This week’s Cat of the Week is Petunia and she comes submitted directly by email from a cat lover in the United States!
Petunia, or P, was adopted in fall 2016. Her human was looking for a senior dog and, instead, came home with a tiny kitten! P was extremely ill for the first few months of her life. Even after multiple vet visits, humans still could not determine why she was so sick. Her human finally figured out that slightly warm pumpkin fed 4 times a day with food managed P’s intestinal woes!
P is now fully healthy, has less demanding dietary needs, and is almost double the size of her older “sister”, Gracie. Gracie despised P when she first came home, but now Gracie and P are inseparable. They even have to travel in the same carrier! If other readers ever have trouble with cat introductions check out Feliway Multicat!
P’s favorite hobbies include talking, cuddling with her human, throwing her mouse toys around, playing fetch (preferably with hair scrunchies), snoozing, getting brushed, spending time with her sister, and getting into trouble!
Three words to describe P are trouble, sweet, and playful. P is very rambunctious and will find a way to have fun, whether it be tearing up toilet paper or jumping into the shower while it is running! Every morning, P waits until her human is awake to fuss until she gets attention. If you wish your cat would sleep like Petunia then check out these tips to help!
P loves for her human to give her attention and play with her. She loves to get her plush toys stuck on her claws to catapult them across the room. She once catapulted a toy into her human’s face during a phone interview!
The sound of an opening can of Progresso Soup is P’s favorite noise and sends her into a frenzy. P loves cat toys that are fuzzy or look like mice. P has never seen a mouse in real life, but has been training for the day that she does. P hates humans that aren’t hers (who doesn’t), cats that aren’t Gracie, and the vacuum cleaner.
We at StuffCatsWant want to thank Petunia for gracing us as this week’s Cat of the Week! To submit your cat for Cat of the Week please send at least 5 photos and a description of at least 400 words to Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.
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This week’s cat of the week comes to us from Instagram user bryonyeilish the United Kingdom, everyone come and meet Sindre! If you couldn’t tell straight away he’s a Norwegian Forest Cat!
Sindre came to his humans as a kitten from a Norwegian Forest Cat breeder in North Yorkshire. His human got him when she was around 13, her Mum had already visited the breeders and decided on Sindre so by the time she met him she was buzzing with excitement.
Their first meeting always stands out in memory because of his unique and funny personality made an impression from the get go. She still remembers arriving at the breeder’s house and looking in at this living room bustling with cats and kittens. Some tiny as can be and some bigger and ready for re-homing.
She asked “Where’s ours?” and was pointed to the kitchen with an “I think I saw him in there.” So she walked in and there Sindre was, away from all the other kittens playing together, frantically attacking…a leaf. She always laughs at that memory now and can’t imagine her and the family ever choosing differently.
Sindre is the most laid back cat his humans have ever owned and met! The term gentle giant always comes to mind because he is huge! Whenever someone (usually ill informed) brings up the stereotype of cats not being affectionate they always bamboozle them with Sindre.
Some of his marvelous qualities and quirks include always having the ability to sense when you’re down and promptly popping himself on your lap or by your side. His deep rumbling purr is also so relaxing he should sell it! He absolutely loves belly rubs too, a rarity for most cats.
Weirdly he LOVES avocado (which despite some rumors is not toxic to most cats!) and finally he’s one of the few cats they know of that enjoys a good tickle between to toes.
His wonderful personality and wonderful loyalty and affection has only grown through the years. Not only does he look magical, as giant fluffy Norwegian Forest Cats do, his nature has been and always will be magical too. Check him out sleeping under the Christmas tree! Looks to me like he might deserve a cat stocking of his own! He’s so fluffy he’d hardly fit in a normal cat bed.
We at StuffCatsWant want to thank bryonyeilish for submitting him as Cats of the Week! To submit your cat for Cat of the Week please send at least 5 photos and a description of at least 400 words to Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.
StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
This week’s cat of the week comes submitted to us from Wayne Walker and his Cat’s name is Pablo!
Wayne met Pablo two years ago when he was a Rescue Partner volunteer for the City of Long Beach Animal Care Services. Pablo was frightened and malnourished, and his fur was dirty and matted.
Even worse, he required multiple surgeries to remove ingrown eyelashes, which had become infected and left him barely able to see, so he had been having a pretty hard time on the streets.
Pablo’s lower eyelids had to be permanently removed in multiple procedures. This caused his face to swell up quite a bit, to the point that he was practically blind. It was also very psychologically stressful for him, so all of the people at the shelter did our best to give him as much TLC as we could.
Wayne still remembers when Pablo had just been put back into his kennel after a procedure. He opened the kennel door to check on Pablo, but Pablo turned towards him and swiped out of fear.
Pablo’s face was so swollen that he couldn’t see, so he was very frightened. He backed off into a corner of his kennel and turned his face away from Wayne in a submissive gesture as if to say “Please don’t hurt me!”
Wayne considers himself a fairly hard-nosed guy in most circumstances. He’s a veteran and warehouse manager and had a pretty rough upbringing. But seeing Pablo in such distress and pain was very difficult. Wayne had to step outside for a few minutes to get himself under control before returning to Pablo’s kennel.
This time, as Pablo usually would, he quickly came to Wayne. He couldn’t see Wayne, but he knew the sound of his voice. Wayne gently stroked his neck and back, and Pablo began to relax.
Wayne stayed with him until he was calm enough to go to sleep. Wayne still considers that the toughest day he’s had as a volunteer.
While the shelter staff and veterinary team had done all they could for him, Pablo’s psychological and physical health began to deteriorate. Eventually, Wayne agreed to foster Pablo to give him a better environment.
This was despite already having a rescue cat and being on a limited income. Wayne and LBACS worked with Stray Cat Alliance to setup the foster.
Because Pablo’s recovery was still ongoing and he was FIV+ they had a tough time finding a suitable adopter. Wayne finally decided to adopt Pablo himself.
This was partly because he didn’t want to take the chance that someone else would give up on him if things got tough, but mostly it was because he just fell in love with the little guy!
Wayne did of course have some concerns about him infecting his other cat Miles with FIV. But his fears were unwarranted, because FIV is most commonly spread through severely deep bites. This behavior is most common between two non neutered toms.
Pablo and Miles are two mellow and playful cats who get along with one another just fine and Miles remains FIV free!
Despite all the hardship and abuse Pablo has suffered, he is still a very approachable and loving cat who is friendly to every human he meets. His progress and recovery have been remarkable.
He is a testament to the dedication and hard work that the LBACS medical team, staff and volunteers put into his recovery. And look at all his glorious fluff!
Pablo is a true survivor who has overcome a lot of obstacles to fight another day. He has been a real inspiration to myself and other members of the shelter team.
We at StuffCatsWant want to thank Wayne for submitting Pablo as Cats of the Week and for being an amazing volunteer and cat owner!
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Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not the only household pet that will chase their tails. Cats do this too, though it is less common! You might think it is pretty funny to watch, and for the most part it is.
But if tail chasing becomes a consistent activity then your cat may be telling you she needs medical attention. On the other hand, if your cat chases her tail here and there then she may just be a bored kitty looking for entertainment.
This is a video of my cat Beast. She chases her tail for fun and attention! She’s been checked out at the vet to ensure nothing is wrong, she’s just a silly fur ball that gets a kick out of chasing her tail then falling asleep!
So let’s get right into the meat of it. Let’s answer the question “why do cats chase their tails?” and whether or not you should be concerned if your cat is chasing her tail.
How Old Is Your Cat?
First and foremost we should discuss age. Kittens exhibit a lot of interesting behavior while they are learning. Tail chasing is one of the more common behaviors kittens show.
Kittens are notorious for attacking anything and everything that gets near them, especially anything that moves.This includes shoe laces, long hair, wand toys and of course their own tail. Being an aspiring hunter this is no surprise, pouncing on moving prey is a natural instinct.
This kind of behavior helps your kitten practice skills that she’d normally use in the wild. Kittens slowly phase out this behavior as they get older. Tail chasing should become uncommon by the time they are about a year old.
If your kitten is attacking her own tail constantly and it is looking beat up then do your best to redirect her to other toys. There are an unlimited number of toys that look like a cat tail, but the most common (and often the cheapest) are wand toys.
If your cat is under a year old and chasing her tail often then you’ve probably got nothing to worry about, but it is certainly worth noting to your vet at the next check up! If your cat is older than a year and still chasing then read on for more information.
Boredom Is the Biggest Culprit
If your cat is now fully grown and is still chasing her tail the most likely reason is she’s bored. Cats need stimulation and exercise to maintain mental and physical health.
Cats, especially cats without a feline friend in the house, are often left at home for long periods of time while their family is at work or at school. This means they build up a lot of energy that needs to be spent doing something, anything. Even chasing their tail.
If you’ve ever gotten an ache in your legs and you feel the need to go running then you know exactly what I mean! Without structured play sessions or a playmate cats will go after their toys or potentially chase their tail.
There are lots of toys and methods you can use to tire your cat out, even when you’re not at home. Check out this article on tips to get your cat to sleep at night. It is full of methods to keep your cat awake and alert when you’re not around!
Cats Desire Attention And Treats Too
You can certainly train your cat to perform tricks, lots of people have. So it should come as no surprise that cats can learn new tricks on their own too!
Any long term cat owner knows that cats typically desire interaction on their terms. Cats sometimes realize they can get attention, interaction, or even rewards if they chase their tail. We humans tend to find the behavior cute & funny after all.
When your cat chases her tail then you might laugh, pet her or even give her a treat. If you do then she may associate tail chasing with good things. This is basic positive reinforcement and may encourage your cat to keep chasing her tail. Be sure to consider your own behavior to see if you may be impacting your fluffy friend.
When To Seek Medical Attention
Tail chasing is usually a simple pass time or way to alleviate boredom, but it can also be an indicator of a medical concern. Dr. Richard Goldstein says “when an animal is pointing to a certain body part, consider all the body parts in the area that could be the source of a problem.”
Medical issues that can cause a cat to chase her tail can range far and wide, but the there are a few more common reasons:
Skin/Food Allergies: If your cat touched something (a new fabric) or has been exposed to something (a new food) she is allergic to her tail may be itching or otherwise in discomfort which may cause her to chase it.
Feline Hyperesthesia: While the cause isn’t known, VetInfo and PetPlace indicate it can be thought of as a form of Cat Schizophrenia. It sometimes results in a fixation with the tail, often manifested as swishing of the tail, chasing of the tail or attacking the tail. It can also cause frantic grooming of the flank and tail, often leading to hair loss.
Impacted Anal Glands: If the glands get impacted it may be painful to poop and your cat may be more likely to go after her own tail according to PetMD.
Fleas: Fleas often live on just above the base of the tail and on the butt of pets. Even if your pet isn’t allergic flea bites can be very painful. If your cat so happens to be allergic a single bite can cause quite an episode.
The above are a subset of potential medical concerns that can cause cats to chase their tails. If tail chasing is a new and constant behavior then get your cat to the Vet as soon as possible for a checkup as it may be a symptom of something more serious.
Wrapping It Up on Cats Chasing Tails
Your cat chasing her tail is typically not something to be worried about, especially if your cat is young and still learning how to hunt and pounce. If your cat is an adult and chases her tail occasionally then she’s probably just bored or has learned she gets treats or attention after doing so.
If tail chasing is a brand new behavior and is a constant occurrence then it may indicate a medical problem that needs attention. Be sure to get your cat to the Vet as soon as possible for a full checkup!
Have you had a cat that likes to chase her tail or was chasing it for a medical reason? Please leave a comment below or email me directly at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com if you have any thoughts or experiences with cats chasing their tails.
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Everyone meet our Cat of the Week for April 9th, 2018! I promise it is just an odd coincidence that her name is April!
April was adopted in June of 2017, but she was born on Easter Sunday. She’s just about a year old now. April’s mom was a stray cat and a family friend let her her humans know that she was born and looking for a home!
As soon as her humans saw a picture of her they knew they had to go and get her when she was big enough to be away from her mom. Who could resist that face?
At a little over 8 weeks (as soon as she was ready to be adopted) April was taken in by her humans with two other resident cats.
April has a character like a sweet old lady. She is super sweet and extremely caring. She is also one of the gentlest cats in the world! She absolutely loves affection and can’t go too long without some human pets and scratches!
She loves playing with straws and anything that makes a noise like crinkled paper. Like most cats, she is also a huge fan of the laser pointer. April gets plenty of play time with all sorts of toys, but also loves relaxing!
Sometimes her human family thinks she is a panther or cougar because she loves lounging so much. April also has a cool habit where hops on peoples backs to ride around on them like we humans ride a horse.
April’s favorite place to sleep is under a bed sheet or on top of the cat tree where she can look down on the world and picture it as her oyster!
We at StuffCatsWant want to thank April’s family for submitting her as Cats of the Week! To submit your cat for Cat of the Week please send at least 5 photos and a description of at least 400 words to Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.
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This week’s featured cat of the week is Annie! Annie comes submitted to us from Reddit user GeorgiaPhillips and we thank her for her submission! Annie is a farm cat that loves to drive the tractor! Well, sit on the tractor and sleep, but one day….
Georgia found Annie Cat and her brother about 3 years ago, a friend of a friend knew of a house overrun with animals. The house also had many children so they were looking to give a few away, animals not children mind you!
While Georgia wasn’t even looking for a cat at the time she couldn’t resist and rushed over and came away with the two biggest floofs from the bunch!
At the time they were skinny with matted fur but she knew that with a bit of love they could be in great condition. The previous owners were unsure of the cats breeding and ages but that didn’t matter to Georgia, she just wanted to get them home as quickly as possible!
When Annie came home she was nervous of all humans and would only come out of her hiding places to be fed. Unfortunately the first thing she needed to do was cut all her matted fur off so she could actually assess what condition her body was in under a all the floof! She was not impressed.
After months of quiet work building Annie’s trust she couldn’t be more confident. She demands food as soon as Georgia arrives at work, sometimes she will even meet her at her car just to make sure she knows that she’s impatiently waiting!
Annie she still doesn’t enjoy her haircuts in the summer to stop plants getting stuck in her beautiful belly hair! But other than that she has settled right into being the resident farm cat!
Her favorite jobs are to check up on the horses, to find new sleeping spots, and to act as farm supervisor watching the team as we work and looking over the foals when we take them to the fields!
She loves to follow Georgia around racing from place to place as if she can’t be seen! Most of all she loves cuddles and climbing inside people’s coats, especially if they are still wearing them!! Seems to me Annie might lover herself a heated cat bed!
She has the most adorable chirp for when she wants attention, it melts your heart every time you hear it! She loves to have a conversation meowing at her friends and family and the horses, and her purr is extremely loud! But most of all Georgia loves that she and her brother are both happy now!
We at StuffCatsWant again thank reddit user GeorgiaPhillips for submitting Annie as Cats of the Week! To submit your cat for Cat of the Week please send at least 5 photos and a description of at least 400 words to Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.
StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Since we didn’t have a Cat of the Week last week we have two beautiful felines gracing our front page this week! Everyone meet Roxy and Bella, two gorgeous kitties submitted to us by reddit user Spanneke from the United Kingdom! Spanneke went to the trouble of writing out a wonderful story for us to read so this week’s post will be told from Spanneke‘s point of view! Starting…Right Meow!
After recently moving to Oxford (UK) we wanted to adopt two adult cats, preferably of the ginger kind as we grew up with a ginger tom cat. We started following the Facebook pages of all our local cat rescues in order to keep an eye out for one or two ginger cats which needed re-homing.
But we didn’t see much success for many months. Facebook started suggesting other shelters further away and one day a picture appeared on our feed of two fluffy cats asleep in each other’s paws and one of them was a ginger: bingo!
After a lot of phone calls and emails back and forth with Pauline from St Francis Persian Cat Rescue (Facebook Page) we were finally told that we were cleared for adoption. Hurray! A long four-hour drive from North Yorkshire later we could finally welcome Roxy Fennekin and Bella Meowth into their new home. Roxy’s the ginger Maine Coon with heaps of attitude and Bella’s the Ragdoll (blue colourpoint) with the most gorgeous eyes.
From the little information we received about them, we know that they are between 3 and 5 years old and that they grew up together. They clearly come from a loving home as they are the most affectionate and cuddliest furry creatures. From the moment they arrived in our home, they were very keen to explore all the rooms, especially Roxy.
As a Maine Coon she loves to roam the house and watch the outside world from the window sill. Roxy is by far the chattiest cat we’ve ever met and she amuses us constantly with all the different sounds she makes: from sharp meows over trills and chirps to loud howling whenever she needs our attention.
Bella, on the other hand, has the softest and cutest meow ever heard and is a very laid-back cat who loves to take naps.
Sometimes she will even allow Roxy to join her on the scratcher for a joint nap. At feeding times the two of them always give an incredible concerto and we love listening to their harmonious voices. If you’re curious which scratcher is in the photo it is the Pet Fusion Jumbo Lounge and both cats absolutely love it!
In the mornings they always wait for us on the landing in the hope that we’ll rush down with them to feed them.
They both love to go outdoors in the garden and although Bella wasn’t keen on the recent cold spell in the UK (“The Beast from the East”), Roxy loved strutting her paws in the snow looking very majestic. Bella, however, prefers the warmer days and as you can see the pictures, her sapphire blue eyes light up stunningly in the sunlight.
When she’s not too busy sniffing all the plants and flowers, she loves to roll over to show us her curly belly.
But their favorite activity is to join us on the sofa in the evenings and take another nap (of course). They are the cuddliest cats who love to sit on our laps while we brush and stroke them under extremely loud purrs. Like all siblings they sometimes have a hissy fit but in the end they will always find each other to curl up to.
We at StuffCatsWant again thank reddit user Spanneke for submitting Roxy and Bella as Cats of the Week! To submit your cat for Cat of the Week please send at least 5 photos and a description of at least 400 words to Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.
StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
It’s 3:07 AM and you wake up to your cat batting around a toy just outside your door. It is 2:17 and you wake up to your cat walking all over your bed meowing.
Sound familiar? Cats love to operate on their own schedule, they are independent after all. It can be a little frustrating at times as a cat owner though. Especially when you start to lose sleep.
Ever wonder “Is there any way to make my cat sleep when I do, or at least not disturb my sleep?” The resounding answer is “Yes!” These 17 tips will ensure that you and your cat will both get a sound night of sleep. Tonight.
One last note before the tips. If night time activity is a recent change then get your cat to the Vet ASAP to rule out medical conditions.
JaneA Kelley, author of cat advice blog Paws and Effect, says “This is particularly true with elder cats who begin meowing all night when they haven’t done so before. Diseases like hyperthyroidism can be marked by nighttime vocalization. But even younger cats could have medical issues that lead to midnight meowing.”
#1 Put Your Cat’s Instincts To Work So She Falls Asleep Naturally
Cats have a natural order of operations on a day to day basis. We all know that they sleep…A lot. But there’s more to it than that. Cats, left to their natural habitat, function in a step by step process of hunting, killing, eating, grooming and then sleeping.
Given this is biologically programmed in we humans should take advantage of it! While structured play sessions and appropriate feeding are important be sure to use them at the appropriate time of day.
About an hour before bed schedule your structured play session with your feline friend. Spend at least 15 minutes (30 is better) playing with your cat with any form of toy.
Be sure to end the play session with a physical toy so your cat can pounce and actually ‘kill’ something. This means if you use a laser pointer to start be sure to close your session with a wand toy or something else physical.
After your play session give your cat their normal meal for the evening and then head off toward bed. Most cats will finish eating, groom themselves and then drift off to sleep at this point.
For more detail check out this article with an interview from Jackson Galaxy on the topic.
#2 Love Animal Planet? Cats Do Too! It’ll Entertain Them For Hours!
The more your cat is awake during the day the less likely he or she is to keep you up at night. Cats do after all want to get in their 16 hours of sleep a day. Given this, TV & video can be an excellent entertainment option for some cats.
While not all cats will absolutely love TV, there are a good chunk of them that will sit and watch it. This is especially true for cats that have a high prey drive and like to hunt for toys around the house.
The quick movements of animals and objects across the TV screen mimics what your cat experiences while hunting so it is a very engaging medium.
There are a laundry list of YouTube videos available that worked wonders on Beast and Lexi. Here are 3 of my favorites: YouTube Video 1 (2 hours), YouTube Video 2 (2 hours), YouTube Video 3 (1 hour).
Simply pop them on the TV with the YouTube App and let your kitty watch. Below is a short sample just to give you an idea!
Supervise your cat during the first few experiences. Some cats may attempt to attack the screen and this can be bad for both your cat and of course your screen.
Cats can become frustrated if they are unable to pounce on something after watching for an extended period.
Be sure to have actual toys nearby for your kitty to play with and be sure to jump in and engage when necessary!
#3 Introduce Your Cat To Video Games To Tire Her Out
If you’ve got a smart phone or tablet then you can put it to use to entertain your cat, and not with YouTube videos. There are more than a handful of mobile applications out there made to entertain your feline friend.
They range from a mouse running around the screen to a peaceful koi pond all the way to letting your cat paint a masterpiece and then print out the results.
Apps are available for both Apple and Android (this is a good list of the best) and they do a great job of drawing your cat’s attention. A few additional tips:
Make sure your tablet or mobile phone is on the floor when your cat plays.
Trim your cat’s nails in advance.
Add a screen protector just in case.
If you’re in the market for a cat related video game for yourself check out Cat Quest. It is has tons of fun cat puns in the dialogue and has a lot of meowing that kept my cats up and engaged.
#4 Maintain the Mystery Of Her Toys So She Keeps Playing
Anyone out there that’s owned a cat knows that they are inherently curious. After all, the good old phrase “Curiosity killed the cat.” had to originate from somewhere right?
Don’t worry, I have no intention of injuring your cat. But! We can put your cat’s instincts to work again to keep her awake during the daytime hours.
While cats enjoy a life without big surprises they tend to love small surprises. This means that new toys are far more interesting than old toys.
Having a rotation of toys of available for your cats is imperative for keeping them entertained. Be sure to put toys that aren’t in use away in a cupboard or shelf where your cat can’t see them. This way when you bring them out they seem brand new!
Another item that might help is a quick spritz of Catnip Spray on an older toy. You can find Catnip spray at any pet store these days or you can pick it up from Amazon for a couple of bucks.
Last but not least, if you happen to order items and have the shipped to your house (who doesn’t these days?) then be sure to keep the boxes around so your cat can explore them. If you’ve got multiple boxes you can re-arrange them in different ways to keep your cat interested and thus awake.
#5 Spay or Neuter Your Feline Friend To Minimize Yowling
According to the most recent research a large portion of American house cats are already spayed or neutered. Cats that aren’t yet fixed though often exhibit a host of frustrating behavioral problems including yowling all through the night looking for a mate.
If your cat is not yet spayed or neutered then you should consider getting this done ASAP. Not only are there a variety of health benefits (longer life, less likelihood to develop cancer, etc.), but it generally helps calm cats down.
To be 100% clear, spaying or neutering is not a guaranteed fix for every behavioral problem in the book, but it often has positive benefits from a behavioral standpoint and is a good choice for the overall cat population.
If spaying or neutering your cat is difficult to consider due to costs then look into free or heavily discounted services through the ASPCA at this link.
#6 Adopt a Fluffy Friend For Your Cat To Tire Her Out
If your cat currently flies solo and you’ve never explored having another cat in the house then you may want to consider it. My household started with one cat and she often slept all day. Since I volunteer at the local shelter I decided to foster a cat to give her some company and they hit it off well.
I now commonly find their toys strewn about the house when I get home. Not only does an additional cat bring your feline friend a companion to pass the time with, it encourages them to exercise and play together which when done right will ensure they sleep at night!
Note that some cats are absolutely not open to having another feline in their territory. If you already know your cat is a solo cat then this is obviously not a good choice.
If you’re not sure about your cat you might want to try fostering from a local shelter to:
Do a good deed for a kitty in need
Understanding how well your resident cat will adjust
Most foster programs will let you foster anywhere from a week to a few months. They also love it if you have a ‘failed foster’ and end up adopting the cat directly. Check out PetFinder to help you locate local shelters and rescues!
#7 Provide a Separate Bed For Your Cat So She Isn’t Sleeping On You
A large percentage of cat owners, 62% according to recent research, let their cat sleep in their bed with them. There are a host of benefits to allowing your cat to sleep with you, in particular stress relief. You also get the enjoyment of listening to them purr and knead as they get read for bed.
That being said, cats are not well known for sleeping for long periods of time. They tend to sleep in short naps throughout the entire day.
While most of us cat owners enjoy having our cats sleep with us (me included), I’ve found significant benefit in having my cats sleep nearby instead of directly on my bed with me.
I own a small cat bed and it sits on my nightstand and I encourage Beast to sleep in it with treats or by simply picking her up and placing her in it.
Not only does this keep her nice and warm and comfy, but it stops her from walking all over me to find a spot for herself. She also is a tiny furnace and she makes me hot beyond belief when she lays on top of me so this is an absolute necessity for me!
#8 Get an Automatic Feeder for Morning or Night Feedings
If your cat wakes you up with a ton of noise looking for food early in the morning or the middle of the night then consider an automatic cat feeder. There automatic feeders for both dry and wet food.
You can simply program your feeder to pour out a certain amount of food or pop open a prepared dish of food at a specific time of day.
Not only will this make your kitty happy when he or she wakes up hungry in the morning, but it’ll also save you from having to wake up and prepare cat food!
This means you can kill two birds with one stone at night when you’re getting ready to feed your kitty dinner after that play session we talked about above!
#9 Consider Your Lighting So Your Older Cat Isn’t Confused
As cats age their eyesight can start to decline. No surprise, this is true across every animal in the world, including us humans. Older cats though may start to experience problems in the dark especially.
While cat whiskers are amazing things (and help your cat navigate in the dark) it is possible that your cat simply doesn’t understand why she can’t see as well as she used to a night time.
Sometimes this lack of understanding can cause your feline friend to speak out and let you know she’s lost and confused. This means meowing. In the middle of the night.
If you’re starting to experience this with an older cat then you might want to explore providing a nightlight in a strategic place to ensure your cat can see where she needs to go.
#10 Teach Your Cat Ornithology (Bird Watching) So She Zonks Out at Night
It is nothing new that cats love to look out the window, but the window can get boring if there’s not much out there that’s moving.
Spice things up and install a bird feeder and a window bed. This gets your kitty a front row seat to the action of all of the birds coming back and forth to feed.
I use a very small bird feeder that is 100% clear and attaches to the window with suction cups. This feeder is by no means a necessity, but it provides an completely unobstructed view.
This means your cat stays locked in for a longer period of time. I’ve also noticed that the cat proximity does nothing to deter the sparrows or cardinals from ravaging my bird feeder.
You might even get extra lucky and attract a squirrel if you put the feeder low enough down or provide the type of feeder that a squirrel can get into.
My cat Lexi not only chatters extensively at the birds whenever they are there. She constantly gets into full butt wiggle mode and pounces on her own inside to show the birds who is the boss.
#11 Give Your Cat a Relaxation Boost Before Bed
Feeding your cat a little bit of catnip can help them relax before bed time. We often hear that catnip will cause your cat to become full of energy and bounce of the walls.
The inhalation of catnip is what causes your cat to become a bit crazed or loaded with energy. On the other hand when cats eat catnip most of them experience a calming effect just like that of a sedative.
You may also try placing a Feliway Calming Cat Diffuser in the room your cat sleeps in. Feliway has a calming effect on cats by diffusing a synthetic pheromone into the air that makes your cat feel like she is in a safe place.
While the more traditional use is to help a cat adjust to a new house or to decrease behavior like spraying it can also have benefits to encourage a more generally relaxed demeanor.
#12 Relocate the Cat Bathroom To Minimize Midnight Noise
I’m not sure about your cat, but my cats make an absolutely crazy amount of noise when they are finished using the litter box. It seriously sounds like they are trying to dig their way all the way to China through the bottom of the litter box.
And you know what? No surprise! This used to constantly wake me up until I relocated the litter box.
Keep your cat’s litter box as far away from your bedroom as possible. If you can put it inside a mostly enclosed space like a closet or a mud room this is even better.
Anything you can do to minimize the noise made from your cat kicking litter or banging the flap will provide a more peaceful night of sleep
#13 Hire a Robot Servant (Vacuum) And Have It Work While You’re Away
We’ve all seen the iconic photo or video of the cat riding around on top of the Roomba, and yes, it is hilarious. The simple fact though is most cats are not only intrigued by robot vacuum cleaners, they are not terribly thrilled by them.
This means as a robot vacuum is doing its job tidying up the house it is likely keeping your kitty awake and alert, but with no real threat at hand.
Two birds, one stone! Especially if you have wood floors like I do and there’s often litter all over despite your best efforts.
There are a few things you’ll of course want to consider here before kicking off this idea:
Run your robot vacuum at least a few times while you are around to determine how your cat will react. If he or she is clearly freaked out then this isn’t a great idea.
Check around the house before leaving for the day. I’ve had my vacuum roll right through a pile of cat puke and then drag it through the house, not so fun to clean up later. Ugh. Yuck.
Oh, and if you haven’t seen the video then check it out below…
#14 Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked – Keep Your Cat Awake Until Bed
Another easy way to ensure your cat sleeps at night is to simply wake him or her up whenever they try to take an extended nap during the day.
This is most important to enforce once you’re home from work or school. The more you keep your cat awake between then and bed time the less likely she will be to wake you up throughout the night.
This is one of the easiest methods to execute on, if of course you are actually at home during the day. All it takes is giving your kitty some butt scratches or chin scratches to convince her to wake up.
I’m also lucky in that if I pick either of my cats up they wake up immediately and want to get down and walk around. Figure out a gentle way to wake your kitties up that keeps them up…
#15 Turn Your Cat Into the Next World Traveler
If you’re not already familiar with the idea of Adventure Cats then you should definitely check out this amazing website that details all of the comings and goings of cats that go out into the wild with their humans!
This includes every variety of cat. From those that ride along in backpack carriers with their humans while they hike all the way to those that have been leash and harness trained and love to go hiking with their humans.
You can get your cat started on becoming an adventure cat by picking up a leash and harness yourself and taking your cat for short walks around the house or outdoors. I live in downtown Chicago so I don’t love walking my cats on the sidewalk.
Instead I use a Bubble Backpack to get them to an open space or a park first! Giving your cat the chance to experience new places and smells is an experience that will keep her locked in for an extended period of time.
Not only does this ensure she stays awake, but it also ensures that she’s fully ready to fall asleep for a good long time once you get her home!
Learn the basics of turning your cat into an adventure cat here.
#16 Entertain Your Cat (And Yourself) From Afar
Although it is often noted that cats are nocturnal, they aren’t. They are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk.
This means they sleep a lot during the day. Keeping your cat awake during the day is a great way to ensure your cat will spend most of the night sleeping.
Unfortunately a good chunk of us are away during the day at work or school. This means your cat is likely zonked out in the comfiest spot in the house (or in the spots they aren’t allowed on while you are home!) all day long.
So what can you do short of trying to sneak home to wake your fur ball up?
Welcome to the world of remote controlled feeders and toys!
There are a laundry list of products on the market, we’re going to focus on those that can wake your kitty cat up. Two great ways to do this are with:
Remote controlled video, audio & laser pointers:
Log into the app on your phone and not only do you get sound and video (and can speak to your cats), but you can flip on the built in laser pointer and drag it across the floor!
This is perfect for an extended day away at work. Log into the phone app for 5 minutes during lunch or between meetings and get your kitty running around a bit. The most well known company in the space is PetCube.
Remote controlled treat dispensers:
This contraption will allow you to deploy treats from the click of your phone. Since most cats come running to the sound of the treat bag your cat will quickly recognize the sound of the treat dispenser deploying a snack and come running.
There are obvious concerns with using this method exclusively, feeding your cat tons of treats will fatten him or her up!
#17 When All Else Fails…Close The Door for Privacy
A hefty chunk of cat owners absolutely love sleeping with their cats, myself included. But if you’ve tried a wide variety of methods to achieve a full night of sleep and you haven’t seen success then you might try this as a last resort.
Try putting your cat in another room or simply closing your bedroom door while you sleep.
When I put mine in the second bedroom they didn’t bat an eyelash and went right to sleep without a single meow of complaint. On the other hand if I leave them outside the bedroom and close the door they bonk and paw at it the whole night.
I’ve deployed the SSSCat Cat Deterrent to deter this behavior and had some success, but it was simply easier to put them in the other room when I need a night to myself.
I’ve spoken with numerous other owners that have cats that don’t mind being locked out of the bedroom at night one bit.
You may have to experiment with where to keep your cats for the night, but if they are driving you nuts in the room then definitely try some alternatives. You shouldn’t feel bad about it as many cats will quickly adjust and go to sleep without any problem what so ever.
Wrapping It Up
These days sleep is proving ever more important for good general health. Ensuring you get a sound night of sleep is very important, especially if you want to have a great day when you get out of bed.
The most important thing you can do to ensure you and your cat both get a good night of sleep is to make sure your cat is good and tired out around bed time. This means keeping your cat focused and engaged during the day, even if you’re not around, and then providing good quality play time before dinner and bed!
One last item worth calling out. If your cat is meowing or causing a ruckus all night long and none of these methods help then there may be a medical issue at hand. You should consider taking your cat to the vet to ensure there isn’t a health related concern causing your cat to stay up all night.
What method have you found to ensure you and your cat(s) all get a good night of sleep? Tell us about your favorite method, or better yet what you’ve experienced across a bunch of cats! Feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.
Everyone meet the gorgeous little lady Slink! Slinky is nearly five, and she’s been with her family for three years now. She came to them as the runt of the litter from a family member as a kitten, but she didn’t gel well with the youngest child; she kept stealing her toys from her hands, or batting her while she was in her bouncer.
Fortunately Slinky’s humans had some close family members that looked after her until the youngest grew enough that Slinky could finally come home. Now she’s okay with all three of the children, but her heart really belongs to her human dad! Mom is a tolerable second best most of the time! However, Slinky only lets her human mom pet her belly, albeit begrudgingly!
Slinky is a Savannah, but she pulls hard from her Siamese roots in looks, personality, and vocals. She never stops talking. She meows at you when you look at her, pet her, go near her, or just because she can. Her meow is so loud too! You can hear her meowing from anywhere in the house. She’s very friendly, and always comes to new people for pets or to sit in their lap. She’s such a lap cat. She also follows her humans around the house. It’s not uncommon for her to wander in and peek into the bath while one of us is in it, or to poke her head round doors to find her human friends and then wait for them to move!
Slinky has a BIG personality. Her family has met and raised a lot of cats, but they’ve never known a cat quite like her. When she wants your attention she lets you know all about it, either vocally or by simply following you or sitting on you. Slinky is not big on the outdoors like most cats are in England. She usually only goes out if the family is in the garden with her. She was really annoyed with the recent snow as you can see! Probably cold feet if I had to guess!
Slinky is named after the cat from the Slinky Malinki children’s books, because she fits the description exactly (except in the book Slinky is a boy.)
“Slinky Malinki was blacker than black,
A stalking and lurking adventurous cat,
He had bright yellow eyes and a warbling wail,
And a kink at the end of his very long tail.”
Even down to the kink in her tail, Slinky fits her name perfectly!
We at StuffCatsWant again thank reddit user ASpecialUnicorn for submitting Slinky as Cat of the Week! To submit your cat for Cat of the Week please send at least 5 photos and a description of at least 400 words to Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.
Everyone meet Mister. Mister is estimated to be between between 5 and 7 years old, even after a vet appointment there’s no guaranteed age. Mister was a stray for the majority of his life, but in the summer of 2017 he started showing up in Twitter user @taramarie_26’s front yard. He was pretty skinny so they did the good citizen thing and started feeding him. Note that this was much to the chagrin of their 3 other cats.
Over the course of a few months Mister started to come inside, he realized that these humans providing food weren’t so bad at all and that the house was nice and comfy! Fast forward to now, and he spends almost all of his time inside with his new family.
No surprise, as a stray, Mister has some issues with other cats and doesn’t particularly love the feline company. But for the most part he’s great at ignoring the resident cats and not getting in fights with them. Recently Mister even allowed his new family to take him to the vet to get him fixed and get a health report. It turns out he’s FIV positive. This is no surprise for a male stray cat as they tend to be territorial and FIV can spread through deep bite wounds.
Given this Mister’s new family keeps a close eye on him and ensures that no fights break out between him and his resident pals. Mister is almost completely deaf, but he can hear certain pitches, like the vacuum and a can of cat food opening. Reminds me of my own cat Lexi that seems oblivious to any noise you make except for the shaking the treat bag or the dry food canister!
While Mister is not much of a lap cat he loves to lay next to his adoptive family. He even has a favorite blanket on the couch patterned from Disney! Mister doesn’t want to let his humans out of his sight and follows them almost everywhere around the house. If they head to the kitchen, he’s always laying next to their feet. He just loves to be around people, all the time. He particularly loves @taramarie_26’s mom. If she’s home, he follows her everywhere.
We at StuffCatsWant again thank Twitter user @taramarie_26 for submitting Mister as Cat of the Week! To submit your cat for Cat of the Week please send at least 5 photos and a description of at least 400 words to Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.
This time, as Pablo usually would, he quickly came to Wayne. He couldn’t see Wayne, but he knew the sound of his voice. Wayne gently stroked his neck and back, and Pablo began to relax.
Because Pablo’s recovery was still ongoing and he was 
Kittens are notorious for attacking anything and everything that gets near them, especially anything that moves. This includes shoe laces, long hair, wand toys and of course their own tail. Being an aspiring hunter this is no surprise, pouncing on moving prey is a natural instinct.
Boredom Is the Biggest Culprit
Cats Desire Attention And Treats Too
If you’ve got a smart phone or tablet then you can put it to use to entertain your cat, and not with YouTube videos. There are more than a handful of mobile applications out there made to entertain your feline friend.
Anyone out there that’s owned a cat knows that they are inherently curious. After all, the good old phrase “Curiosity killed the cat.” had to originate from somewhere right?
#8
Feeding your cat a little bit of catnip can help them relax before bed time. We often hear that catnip will cause your cat to become full of energy and bounce of the walls.
She’s very friendly, and always comes to new people for pets or to sit in their lap. She’s such a lap cat. She also follows her humans around the house. It’s not uncommon for her to wander in and peek into the bath while one of us is in it, or to poke her head round doors to find her human friends and then wait for them to move!
