How do you deal with a cat that won’t sleep at night?

You love your active cat, but when night comes and the meowing, running, attacking, and scratching gets in the way of your plans for a good night’s sleep, love can take a back seat to annoyance.

Cats are genetically programmed to hunt at night. But it’s up to you to help your cat overcome her inherent urges and adapt to her sleep patterns.

“One of the most important things that all pets, and all pet parents, need is education,” says Russell Hartstein, a certified feline behavior consultant and founder and CEO of Fun Paw Care in Los Angeles. “All of these behaviors — scratching, running, excessive meowing — are manifestations that indicate that basic needs are not being met to some degree.”

Meet your cat’s social needs before bedtime

First and foremost, pet parents must meet basic needs. This starts with providing your cat with healthy food, plenty of clean water, and a clean litter box in a safe place.

Cats also have a basic need for social interaction, and they depend on us to meet that need. If a cat is left alone all day and ignored when its parents return, it is likely to meow, scratch, jump, defecate outside the litter box, and behave differently at night to get the attention it needs.

“Cats have a great need to expend energy,” says Jodi Ziskin, trainer at Healthy Pet in Santa Rosa, California. “When they don’t receive adequate stimulation, such as interactive playtime, vertical structures for climbing and jumping, and places to stretch muscles and scratch, they can become anxious, reactive, even aggressive toward their companions or other pets in the home.”

More attention can often solve behavioral problems, such as spending time brushing, cuddling, and playing with your cat. The problem is that many pet parents simply don’t have the time or energy to care for their beloved cat.

“Everyone’s lives are so busy that we can’t all afford to spend much time with our cats,” says Sabrina Castro, DVM, of Vetted Pet Care in Los Angeles, CA. “The real key is to provide lots of enrichment when we are not at home.”

Pet parents should provide their cats with tricks that allow them to climb, scratch, and perch, colorful balls, and other mobile toys, as well as outlets for their hunting desires, such as a ball that dispenses treats when the cat hits it, Castro says.

It can also be helpful to turn the television on at a low volume to visually stimulate your cat when you are away, Castro said.

Scheduling a nighttime feeding time can also be an opportunity to curb your cat’s nighttime manias. Cats, like humans, often fall asleep after a big meal, says Hartstein.

The effects of illness and anxiety on your cat’s behavior

If your cat has suddenly started exhibiting strange nighttime behaviors, the first step is to analyze his life to see if there are new stressors that might explain the behavior change.

“Excessive meowing in the middle of the night can be a sign of feline cognitive dysfunction in older and geriatric cats,” Ziskin said. “It can also be a sign that the cat is suffering.”

Physical illnesses can also be a manifestation of psychological disorders and chronic anxiety. “Prolonged anxiety can trigger physical illnesses, including infectious and chronic diseases, so a visit to the veterinarian is always timely,” says Ziskin.

“Veterinarians may recommend behavioral therapy, changes in the animal’s environment, and medications to treat anxiety,” Ziskin said, adding that the veterinarian may also recommend natural remedies for a variety of conditions, including anxiety.

Even small changes in the household can be stressful for cats

“Have there been any recent changes in family members? Have they moved? Are there new people in the cat’s life? What’s going on with their vertical space?” says Hartstein. Even a change in a favorite person’s scent can stimulate or irritate a cat’s nose and trigger a change in behavior, Hartstein explains. “Cats are extremely sensitive to sound and smell, so there are a lot of factors to consider.”

Once the potential stressor is discovered and addressed, the cat can put an end to its nighttime tantrums.

Does punishment work for cats?

It’s important not to use punishment or negative reinforcement with your cat. “Cats don’t respond to negative reinforcement,” Castro said.

Cats don’t make a connection between their bad behavior and their negative responses, Castro explained. They do, however, associate that behavior with getting your attention. If you scold your cat for scratching on the carpet, meowing excessively or keeping him awake, you may be enticing him to continue that behavior because you’re giving him the attention he’s seeking.

So if scolding doesn’t work, what does?

“Ideally, you ignore it,” Castro said. “And whatever you do, don’t respond with food.” If you do, she said, the cat will think you’re feeding it every time it acts like it did the last time it responded with food.

Train your cat to be quiet at night.

Although many people doubt it, cats can be trained, Hartstein says. Cats, especially kittens, have been shown to be receptive to clicker and other types of training. But training is not a panacea for bad behavior.

To get to the bottom of your cat’s behavior, a behavior therapist or a veterinarian who specializes in cats can help you determine the reasons for your cat’s odd behavior and whether training is a viable solution.

“I wish there was a simple black-and-white solution to this problem,” Hartstein said. “Cats are individuals. Sometimes the cause is obvious. Sometimes it’s subtle. If you think your cat is doing something that’s not normal behavior [and you can’t solve the problem], that’s a good indication that you should seek professional help.”