How to Get Your Kitten to Sleep At Night

Welcoming a new kitten into the home is oh-so-exciting! As they learn about the world, their antics are adorable to watch, and it lets you see just how their personalities will develop and grow. However, what is cute play during the day can be far from ideal at night when you’re trying to catch some Zzzs.

Helping your new kitten sleep well is important – not only for their sake but also for yours. Aligning their sleep with yours can take some time, but the results mean a well-settled kitty that snuggles up and snoozes through the night, letting you rest easy.

The question is, how do you get your kitten to sleep at night? The answer? Let’s find out…

1. Keep your kitten busy and playful in the daytime

Like us, kittens are ready to cuddle up and snooze through the night after a busy day. To help them wind down, introduce a variety of toys. Balls and other toys are great for independent play, while string toys mimic the thrill of hunting and engage their natural instincts. Provide perch points around the house, like scratching posts or shelves, where they can observe their surroundings from above.

Puzzle toys that dispense treats are also beneficial. These make mealtimes enjoyable and stimulate their minds, providing essential mental stimulation and helping tire them out. Rotating toys regularly or introducing new ones can also keep them entertained and engaged during the day.

2. Change up their feeding schedule

Cats often fall asleep after eating, and kittens are no different. Changing the amount of food and feeding your cat more often during the day can keep them active while you’re busy. Changing the type of food and moving evening meals to later at night might help your kitten become sleepy before bed. But, be mindful of over-feeding before introducing an extra or larger meal, as you don’t want your kitten to be kept awake from all the energy from overeating food.

3. Offer them high-protein food before bedtime

Keeping with the food theme, cats and kittens are carnivorous. If you’re primarily feeding them dry food and find that they’re full of energy come nighttime, this may be setting them up for a short little catnap rather than a bigger sleep that better suits our day/night sleep schedule.

Much like how we humans work, a protein-rich meal gives cats the amino acid tryptophan, which in turn leads to the production of serotonin. This relaxes the body and mind, stabilising moods, and sets them up for a good, solid sleep. This means that a good, protein-rich meal before bedtime can distinguish between a night of zoomies and a night of snoozing. Therefore, consider giving your kitten good-quality, high-protein wet food before bed.

4. Give kittens a space all of their own to sleep

While snuggling up at night with your kitten is an adorable image, it can lead to some scheduling challenges. Providing your little kitty with a space they can claim as their own has several benefits…

Having something that smells familiar can significantly help a kitten settle down. Shelters often allow you to take home a kitten’s favourite blanket when you adopt one, allowing the kitten to keep a piece of its former home close as they adjust to their new surroundings.

You can also purchase a cat bed for them. Most cats and kittens appreciate having a secure and cosy space, making a dome-shaped cat bed a great choice. Consider the bed’s placement as well. Keep it away from their eating, drinking, and litter areas. Your bedroom could be an ideal location, or if there’s a favourite perch or hangout spot in your home, placing the bed there could also work well.

5. If all else fails, divide your space and theirs

The reality is that cats are territorial creatures. Your home is, in their mind, their domain – you happen to share it with them. While making this work without cutting access to your space is usually possible, sometimes you must show them that a part of your home is not theirs.

So, if daytime changes don’t work, shut your bedroom door and keep your cat out of your room as much as possible. Make sure to help build another space in your home as their primary sleeping and relaxing spot with blankets and other comfy accessories, and gently discourage them from entering your room. If you ever leave the door open, just be ready for their curiosity to make them wander.

6. Try not to give them attention during the night

This tip, as highlighted by @bestfriendsanimalsociety on TikTok, maybe the most important:

@bestfriendsanimalsociety

🌜Would you love to be able to sleep through the night without your cat waking you up 😼😴? Follow these four simple steps to get your feline friend on your sleep schedule 😽💤! It may take 10 days of willpower 💪, but it will be sooooo worth it for a lifetime of solid sleep 😴 Who’s ready to train their cat to be the best sleeping buddy 😺🥰? ~samantha #catexpert #catbehavior #catwakingyouup #catowners #catlovers #sleeptraining #felinetraining #goodnight #sweetdreams #catenrichment

♬ Lunchtime Naps – Age of Departures

As the video outlines, cats (and kittens) see all attention as positive reinforcement. This is why punishing cats does not work and isn’t effective in helping to change their habits compared to associative training and other methods. If you go through all these steps and they’re still trying to wake you up at night, ignore them the best you can. It will be tricky, but in time, they will learn they won’t get anything from you and will either curl back up to sleep or go about their business elsewhere.

A tabby kitten asleep wrapped in a fluffy white blanket.

Can kittens sleep through the night?

Not always – it’s common for kittens to wake up through the night, even though cats are crepuscular creatures. Their most active times are at dawn and dusk. Still, kittens need a lot of sleep, especially when younger. According to Sheba, their sleep patterns vary as follows:

Between 2 weeks and 3 months, kittens sleep 22 hours daily, with intermittent energy bursts.
Kittens between 3 months and 6 months old sleep 18-20 hours daily, and they often have more energy at bedtime.
After 6 months, kittens sleep 15-18 hours a day, with a schedule more akin to that of a fully grown cat.

While it’s true that kittens love snoozing and can sleep up to 18-20 hours a day, it doesn’t always happen when we are asleep. Cats are generally active at dawn and dusk. Add to this the unfamiliar environment a kitten must adjust to in the first few nights, and you’ll be in for a few longer nights than usual. However, sleep is essential for your kitten’s development, so it’s important to let them have this peaceful time during kittenhood to ensure they grow up healthy and happy.

A grey tabby cat sleeping on a wooden table, with one paw hanging over the edge.

Where should my kitten sleep?

A major part of getting a kitten to sleep is how well the sleeping arrangements match their needs. Kittens will look for warmth and cosiness. This means the best place for a kitten to sleep is a warm and secure spot sheltered from draughts. Having the kitten close to you for just the first few nights is not a bad idea. Find a cosy place next to your bed, and you can even choose a spot up off the floor if possible. Kittens will love the height to help make them feel safer.

A calico cat sleeping, half-curled, on a light blue blanket.

How do I create the purrrrrrrr-fect kitten bed?

The more comfortable your cat’s bed, the more likely they will sleep through the night. Finding a kitten bed that’s comfy with high sides stimulates a secure environment. If you have your kitten’s ‘baby blanket’, tuck it inside for a familiar scent. Otherwise, adding soft blankets or cushions will stimulate the warm environment of ‘mum’ for your little feline.

Place a few quiet toys nearby in case your kitten decides to play in the middle of the night, reducing the chances of them waking you. Ensure essentials such as their litter tray, water, and food bowl are placed away from their sleeping area for easy access throughout the night. Additionally, having a scratching post nearby will delight your kitten, allowing them to stretch and scratch whenever they wake up to start their day.

A black and white tuxedo cat sleeps, curling upwards, on a floral duvet.

Should I leave the light on or off?

Cats can see in very low light, so it’s likely that even with the lights off, they can move around with little effort. However, it can take some time before they get accustomed to their new environment, so having a low night light on to make things easier at the beginning is a good idea.

A longhaired ginger tabby sleeps belly-up on a picnic table.

Should I let my kitten sleep in my bed?

Cats sleep with humans because we’re warm, and they love the security and companionship. And even though we adore it when our kittens sleep with us, you may want to wait a while before sharing your bed. It takes time for kittens to be litter-trained, so if you want to keep your sheets clean, it’s best to invest in a separate kitten bed. Plus, getting your kitten used to sleeping alone will discourage the temptation to wake you up for a play session.

For more insights into cats and their sleeping habits, explore this post on deciphering your cat’s sleeping positions. Learn how understanding their rest patterns can deepen your bond with these lovable feline companions.