I’m learning more about cats, or this cat, every day and I’ll never understand why people decided cats should live in a house with humans.
When do cats sleep? My answer is the same to any question you may ask about cats: They do whatever they want whenever they want without any consideration for anyone else.
Thursday night I stayed up way too late working on food. It was after 1 a.m. when I started to go to bed. I went into the bedroom to turn on the shower because I think the hot water comes from somewhere in northwest Arkansas and takes forever to get to the master bath shower. When I opened the bedroom door, Boots ran into the bedroom . . straight under the bed. I tried to coax him out. Usually I turn on the shower, run take Boots to the sewing room for the night, then I take my shower and go to bed.
He was under the bed and wouldn’t come out so I decided to sit down and read email in the living room and maybe he would come out. No, that didn’t work. I walked into the bedroom just as he was coming out from under the bed and he ran back under the bed. Why?
I sleep with the bedroom door closed so I went into the garage, found a plastic tub, put kitty litter in it, brought it into the bathroom. Took my shower and went to bed. It was about 1:45 at that point. He wanted to look out a window so he started with the windows by the tub. When he jumped into the tub, he knocked everything over. I got up thinking I could get him but he ran back under the bed.
I got back in bed and at almost 3 a.m., he woke me up licking my arm with that scratchy tongue. I grabbed him . . and took him down to the sewing room, got back in bed and slept til a little after 5 a.m.
Does running under the bed mean he doesn’t want to go into the sewing room for the night? Does it mean he wants to stay in the bedroom with me? Does it mean he’s being a cat?
I have no idea but you can bet that before I ever get out of my chair now, I grab him and take him downstairs so he has no forewarning that I’m fixing to go to bed.
Elle says
Cats sleep an average of 16 hours a day. I generally go to bed around 9pm. Within 10 minutes, Kylie comes in, meows a few times and leaves. That’s it. Her way of saying goodnight?
Mayme says
Let him sleep on the bed with you!
Judy Laquidara says
He could if he wanted to, at least while Vince isn’t here, but he didn’t want to. He wanted to roam around and try to find a big windowsill where he could watch the world go by.
Dottie Newkirk says
Cats are definitely unique – just when you “think” you know what they will do, they switch up the playbook, LOL.
melissa raddetz says
Drag a piece of yarn by the bed and most cats can’t resist. Get a wand toy that has a mouse/bell at the end.
He’ll hear it and come running if you “save” it for when you really need to find him. I slap the top of our cat tree and my cats will wake up from a dead sleep because they know that means a special high value treat. Use play time to train him. They’re all individuals but they have a daily pattern….STALK (or play – try to play with him for 15-20 minutes), EAT, GROOM and SLEEP. Usually there are two cycles per 24 hours. Sleep can be catnaps where they follow the sunbeams or use the litter box or just wander for a bit. Like a newborn baby you can encourage them to adopt more of your routine/schedule. Play with him for 20 minutes when you wake up. Drag yarn or use a wand toy and let him chase it. Hide it under newspaper and wriggle it, whatever he loves. My cats love ping pong balls on hardwood floors – they’ll play for 5-10 minutes alone. Then feed him and let him wander off to groom and sleep. When he wakes up in the afternoon play with him vigorously. You want him worn out and tired. Then feed him in the evening and then he should sleep a better portion of the night and be very happy to be in the sewing room. They all wander and play at night. Instinctually they’re nocturnal.
Judy Laquidara says
We have a wand toy and he has no interest in that. Tonight Chad was trying to play with him and he said “Mom, you have a lazy cat!” Yes, I’ve figured that out.
sheryl says
It’s all 3 reasons. We usually shut Molly Mae out of our bedroom but left the door open last night so she took advantage of the opportunity.
Nelle Coursey says
Like you said, cats have minds of their own! LOL
Sandi B says
Sounds about right. Cats are in charge. Always.