How to make a hyperactive kitten sleep well

If you’ve just adopted a kitten, you’ll probably quickly notice how hyperactive it is. Kittens and adult cats are nocturnal predators, so they will often be active at night. The abundant energy of kittens makes cat owners always complain about having to lose sleep because of them. Luckily, there are many ways you can help your kitten sleep through the night.

Table of Contents

Form a sleeping habit for cats

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/54/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-14.jpg/v4-460px-Put-a- Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-14.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/54/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep- Step-14.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-14.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Give your cat a break and encourage her to be active during the day. Usually kittens, especially young cats, spend most of the day sleeping, but once they are awake, they are always full of energy. Let them sleep, and prepare scratching posts, toys and objects for them to climb when awake. ^{[1] X Research Source} If a kitten is bored during the day, it will be very active at night.

You should hide interesting, interactive toys when not actively playing with the cat. If these toys are left on the floor all day, the cats will no longer be interested in them. ^{[2] X Research Source} Do not leave toys with strings outside because it is very dangerous if the kitten gets caught in the cord. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
Playing puzzles is also a great pastime for cats. This game requires the cat to open the box to get the food contained inside. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a4/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-13.jpg/v4-460px-Put-a- Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-13.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a4/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep- Step-13.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-13.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Play in the evening to reduce the cat’s energy. Cats are most active at dusk, not all night. ^{[5] X Research Source} Playing with your cat daily in the evening, about an hour before bedtime, will help synchronize your cat’s bedtime with yours.

You can tie a toy to a string and let your cat play catch, throw and catch a ping pong ball, or chase a laser beam. Change toys regularly to keep play interesting and get your cat to combine the movements of stalking, chasing, pouncing and playing with his “prey”. ^{[6] X Research Sources}
Wake the kitten up if necessary. You won’t have to work too long as cats will quickly realize that the evening is a time to play and the night is a time to sleep ^{[7] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/ad/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-1-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/ad/Put-a- Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-1-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-1-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

End of playtime. It’s best to finish playing before your cat gets bored. First, spend about five minutes playing at a slow pace to get your cat less excited. Then, find a clear way to signal to your cat that playtime is over, like letting her grab a super fun toy. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

If the kitten becomes extremely active when playtime is coming to an end, you can distract him with a less interesting toy.

Coping with nighttime activities

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/96/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-10.jpg/v4-460px-Put-a- Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-10.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/96/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep- Step-10.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-10.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Keep the cat in a separate room at night. You may love your cat snuggling up with you, but let the hyperactive kitten sleep in a separate room until they are mature enough or have adapted to your schedule.

When it’s time to go to bed, close the door and keep the cat out of the room. Your cat will probably meow and scratch at the door for a while, but as long as you don’t give in, it will soon stop. ^{[11] X Research Source}
If the cat scratches on the door for too long, you can use something to prevent it from getting near the door, such as putting double-sided tape near the door or placing a plastic rug with the spikes facing up. ^{[12] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e4/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-9.jpg/v4-460px-Put-a- Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-9.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e4/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep- Step-9.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-9.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Warm a blanket for the kitten. Sometimes, kittens disturb their owners’ sleep because they miss the warmth of their mother and siblings. If your cat wants to go to bed with you, you can use the dryer to warm up the cat’s blanket about 20 minutes before bedtime. ^{[13] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/05/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-3-Version-2.jpg/v4-460px- Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-3-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/05/Put-a- Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-3-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-3-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460 ,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Put away toys that make noise. Sometimes the sound coming from an active kitten’s toy is the most annoying thing. Put your cat’s toys away to emphasize that the night is not the time to play, but to sleep. If your cat is still active at night, you can give her soft, quiet toys instead of hard toys or squeaks. ^{[14] X Research Source}

If you have space, you should leave the toys quiet at night in a separate area of the house. Choose an area where there is something easy to distract your cat, such as a soothing movie or radio show or a window that looks out into the outdoors. ^{[15] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/05/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-5.jpg/v4-460px-Put-a- Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/05/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep- Step-5.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Follow the “do nothing” rule. Your attention to the hyperactive kitten will encourage them to continue their behavior. If a kitten can annoy you enough to have to play with it, feed it or give it attention, the behavior will continue to be repeated because it has already trained you! The first few nights will be tough, but ignoring your cat is the best way to teach her that you can’t always be available to her 24/7. ^{[16] X Research Source}

While not a quick fix, this training method is important for future kittens. Kittens need to learn early on that they can’t ask for food or play at any time of the day.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/8d/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-6.jpg/v4-460px-Put-a- Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-6.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/8d/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep- Step-6.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-6.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Discipline cats with love. It may sound contradictory, but if you’ve ignored it and the cat continues to babble, give it a tight hug. You will probably find that the kitten doesn’t enjoy this excessive act of love, and that’s a good thing because you don’t need to be punished and still make the kitten realize that it won’t get what it wants when it does. bother you at night. ^{[17] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/27/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-7.jpg/v4-460px-Put-a- Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/27/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep- Step-7.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Feed your cat breakfast without you having to wake up. Cats have a shorter sleep cycle than humans, so even if your cat goes to bed with you, it will probably still wake up early and demand breakfast. The worst thing is that you wake up and feed it, because if you do, the cat will train you very quickly! Instead, leave some food out the night before so your cat can eat breakfast before you wake up. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

You should consider buying an automatic pet food dispenser at certain times. If the kitten knows that there will be food in its bowl at 7 a.m., it will not ask you to feed it anymore, but will wait by the bowl until the food appears.
If your cat calls for food at night, you can set up an automatic food dispenser to feed your cat at night, then increase the time each night 10 minutes later until the cat eats in the morning. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Use veterinary measures

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/7e/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-16.jpg/v4-460px-Put-a- Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-16.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/7e/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep- Step-16.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-16.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Have your cat spayed or neutered. Cats that have not been spayed or neutered can also be the cause of their hyperactivity. Most veterinarians consider these procedures safe for kittens 6 to 8 weeks old, as long as they reach a minimum weight of 0.9 kg. ^{[20] X Research Source} Castration or sterilization can correct the following behaviors (day and night): ^{[21] X Source of Research}

Female cats can go into heat from about 4 months old. They tend to scream in a loud, weird way, rub against people and objects, and often try to sneak out.
Male cats that have not been spayed are usually more active and noisy than those that have been spayed. They may also pee on furniture or be aggressive.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/71/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-15.jpg/v4-460px-Put-a- Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-15.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/71/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep- Step-15.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-15.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Watch for signs your cat is sick. Cats can also suffer from diseases that make it difficult for them to sleep just like humans. If your kitten has any of the following symptoms, you should take him to a health care provider:

Excessive vocalization at night is sometimes caused by a cat in pain.
Hyperactivity most of the day and night may be due to the cat’s lack of sleep or other disorders. Usually kittens will sleep about 20 hours a day. ^{[22] X Research Source}
A well-behaved cat that suddenly becomes hyperactive can be a sign of a thyroid disorder, although this condition is very rare in kittens. ^{[23] X Research Source} Veterinarians can detect this through a blood test and will prescribe daily medication for the cat. ^{[24] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/2d/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-17.jpg/v4-460px-Put-a- Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-17.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2d/Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep- Step-17.jpg/v4-728px-Put-a-Hyper-Kitten-to-Sleep-Step-17.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Try synthetic pheromones. Synthetic pheromone products contain the same pheromones found on cats’ faces, pheromones are substances that cats release when they rub their faces against objects to mark them. Unfortunately, there are currently not many quality studies on synthetic pheromones. Not sure if it works, but you can try this to see if your cat calms down. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

Homeopathic treatments, including “flower treatments,” have no scientific basis.

Advice

Adding a cat to be friends is also a way to keep the kitten happy and active during the day. ^{[26] X Research Source} Kittens usually get along quite well when they’re introduced to each other from a young age, but it’s still a good idea to leave them alone for a few days. If you have adopted a previously abused kitten or a kitten with aggressive behavior, you should first seek the advice of your veterinarian or animal behavior experts.
If the house has a yard, you should build a bird’s nest, or at least open the curtains so that the kitten can observe the outside world. ^{[27] X Research Source}

Warning

Do not use violent punishment to train your cat. Animals do not respond positively to punishment and often do not understand why they are punished. If you want your kitten to stop bothering you, you can lock it in a room for a while and let it play on its own.
Most cats and kittens are lactose intolerant and will have trouble drinking cow’s milk. If you give your cat or kitten milk, you should choose a formula specifically made for cats.

Steps

Form a sleeping habit for cats

Coping with nighttime activities

Use veterinary measures

Advice

Warning

Related Posts