New cat appears to be nocturnal!!

[tactum]

Had rescue cat for 3 weeks, v timid but gradually acclimatising. But her regular routine (now she's come out from under the sofa!) appears to be to sleep 8am - 10 pm and then come alive! She's trying to get into kids rooms at 2am, I woke last night to find her playing with my dressing gown cord across the bedroom floor at 4am.

She seems very playful really - just not when we're awake which is a shame!

Is this unusual? Any tips for changing her habits or is it a case of with cats, you get what they want to give, when they want to give it? She's not going outside yet as she is timid and we have a gazillion cats that use our garden as a play area.

Any ideas gratefully received - tia

[cozietoesie]

Are you allowing her just to sleep during the daytime? A bit of daytime playing - well more than just a bit, really - and a treat toy or two should help. Plus - don't give her that good attention in the early hours - daytime and early evening are when she should be given it.

[TheMortificadosDragon]

Cats naturally are nocturnal. There are some tips here which may help you to adjust her hours.

[OdinsLoveChild]

All cats are nocturnal. That's why it's very controversial with the idea that rescues ask you to bring them in at night and only let them out during daylight hours. It goes against its natural cycle to lock them up when they're wide awake wanting to run around.

If it's not an issue for you don't try and change it. Bring it in during the day to sleep and allow them access to the outside gardens at night. If you live on a busy road then it may be useful to try and get them to go out during daylight hours but my experience is that cats get run over all hours of the day and not exclusively at night.

[cozietoesie]

With the boy racers and foxes round here, my cats stay in at night. (Apart from my personal boys who are usually already in bed and tapping an impatient paw for me to join them. )

[Shriek]

Mine definitely enjoy to go to bed with me! They dont stay there though as I always here nocturnal antics !

They change winter /summer. In summer they want to stay out all nigjt I find. In winter they seek the hot spots and are less nocturnal sleeping all the time! Ha!

[cozietoesie]

Mine go to sleep. (They'll get up for a nosh or to use the tray if needed but then they head straight back to bed.) They generally have a late night supper though.