Why Do They Play All Night?
Erik Granseth remembers the dream like it was yesterday. In fact, the 16-year-old high school student couldn't wait to wake up. "I dreamed I was running through a swamp and all these alligators were biting my feet. No matter where I ran, I couldn't get away." But wake he did, to find his cat Shakey at the foot of his bed, biting his toes.
Nibbling on their sleeping owners' feet and ears, turning the furniture into a high-speed obstacle course, and digging out the loudest play toys to bat around are just a few of a feline's favorite nighttime antics.
What's a sleep-deprived cat lover to do?
Do's and Don'ts
Don't:
- Punish your cat just for doing something that comes naturally.
- Give in and play, or she'll keep you up even more.
Do:
- Understand that cats are nocturnal creatures.
- Shift the cat's peak activity period to earlier in the day.
- Play with your cat during the day or early evening so she'll be tired when you are.
