Jane Dobson was tired.
She adopted a cat, named Pickles, from the shelter, but little did she expect that he would be keeping her awake at night because he wanted to play. Jane soon became frustrated from her sleepless nights and called us
for a solution.
Our veterinarians explained that most cats sleep for nearly two thirds of their lives. Unfortunately, most of this takes place during the day, because cats are naturally nocturnal. Additionally, cats enjoy the company of their owners and tend to "wake up" in the evening when their owners get home from work to spend time with them.
Here are a few suggestions our veterinarians gave to Jane:
...zzZ If Pickles tries to wake you at night, ignore him. Giving him attention of any kind will only add fuel to the fire.
...zzZ If possible, try to come home during the day to play with Pickles,
even if it's only for a few minutes.
...zzZ When you get home from work or school, spend quality time playing with Pickles. Right before bedtime is another good time for high-energy play, but leave time for the cat to calm down before bedtime. The more you tire Pickles out, the longer he'll sleep during the night.
...zzZ Keep quiet toys out in another room. This way he can play without waking you.
Jane purchased a few toys including a Laser Mouse and spent 20 minutes after work and before bedtime playing with Pickles. The midnight interruptions reduced dramatically. Her quick trips home during lunch seemed to help as well. Now, both Jane and Pickles are happy and well rested.
