Are cats nocturnal? Why your cat is awake at night

No. Cats are not truly nocturnal. They are crepuscular, which means they are naturally most active around dawn and dusk. They are not diurnal (active by day) either. House cats are flexible, and most shift a good part of their activity to fit the people they live with, which is why a pet cat can sleep through much of the night and still wake you before sunrise.

One exception matters on a site about older pets. A senior cat that has recently started roaming, crying or demanding food at night is not just being a cat. That change is a reason to see the vet.

Are cats nocturnal or diurnal?

Neither word quite fits. There are three broad patterns:

Cats sit in the third group, loosely. They do not sleep in one long block the way people do. They sleep in many short bouts spread across the day and night, with their busiest spells falling in the early morning and the evening.

Why cats are built for twilight

The small animals that cats evolved to hunt, such as mice and small birds, are busy in low light. A cat's body is set up for exactly those hours.

• Eyes. Large pupils and a reflective layer at the back of the eye let cats see in far dimmer light than people can. They cannot see in complete darkness.
• Hearing and whiskers. Both help a cat find its way and track movement when there is little to see.
• Short bursts of energy. Cats hunt in brief, intense efforts and rest in between, which is why the evening sprint around the house is over in minutes.

The long daytime sleep is part of the same design. Many healthy adult cats sleep well over half the day, and older cats usually sleep more. If you are not sure how much is too much, see why an old cat sleeps all day.

Are house cats nocturnal?

Less than their reputation suggests. Pet cats tend to build their day around the household: when people get up, when meals arrive, when someone comes home. A cat that lives closely with its family usually ends up active in the morning and evening and quiet for most of the night.

Cats that are left alone all day with little to do, cats that go outdoors after dark and young cats are more likely to be busy at night. Kittens and adolescents are the worst offenders, and most settle as they mature.

Why your cat is awake at night

• Dawn is hunting time. Early-morning waking is the crepuscular pattern showing through.
• It has learned that waking you works. If crying at the bedroom door has ever produced food or attention, it will be tried again.
• A long, dull day. A cat that has slept from breakfast to dinner has energy left over.
• Hunger. A long gap between the evening meal and breakfast.
• Something outside. Other cats, wildlife or lights at a window.
• Hormones. An unspayed female in heat, or an unneutered male who can smell one, will call loudly at night.
• A change at home. A move, a new pet, a new baby or a change in your work hours.
• Illness or pain. Much more likely in an older cat. See below.

How to shift a cat's night-time activity

You are working with the cat's natural rhythm, not against it. Expect change over a couple of weeks, not overnight.

1. Play hard in the evening. A session with a wand toy that lets your cat stalk, chase and catch, shortly before your own bedtime.
2. Feed after play. Cats tend to hunt, eat, groom and then sleep. A meal straight after the play session follows that order.
3. Use a timed feeder for the early hours. A small portion of the daily food released before dawn means the feeder, not you, becomes the thing to wait beside. Keep the total daily amount the same, and check with your vet before changing meal times if your cat is diabetic or on a prescription diet.
4. Make the day more interesting. A window perch, puzzle feeders, a few short play sessions and toys rotated every few days.
5. Do not reward night waking. Getting up to feed, play or even scold teaches the cat that noise works. This only applies to a healthy cat. Do not ignore an older or unwell cat that cries at night.
6. Keep a steady routine. Meals, play and bedtime at about the same times each day.
7. Set up the night. A warm bed, a clean litter box and water within easy reach. Close blinds if outdoor cats are the trigger.

Do not punish night-time activity, and do not give anything to make a cat sleep. Melatonin, antihistamines and other human sleep aids must only be given if your vet has confirmed the exact product and amount for your cat. Some human products contain added ingredients that are dangerous to cats.

When an older cat becomes active at night

A lifelong early riser is one thing. A cat of 10 or more that has started pacing, yowling or waking the house when it used to sleep through is another. In senior cats, new night-time activity is a health signal until a vet has shown otherwise. The conditions vets commonly look for:

• Overactive thyroid. Hyperthyroidism can cause restlessness, loud crying, a huge appetite and weight loss despite eating.
• High blood pressure. It often goes along with kidney or thyroid disease, can cause night crying, and can damage the eyes suddenly.
• Pain. A cat with sore joints or a sore mouth may not be able to settle. See arthritis in senior cats.
• Cognitive decline. Confusion, staring, getting stuck in corners and a reversed sleep pattern can point to cognitive dysfunction.
• Failing sight or hearing. A cat that cannot hear itself or cannot find its way in the dark may call out loudly.
• Thirst and hunger from other illness. Kidney disease and diabetes mean more trips to the water bowl and the litter box.

None of these can be told apart at home, and several can be present together. The vet will usually examine your cat, run blood and urine tests and measure blood pressure. Many of these conditions can be treated or managed once found.

It helps to write down when the behavior started, what time of night it happens and anything else that has changed, such as appetite, thirst or weight. For more detail, see why an old cat yowls at night and why an old cat meows so much. The senior cat guide covers routine checks for older cats, and the pet age calculator shows where your cat is in its life stages.

Call the vet today if

• An older cat has started crying, pacing or seeming lost at night
• Night-time restlessness comes with weight loss, a much bigger appetite, or drinking and urinating more
• Your cat seems suddenly blind: wide pupils, bumping into things, reluctant to move
• Your cat is straining in the litter box or passing little or no urine, which is an emergency, especially in male cats
• Breathing is fast, labored or open-mouthed
• Your cat cries out when touched or picked up, or cannot get comfortable
• Your cat has stopped eating

This article is general educational information about cat sleep and activity patterns and is not veterinary advice. New night-time restlessness or crying in an older cat can be a sign of illness and cannot be diagnosed at home. Decisions about your cat's health, and about any medicine or supplement, should be made with your veterinarian.