Do humans sleep better than cats or dogs? A recent study looked at people who held hands with their pets, and the results might surprise you! Although most people say that sleeping with their pets has improved the quality of their sleep, the truth is that it has been negatively affected! That is, if they slept on a dog. Sleeping with a cat makes no difference in sleep quality. Read the full study here.
While that’s great news for cat people, I’m sure your nightly rest with your kitty could use a little improvement. Cats don’t always share the same sleep schedule as their humans. In fact, if left to their own circadian rhythm, it is quite different. And then there’s the issue of them waking you up to ask for breakfast, or thinking your feet are toys. But with a little effort, and simple training techniques, you can greatly improve your and your cat’s sleep.
Here are some tips to help you sleep better with your cat
- Have a consistent sleep routine.
Do your best to go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Yes, this includes the weekend. Because cats do not know from the weekend. However, they understand the tasks very well. In fact, they thrive on routine. If your cat knows that you both go to bed at the same time, and you always wake up at the same time, they will expect that. - Make the playtime or treat part of the routine before bed.
Having playtime before bed helps your cat expend energy, and they’re more likely to sleep through the night undisturbed. It doesn’t have to be a long gaming session. A few minutes of tossing or swinging around an interactive toy wand is enough. Whatever happens to your cat likes. Bedtime treats are also a good ritual, and a good routine for you and your cat to share. - Don’t get your cat into bad sleeping habits.
Do they get zoomies in the middle of the night? Begging for breakfast hours before you want to get up? Do not indulge in these habits. You play with them before bedtime to avoid getting restless in the middle of the night.One thing that really helps when it comes to your early riser cat is to not feed them as soon as you get up. Do lots of other things that don’t involve your cat first — brush your teeth, start coffee, stretch in the morning. If you put some space between the time you get up and the time you feed your cat, they won’t associate getting up with food, and you can get some peace.
- Make your bed comfortable for both of you.
Maybe have a super soft pillow or a nice cat bed for your cat. And make sure you’re comfortable too. Everyone is different in their bedding preferences, so make sure yours is taken care of. - Also make sure to wash your bedding often.
This is more for you than your cat. If your cat likes it, he’ll probably prefer that you never wash the bed, so they always smell. But you probably don’t want cat fur tickling your nose while you’re trying to get rid of it. So if your cat sleeps with you every night, or almost every night, clean the bed weekly, and make sure the covers are free of fur. If your cat has a special blanket or bed where they sleep, keep that clean too, so fur doesn’t transfer to your face. - Make sure your cat is well and flea free.
This may not sound like a sleep tip, but think about it. When your cat snuggles up and starts making biscuits for you, if their nails aren’t clipped, you’re stung. And who wants to share their bed with fleas? So regular grooming, nail trimming, and any flea treatments, if needed, can really help you sleep well at night. - Make regular vet check-ups part of your routine.
This is especially so if your cat is older. Older cats often develop medical issues that can disturb their — and your — sleep. Monitoring your cat’s health can potentially delay the kind of health issues that will cause it.
Quality sleep is really important for you and your cat. And I’m sure there are some areas I’ve listed that you can improve on. So give them a try and share sweet dreams with your cat.
Are you surprised by some of these tips? Let’s talk about it in the comments!
