Are cats nocturnal? A guide to understanding your kitty's sleeping habits

Updated 27/02/2024

As we humans tuck ourselves in ready for a peaceful night's slumber, it often feels like our kitties are just gearing up for a fun-filled nighttime ahead - which begs the question, are cats nocturnal?

From their love of cardboard boxes to their irrational fear of cucumbers, there are a number of wonderfully weird cat behaviors that we’re still trying to wrap our heads around - not least of all their sleep schedule. 

If you’re one of the many cat parents out there curious about your feline friend’s sleeping habits or you’re wondering how to handle your kitty's nighttime antics, here’s everything you need to know...

Are cats nocturnal animals?

No, cats are not nocturnal. Cats are crepuscular creatures who are most active during dawn and dusk - which also happens to be when their prey is most active. Yep, that’s right cat parents - your fluffy, pampered little puss is really just a stalking, fearless little night predator at heart. Aww... 

We’d forgive you for thinking that cats are nocturnal animals, though, as it’s a very common misconception. After all, cats do appear to sleep for most of the day, napping blissfully as we go about our errands - and most cat parents will be all too familiar with the crashes and bangs of Kitty's 4am zoomies. So, why are cats so active at night? The answer might surprise you...

Why are cats so active at night, and why do cats sleep most of the day?

We have evolution to thank for your cat’s sleeping patterns, and for all those excellent hunting skills they've come to possess. For your kitty's wild ancestors, hunting during dusk and dawn was the most successful way to ensure a good meal - it was when their prey was most active, plus the low light levels made it easier for them to see and sneak up on their poor, unsuspecting prey. And yes, we know that in today’s world, Felix gets fed like clockwork - but those hunting instincts and crepuscular behaviors run deep.

Hunting is hard work, and so to conserve their energy levels, cats would naturally spend the rest of their time resting or sleeping after a hunt - which is why cats sleep so much during the day. Wait, so you're telling us that Felix - curled up in his favorite spot right by the radiator - is gearing up for a night of intense hunting? Yep, he really is. 

These days, while still partial to the occasional cat naps, most domesticated felines have adjusted their sleeping schedules to better fit their humans. And to give them credit, cats don't sleep all of the day - we humans just tend to miss the times of the day when they're at their most active!

Top tips to manage your crepuscular kitty's nighttime antics

Kitty keeping you awake at night? Been there. While it's completely normal for Felix to be flexing his paws come dusk and dawn, admittedly, it's not ideal. Especially with that early morning, 9am work meeting a few mere hours away...

Here are some tried and tested tips for managing your kitty's crepuscular activities: 

Play with your cat before bedtime

A good playtime session before bedtime is a great way to tucker your kitty out and exert some of that much-needed energy before you hit the sack. Consider having your kitty chase around a laser toy or a classic game of mouse-on-a-stick.

Give them toys to keep them occupied in your absence

Nighttime can be pretty boring for cats, especially if their humans aren’t around to entertain them. Investing in a great cat puzzle toy or a scratching post that will help to keep both their mind and body active can be a great way to keep kitty occupied while you're catching those Zzzs. 

Feed your cat a meal before lights out

If part of your kitty's crepuscular activities includes constantly waking you up for food, a good meal before bedtime could be just the ticket. Or why not consider an auto-feeder to open up at around the same time your kitty comes a-knocking? Make sure to adjust your kitty’s other portions if they’re now getting an extra bedtime snack to avoid overfeeding which could lead to weight gain.

Try not to give in 

We know, easier said than done. But getting up at night - whether to feed, play, or simply move your cat to another room - will all help to reinforce your cat's behavior, and ultimately teach them that disturbing you = attention! 

Try not responding to your cat's demands in the middle of the night (unless of course, it's an emergency) and eventually, your cat should give up pursuing you in favor of something a little more rewarding like a snooze.

Close your bedroom door

One of the simplest ways to ensure a good night's slumber? Keep your bedroom door closed! Kitty will soon need to find something else to keep them occupied - naturally, just be sure they’ve got easy access to everything they could need overnight, such as food, water, and a clean litter box.

Meet our veterinary expert, Holly

This article has been checked by veterinarian Holly Anne Hills BVM BVS BVMedSci. After graduating from the University of Nottingham, Holly spent two years working as a farm animal vet. She then spent some time traveling and volunteering in India, working at neutering clinics and with injured street dogs. Holly now works in small animal practice, and balances this with writing, volunteering with the comms team at Vet Sustain, and she is also a marine mammal medic!

Your common cat questions, answered

Try as we might, we may never know the true inner workings of our feline friend’s minds. That said, we’ve done our best to answer your most common cat questions here.