not at home during the day, your cat will likely sleep while you’re gone.
Morning Behavior For CAT WAKE ME UP
This may lead them to seek your attention and petting once you return, and they’ll do this through meowing. Morning is also one of the most active times of day for cats, so it’s not unusual for them to vocalize during these hours. What should I do if my cat wakes me up every morning? First, try closing your shutters or installing blackout curtains.
This will block out daylight, which should give you a little more restbite, as your cat should be less aware that it’s time to wake up. If your cat wakes you up because they’re bored, try spending more time with them playing. If you don’t have time, you should try enriching their environment with interactive toys, intelligence games, or catnip.
How to Stop It
Feed your cat just before bedtime and wait a while during the week after getting up before refilling their bowl. This may take a few weeks to implement, but you’ll find your cat readjusts their schedule and starts asking for meals later in the day. Use positive reinforcement at the right time.
When your cat tries to wake you up, you should not react. You should not make them go away, cuddle them, or even tell them to keep quiet. You should ignore them completely. If your cat meows in the morning to get your attention and you react, you will inevitably reinforce this behavior and encourage them to repeat it
Overview Table CAT WAKE ME UP
| Reason Cats Wake You Up | Explanation | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Hunger | Cats are routine-based and expect food early | Feed before bedtime, delay morning feeding |
| Sickness | New behavior may be caused by illness | Visit a vet to check health |
| Attention Seeking | Cats learn meowing brings rewards | Ignore morning meows, play more later |
| Natural Instinct | Cats are crepuscular, active at dawn | Use blackout curtains, enrich environment |
FAQs CAT WAKE ME UP
Q1. Why do cats wake us up early
Because they are crepuscular, hungry, or want attention.
Q2. Can sickness cause a cat to wake me up
Yes, sudden new behavior may be a sign of illness.
Q3. How can I stop my cat from waking me up
Feed them before bed, ignore morning meows, and enrich their environment.
Q4. Do cats understand weekends
No, cats follow routine and expect the same feeding schedule every day.
Q5. Should I scold my cat for waking me up
No, even negative attention reinforces the behavior.
Q6. Why do cats meow in the morning
It is one of their most active times of day, linked to instinct.
Q7. What role does genetics play
Cats inherit crepuscular habits from their wild ancestors.
Q8. Can blackout curtains help
Yes, they reduce light signals that trigger activity.
Q9. What toys help cats stay busy
Interactive toys, intelligence games, and catnip can help.
Q10. What is the best long-term solution
Consistency, positive reinforcement, and meeting your cat’s needs daily.
