Humans write to us with the same question every week: why does my cat sprint at 3 AM? Below, our coaching team answers in the order they are awake.
Is this normal?
Completely. Your cat is a crepuscular animal, which is a long way of saying she believes the middle of the night is a morning. You may disagree. She will not hear you. She is on a wardrobe.
Why does she sound like a horse?
Because from her side of the floor, she is a horse. She has not seen herself. If she had, she would be very quiet and very impressed.
Can I stop it?
You can reduce it. Our recommended steps are:
- Play with her vigorously before bed, until she is tired in the way a wet towel is tired.
- Feed a small meal afterwards, so that her body believes the day is finished.
- Close the bedroom door, and accept that the door is now a drum.
Should I punish her?
No. A cat does not understand a punishment at 3 AM. A cat understands a human who is awake and therefore available. You have just given her an audience.
Does she do it to annoy me?
Our research suggests that she does it to annoy herself, and that you are an unintended witness. This is not a comfort, but it is accurate.
What if she runs into the wall?
She will do it again. This is called the Learning Curve and it is mostly curve.
What if she lands on my face?
We cannot comment, due to ongoing legal advice.
Is there a prize for 3 AM?
Not formally. But we like to think that every cat who sprints through the dark is a champion in the eyes of at least one person, namely herself, and that this is what matters. We have also noticed that she is often a champion in the eyes of the dog, who has opinions, and who has begun to follow her.
Conclusion
Your cat is not broken. Your cat is training. Please be patient, wear earplugs, and accept that you are part of the team.