Felines can snooze the day away but as the sun starts to set,
felines start their jets. Cats
are nocturnal. It's normal for cats to sleep all day and party all
night. Just as you begin to relax at the end of a long day, your
kitten is revving up for a wild and crazy night of fun.
During
evening activity, your kitten may suddenly explode into an excited frenzy -
scurrying around the house, tail high and fluffed, mouth open, as if
on a wild cat safari chasing after prey.
Your kitten may literally
bounce off furniture and hang from curtains. This is
a great time to wad up pieces of paper and toss them on the floor
for your kitten to chase, fetch, or use for a rousing game of paper
wad hockey.
The release of
adrenaline gives the cat a wide-eyed, crazy expression with eyes
wide and pupils dilated.
Do NOT
try to train your kitten or even pet your kitten during these
night-time crazies. Your kitten's brain is somewhere else. You may be
bitten or scratched for being in the wrong place a the wrong time.
Instead, redirect the play to toys or ignore the kitten
altogether until the steam stops coming out of the ears.
This normal behavior makes sense if you think about it. In the wild, the cat would stalk
prey, lie in wait, then tear off in pursuit of food prey and pounce
in victory. At your kitten grows weapons and hormones, an outlet
must be found. Help direct this instinct to toys and try to
expend this energy so you will get a good night's sleep.
If you
don't provide outlets for this natural instinct, your kitten
will act stir crazy. Daily playtime helps the kitten sleep when you
do.
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