Cats bring so much joy to our lives when they first move in. But they can also disturb our lives with their behaviors like that sometimes, you all catch your cat napping all day and playtime at night. Or in the night you might hear something go ”bump” but then you see that it’s your feline friend.
So this behavior determines that cats are nocturnal? No, they are not nocturnal, they are crepuscular. They are mostly active during dusk and dawn in other words. They’re also polyphasic sleepers, which means they take plenty of naps in between those times.
The truth is that the cats are often active at night, but they also sleep for a while in the evening. As humans and other pets wind down for the night, cats roam the house looking for cuddles, snacks, and playmates.
If you want to explore more about whether a cat is a nocturnal animal or not? If not, then why do they stay awake at night? Then this post is all about you.
Are cats nocturnal animals?
The short answer is no. Cats are not nocturnal animals. They are crepuscular. They are most active during the dusk and dawn. Furthermore, they rest during the whole day.
If cats are not nocturnal, what are they?
Felines are complex creatures, and their sleeping patterns are among the unique and interesting aspects of their day-to-day lives. This is because cats are not nocturnal, but crepuscular.
According to Wilde, some cats are also more active around dawn or the very early hours of the morning, as opposed to hours during the night, when they are more active.
It is not uncommon for pet owners to perceive their cats as having been awake all night as a result of this situation.
Compared to other animals, humans are diurnal, which refers to their habit of being most active during the daytime hours and sleeping during the nighttime hours.
You may also like: https://persiancatinfo.com/are-persian-cats-good-with-dogs/
Are some cats nocturnal?
While most of them are nocturnal, should it mean that all the cats show crepuscular behavior? No, every cat is different in nature. some cats are like they are active during the day and sleep at night, mostly kittens. 
It may depend on you. It may be that your pet has simply adapted to your lifestyle if you work a night shift and don’t sleep during the day or even stay up for long periods during the evening because you work the night shift.
If cats aren’t nocturnal animals, why do they sleep most of the day?
As strange as it might seem, your cat’s sleeping schedule has been honed by evolution to help their wild ancestors become successful hunters.
In dimmer light (as they could see in dimly lit conditions) their ancestors were able to sneak up on their prey, making dawn and dusk the most efficient time to hunt.
Once the daylight hours closed in, they would then take advantage of the daylight hours to recharge their batteries, in preparation for their next hunt as darkness would descend once again.
Our feline friends are not wild creatures, but their ancestors are, so they also have the same sleeping schedule as them.
The best thing is that the cats are trying to adjust their sleeping routine the same as the human matches to stay in the company of their loving owners.
Do Cats Get Any Sleep At Night?
Cats are not nocturnal, so they spend some time of the night for their sleep. It depends on how much they like. Instead, they take multiple naps throughout 24 hours due to their polyphasic sleep pattern.
Cats sleep like this because they’re both predator and prey. Polyphasic (meaning “many phases”) sleep allows them to stay alert enough to swiftly escape predators when needed. In comparison, humans are typically diurnal—mostly active during the day—and have one primary sleep cycle at night.
At night, they sleep so deeply like they are dead. It becomes much more difficult to wake them up.
So why do we think they’re nocturnal?
Well, return to the memes. “Many people think that cats are nocturnal because most people who have a cat will attest to the fact that their cat wakes them up in the middle of the night regularly,” Dr. Lugones says. “But that overnight activity usually correlates to their crepuscular tendencies.” Here’s how to tell how smart your cat is, by the way.
Is your cat awake at night? Top tips to manage life with our crepuscular feline friends
Cats might not be nocturnal animals, but they still make our lives interesting with their crepuscular schedule. Here is how to manage a cat that wants to keep you awake all the time.
Don’t reward the behavior
People often reinforce boisterous nighttime activity without even realizing that they are doing so. They might get up to feed, play with, or simply chase them out of the room. All of these responses teach the cat that disturbing you gets attention. The first step is to avoid rewarding the disturbing behavior with your attention
Play together before bedtime
Use up all your cat’s energy by playing their favorite games together just before going to bed. A good cat play session could include anything from chasing toys and food games to interactive play on your tablet or smartphone (although be aware that sharp claws and phone screens often aren’t a great mix…)
The goal is to let them enjoy plenty of activity during the day, so they can settle down later on, and won’t come looking for you when you’re asleep.
Offer your cat a meal before bedtime
Another good trick that might help to prevent your cat’s crepuscular activities is feeding them before going to bed. A full belly means a lot of the body’s energy will be diverted towards the digestion process, leaving little extra for any of their nighttime mischievous behavior.
Making sure your cat is full before you go to bed means they will be less likely to wake you up asking for food while you’re sleeping.
Provide daytime activity in your absence
One option is feeding your cat meals from a food-dispensing toy. Feeder toys simulate a wild feline’s hunt-catch-consume behavior, providing both mental and physical stimulation.
Don’t punish your cat
As cat people and cat sitters, we do NOT punish cats. We address causes first to correct behavior. Punishing a cat can stress them out, make them feel frightened, worsen problems, and destroy the trust and bond they have with you.
It’s helpful to think of them the way you would a human child-there is a reason they are “acting out.” They are responding to something in their lives or environment.
Look for the reason behind the behavior you perceive to be “bad” and try to fix the source.
Above all, remember that all living beings do what works for them: if your cat is allowed to disturb you at night – or worse yet, is rewarded for doing so – the behavior will continue. Managing your cat’s behavior and environment can set both of you up for long-term success.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I will say that cats are not nocturnal. They are crepuscular. They are mostly active during the night and rest all day.
Some cats can be nocturnal. We think that the cats are nocturnal because they sleep all the time during the day. But in fact, this is not true. Cats also get some sleep during nighttime, depending on how much they like. Some steps are given above to manage your cat’s nighttime routine.
Leave any comments about this article.
