Cat Sleeping Habits: Benefits And Training
Our night rest could be disrupted by your cute pets, or you are allergic or don't just want to share your space anymore. So, how can you train your feline friend to sleep in another room? Let's dive in!
This can include getting into corners of the house where you wouldn’t want them to get to, tampering with items left within their reach, etc
Sleeping outside the bedroom can be done in two ways
(1) Sleeping outside the bedroom but within the house
(2) Cat sleeping outside the house itself
House Cat’s
One thing to note is that cats hate barriers. Closed doors irritate cats because it hinders their mobility and ability to see potential dangers Because of their curious nature, the cats would want to know what is behind the doors
Note that a monitored house cat’s average wandering distance is 40-200 meters, thus even your entire house is considerably less than a normal cat’s turf. One of the reasons they want to extend it as far as possible is because of this
Should cats sleep in the bedroom? This is totally up to you as a person. Some persons would rather have the cat right outside the bedroom while some enjoy the solace of having their cats sleep in their bedroom right on their beds.
Why cats love sleeping in the bedroom
1. Security
Even though cats are small predators, they are also at risk of being hunted by bigger animals so they have to be wary. When your cat is sleeping it is vulnerable and is at the greatest risk of being unsuspectingly attacked by a predator.
Sleeping with you in the bedroom provides them with security and extra defense if a predator should launch a nighttime attack. They sleep with you because they trust you, they know you’re not a danger and you can also provide an extra layer of defense if needed.
2. Warmth
Cats love warmth. If there’s a warm patch in your home it won’t be long before your cat finds and occupies it. With a body temperature of 102 degrees (3-4 degrees higher than human body temperature) a cat’s tolerance of, and desire for, warmth is far greater than ours hence they need a warm place to sleep.
4. Companionship
Your cat may like sleeping with you in the bedroom simply because they like and trust you. Your cats know you take good care of them and they consider you to be a good sleeping companion! Contrary to stereotypes, cats enjoy companionship (on their terms).
Cats are often thought of as independent creatures who are happy in their own company. But your cat can get lonely. Interacting with the human they love helps to enrich their lives (and yours). If your cat sleeps with you this indicates that they enjoy your company and want to spend time with you.
Sleeping in the bedroom vs Sleeping outside the bedroom
A Cat Can Help You Fall Asleep Depending on your cat’s personality, it can help you fall asleep or keep you up the whole night. One of the best ways to know his character is by learning how to read his body language. Your cat’s presence in your bed or sleeping outside the bedroom can help you calm your mind, forget about your stressful day, and finally fall asleep. Plus, its soft purr has a smooth, stimulating effect of a white-noise machine that will have you sleeping in no time.
Reduces the Risk of Heart Diseases
1. A 10-year-long study conducted by Minnesota University’s Stroke institute proved that sleeping with your cat can reduce the risk of heart attacks. The study, which was presented in 2008, included 4,435 Americans aged between 30 and 75 years. Out of the 4,435 participants, 2,435 owned cats while the rest have never owned one. Over the 10 years, the study confirmed that the risk of death from heart failure among cat owners was 30% lower than that of the people who didn’t own cats.
It Promotes Bonding
A study published in the Behavioral Processes journal confirmed that women have special bonds with their feline friends.
According to the research, scientists observed the interaction between human families and their cats. And they discovered that cats are more likely to bond with females than men. Therefore, if your cat wants to sleep with you, don’t chase him away as it promotes bonding. It shows that your cat trusts you.
You may be missing out on some of the basic benefits above if you choose to make your cats sleep outside the bedroom. However, this decision is not bad as allowing cats to sleep in your bedroom has some coins which include; Exposure to bacteria and parasites that may be on the cat’s body, Disrupted sleep, and allergies
How to Train your Cats to Sleep Outside the Bedroom
To Avoid some of the downsides of allowing your cats to sleep in your bedroom or on your bed you need to understand exactly how to keep them away from the bedroom. The following are some of the methods you can use. While cats can be difficult to train, it is possible. With a few simple steps, you can teach your cats to sleep in other parts of the house.
1. Close the Door to the Room
The first step is closing the door to
where you don’t want your cat to go to
This is the most effective method for keeping a cat out of an area where you don’t want it.
However, cats are attracted to closed doors because they are curious. Cats like to explore things and investigate. It is no wonder that a closed door will promptly get their attention and entice them to find out what is going on behind them. Closing the door against your cats can cause your cats to withdraw from you if you don’t put other measure in place to build friendliness with your cat
2. Choose the Right Bed:
If you don’t want to share your bed with your cat for any reason, get her a bed to call her own so she has a cozy place to sleep or sleeping outside the bedroom. The first step for your cat to sleep in their bed is to choose the right one for them. From the moment you know you will bring your cat home, you must select a space to place their bed and get a box or basket to act as a cat bed.
Whether you buy or prepare one, you have to take into account some factors:
Size: Cats need space to turn around and stretch, so you should provide enough room for your cat to do this. But, without the bed becoming too large as they will not like it either. The idea is that they can stretch but at the same time feel protected in it.
Hygiene: get a bed that is easy to wash, to eliminate odors, hair, and bacteria that could cause infections. The material: some beds are made of wool and others come filled with foam, but the truth is that there are many models and materials. You should choose one that is comfortable for your cat considering the place where the bed will be (to know if it should be more sheltered or cooler). And the climate, because there are even thermal cushions to protect it in times of cold.
The shape: you can find open beds, high beds, cushions, and small caves, so you should observe the tastes and habits of your cat to choose the right one. If they prefer to sleep stretched out, a spacious bed will be ideal. If, on the other hand, they like to dominate space, a high bed or even a cushion placed on a shelf is what they are looking for. They prefer to hide when asleep, then you should buy a soft cave.
3.Train your Cats :
Training your cat on what and what not to do will help your cat adjust. This is best done from when the cat is still young. This training will form their habits.
Cat training is teaching your cat to associate a desirable behavior with a reward. By doing so, you can encourage them to stop bad behavior and start desired behavior so you can both live a happier, healthier life.
4. Placing Toys Outside the Room
Another way to keep your cat out of the bedroom is keeping the cat’s toys outside the bedroom this attracts and keep the cat engaged. Some of these cat toys include puzzle toys, hiding places,climbing toys, catnip toys, toys to chase the list goes on and on.
5. Using Fresh Herbs
As you probably already know, cats have an incredibly strong sense of smell. This is something you can use against them. What herbs deter cats?
Rosemary, lemon thyme, curry plant, lavender and many other herbs can deter cats with their strong smells that cats dislike being near.
Rosemary, lemon thyme, lemon balm, Coleus Canina, curry plant, lavender and many other herbs can deter cats away from areas of your bedroom where you don’t want them roaming around.
6. Using Catnip Spray
Another way to keep the cat out of the bedroom is using Catnip spray on the cat toys and play area
Catnip is available in many forms:
Catnip sprays are a good option for cats that get an upset stomach from ingesting the plant. You can spray your cat’s favorite toy or cat tree or cat scratcher. You can also sprinkle dried catnip on a cat tree, scratching post, or cardboard scratcher, or you can roll a toy in it.
7. Place Your Feline in a Cattery:
Cats are usually very attached to their own homes and become unsettled when their routine and environment suddenly change. Many will need a little extra ‘TLC’ to ensure that they settle well whilst you are away. There are a few tips that you can try to help minimize their stress:
* Before taking your cat to the cattery, keep the pet carrier in his/her favorite room for a few days. He/she will get familiar to the box and be less anxious once inside. Some cats enjoy boxes because they recognize their fragrance. The pet carrier retains many familiar aromas from home, therefore some owners keep it in the cattery chalet for their cat.
* Consider bringing unwashed clothing with your scent to comfort and reassure your cat in a new environment.
Conclusion
Choosing whether your cat sleeps in your bedroom is personal; pros and cons accompany both choices. However, this can be properly controlled by taking the various measures discussed above.