ByMeow! This pleasant welcome is a nice hello at any time of day. However, it’s a shrill and demanding alarm clock at 4:30 in the morning. We realize how aggravating it can be when your cat demands attention by meowing or lying on your head when you wish to sleep.
But cats can’t tell us what’s wrong. So cats meow for a reason, but cats can’t say “I’m hungry” or “Can you help me find the toy I just dropped?”
Meowing is actually cats’ primary form of communication with other cats. According to Animal Planet, cats will hiss, growl, and yowl in speak when they feel threatened or upset, but cats learn that catspeak gets the attention of their owners.
Meowing is cats’ second language and can be used to communicate needs and wants, and cats know we only respond if they use catspeak. Cats don’t meow just because they’re lonely: According to WebMD, cats meow to get attention, cats meow when they want to play catspeak, cats meow because catspeak worked in catspeak.
There are several reasons why cats wake you up in the morning-
If you have an adult cat, they may be having problems with separation anxiety or increased blood pressure, and that meowing is their way of trying to get your attention before you go out or because they want to come into bed with you. Cats who are still kittens, on the other hand, are probably not trying to get attention or come into bed with you—but it could still be their way of communicating that they’re hungry, need some playtime, or have a problem pottying.
If there are no medical issues causing your cats’ meowing at night, then…
Your cats may be waking you up in the morning because you’ve taught them that doing so will get them attention. It could be that you jump out of bed to tend to their needs or let them into your bedroom when they meow, and eventually, your cats learned that if they meow loudly enough, someone will come to see what’s wrong.
Don’t give cats what they want just because they cry. Never reward cats with attention for meowing or crying at night—it reinforces the animal behavior and they’ll be back to bother you again as soon as you go to sleep.
Why Does My Cat Wake Me Up in the Morning?
- cats waking owners up early in the morning is not an uncommon issue. If your cat is especially curious or playful, it may startle you awake by nuzzling or pawing at you. You might even hear cats making a bit of noise, meowing for attention before they inevitably bother you.
- cats waking owners up early in the morning can be a sign of cats being hungry. If cats are left with too much food or have no set meal times, cats may look for attention from their owners in the morning because they are bored and find it easier to get their attention when they first wake up.
- cats waking owners up in the morning hours can be a sign of cats needing more stimulation throughout the day. If cats are not given enough activity throughout the day, cats might start waking their owners up early in the morning because they are bored and have nothing else to do.
- cats waking owners up early in the morning can be a sign of cats being anxious. If cats have been alone all day or are nervous about something happening that is out of the cat’s control, cats might start waking owners up early in the morning when they are safe and unable to act on these emotions or fears. Cats often express anxiety by meowing excessively.
- waking cat owners up early in the morning can be a sign of cats being creatures of habit! Some cats are simply more curious or energetic than others. These cats might startle their owners awake by purring, nuzzling, or pawing at them when they are not being watched, just because cats are cats!
7 things you can do if your cats wake you up in the morning:
- If your cats are displaying separation anxiety, provide them with extra playtime before bedtime so their energy is spent when you go to sleep.
- If your cats are kittens or cats who are still under to be indoor pet training, feed them just before you go to bed. Don’t provide food in the morning because cats won’t eat when they’re full.
- Keep cats in a separate room at night with their own litter box, food, and water, so they can’t bother you when you’re trying to sleep.
- Provide cats with plenty of things to do when you’re not around during the day.
- Make sure cats have a clean litter box, and plenty of food and water in a location that’s easily accessible at all times. Don’t put cats’ kibble where they end up eating it when you want them to eat their food—cats will eat wherever they please, so make sure their feeding area isn’t their litter box.
- If cats can’t be kept in a separate room at night, make sure the room is free of any cats who are still learning not to potty indoors and anything else cats might destroy like plants or toilet paper, as well as anything cats could get into such as dangerous chemicals.
- Try using a pheromone-type plug-in to help cats relax and calm down.
Your cats may be waking you up in the morning because they aren’t getting everything they need during the day.
When cats’ needs aren’t being met by their owners or at least somewhere where they can take care of them on their own, they will seek attention by waking up their owners.
The behaviour of cats in the morning can take some time to change, so you should be patient if they have been demanding attention for quite some time.
If you hear cats meowing during the night, don’t get out of bed or let them into your bedroom-cats will only keep getting what they want if you continue to feed them.
You should avoid ignoring cats if they meow because they would eventually stop doing so. Cats that get into trouble during the night will stop once their needs are met.
