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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

How do you create a routine for a cat?

105 replies

Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 16:00

Particularly one who doesn't seem to want one! Marvie continues to settle in well but I'm slightly concerned with how bossy he's getting. Not aggressive but very assertive about getting what he wants. His attitude would be cute if he wasn't so strong and athletic - when he smacks you with a paw it hurts!
Talking about him to a more experienced cat owner she suggested that part of the issue might be a lack of a clear routine. Basically he doesn't understand what he's expected to do when - like eat / sleep etc. It makes sense due to his relative lack of socialization - he's used to doing what he wants when he wants, so we are trying to create more set points during the day but it's proving very difficult. For example, closing blinds/ shutters / doors at night to signal it's time to wind down doesn't work with a cat who can just open them again! Similarly keeping to a regular feeding schedule is very difficult if some days he's been up half the night and doesn't emerge for breakfast until lunchtime! Playtime also moves around based on how many other things he gets distracted by during the day. Our wand toy can't compete with a pigeon outside the window.
Does anyone have any tips to try and get him into more of a routine or are we trying to herd cats - literally! Cat tax attached of the boy still in his pit at lunchtime!

How do you create a routine for a cat?
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minipie · 01/02/2026 16:05

Um it has never occurred to me to create a routine for my cat! Other than a treat at lunchtime everything else is when she wants. Her daily behaviour can vary a lot, especially depending on the weather. If it’s rainy she sleeps a lot, if dry she’s out and about. I wouldn’t want to mess with that, it’s how cats work.

I would advise an automatic feeder, and learn to read his signals.

When is he swiping you? For attention, food or to be left alone?

Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 16:20

Thank you for replying @minipie . I can see your point that cats are going to cat but I'm just concerned he is going completely off piste! He swipes normally if I am trying to get him to move off my laptop or away from the front door - so if I am stopping him stopping me from doing something he doesn't want me to do basically. That's what I mean about bossy / dominant.

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 01/02/2026 16:31

That is pretty normal cat behaviour,

I’ve never had a routine for any of my cats or tried to establish one. They do what they do when they do it.

food tends to be on a when I get up/roughly lunchtime/when I get back for the evening but I don’t think you could really call it a routine.

upstairsdownstairscardboardbox · 01/02/2026 16:32

🤣🤣a routine for a cat is an oxymoron, surely

Ohwowlookatyounow · 01/02/2026 16:37

I'm not sure if this is a serious post but why would a cat need a routine. Eat, sleep, shit, look out the window at the birds sleep again. If you want to move the cat pick it up and move it. Unless it's a Tiger how does it stop you moving past it?.

LookingThroughGlass · 01/02/2026 16:41

We feed them at roughly the same time every day and that's it. Of course, we have a household routine of approximately when we go to bed, eat and get up. Marvin will settle down as he gets older.

I would say, put his food out at the same time each day - if he hasn't got up, so be it. Don't respond to prodding, poking or swiping. If trying to move him, call him away and incentivise him to come to you with a treat. If you can teach him to come when called, you can 'move' him that way. It's not infallible - it doesn't work if they have the slightest whiff of going into their baskets or being fleaed or pilled - but it works for getting them out of places you don't want them to be.

Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 16:44

Ohwowlookatyounow · 01/02/2026 16:37

I'm not sure if this is a serious post but why would a cat need a routine. Eat, sleep, shit, look out the window at the birds sleep again. If you want to move the cat pick it up and move it. Unless it's a Tiger how does it stop you moving past it?.

Unfortunately @Ohwowlookatyounow it is a serious post - which I'm now regretting!

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user2848502016 · 01/02/2026 16:44

Cats don’t really do routines….
Just accept you’re his slave now

Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 16:44

LookingThroughGlass · 01/02/2026 16:41

We feed them at roughly the same time every day and that's it. Of course, we have a household routine of approximately when we go to bed, eat and get up. Marvin will settle down as he gets older.

I would say, put his food out at the same time each day - if he hasn't got up, so be it. Don't respond to prodding, poking or swiping. If trying to move him, call him away and incentivise him to come to you with a treat. If you can teach him to come when called, you can 'move' him that way. It's not infallible - it doesn't work if they have the slightest whiff of going into their baskets or being fleaed or pilled - but it works for getting them out of places you don't want them to be.

Thank you @LookingThroughGlass - that is very helpful

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Bitzee · 01/02/2026 16:47

We feed them at the same times each day (breakfast and dinner) and always try to play with them before bed but that’s it really. You can’t go all Gina Ford on a cat 😂🤣

Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 16:48

user2848502016 · 01/02/2026 16:44

Cats don’t really do routines….
Just accept you’re his slave now

I do understand that - but I thought there might be a little more routine involved as apparently cats need it to feel safe. We are away for a few days in a week or so and trying to give the pet sitter feeding instructions ( when and how much) is a nightmare - unless I just say go with the flow!

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Fgfgfg · 01/02/2026 16:49

You can try but I wouldn't hold my breath. Cats are crepuscular so most like to be active around dawn and dusk and we work around that. Try regular meal times as this gives them set points in the day. We feed at 7am and 7pm but there may be demands for snacks at any time. Ours seem to have a routine where they sleep during the day from 10-5 and 12-5 at night but this depends on time of year, weather and mood. Distraction with snacks or just putting them out of the room helps if they're being relentlessly annoying.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 01/02/2026 16:52

50 years of being by a cat slave. They make their own routine and you just happen to slot in occasionally. If I guess correctly I get rewarded with a purr, or some fuss!
Just give the pet sitter your current routine, the cats will either ignore you when you get back (pet sitter did very well) or they will love you forever (they missed you and your routine).

NormalAuntFanny · 01/02/2026 16:53

Our cat goes out every night at more or less the same time, he knows this and goes to the door. In the morning he knows he can go upstairs to laze the day away when we come down at 7, so in that sense he has a routine.

Not really sure how we established this, it's not like with a baby, it just happens over time.

As for the attacking you etc I don't mind a bit of this but if it's too much I would clap at him or put him out by the scruff, you are in charge!

FishFingerSandwichs · 01/02/2026 16:57

upstairsdownstairscardboardbox · 01/02/2026 16:32

🤣🤣a routine for a cat is an oxymoron, surely

Yes - they can summon you any time to wait on them..

FishFingerSandwichs · 01/02/2026 16:59

Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 16:20

Thank you for replying @minipie . I can see your point that cats are going to cat but I'm just concerned he is going completely off piste! He swipes normally if I am trying to get him to move off my laptop or away from the front door - so if I am stopping him stopping me from doing something he doesn't want me to do basically. That's what I mean about bossy / dominant.

Is he a bengal type?

they are very forceful and active I believe?

Fleur405 · 01/02/2026 17:01

I’d try exchanging it for a dog.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 01/02/2026 17:02

The only routine my cats have is to sit looking expectantly at me, hoping for treats, about every half hour.

🤣

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 01/02/2026 17:05

Expectantly hoping for treats

How do you create a routine for a cat?
How do you create a routine for a cat?
Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 17:06

FishFingerSandwichs · 01/02/2026 16:59

Is he a bengal type?

they are very forceful and active I believe?

Well guessed @FishFingerSandwichs - he's a Mau otherwise known as a pound shop Bengal. This is him being forceful and active - that's our full size fridge btw😊

How do you create a routine for a cat?
OP posts:
Fgfgfg · 01/02/2026 17:07

It's 5pm and Victor is just starting to wake up.

How do you create a routine for a cat?
How do you create a routine for a cat?
FishFingerSandwichs · 01/02/2026 17:08

Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 17:06

Well guessed @FishFingerSandwichs - he's a Mau otherwise known as a pound shop Bengal. This is him being forceful and active - that's our full size fridge btw😊

Omg and how beautiful - I’ve seen people create whole shelving walkways for their exercise

no wonder he is dictating!!!

what’s his name? I hope it’s something regal or “top cat” 🤣

FishFingerSandwichs · 01/02/2026 17:09

Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 17:06

Well guessed @FishFingerSandwichs - he's a Mau otherwise known as a pound shop Bengal. This is him being forceful and active - that's our full size fridge btw😊

His eyes say “cheeky…don’t mess with me”

Dinkiedoo · 01/02/2026 17:13

We've had quite a few cats. All of our cats including the 3 we have now get fed when we get up and then at 5pm . They come in when called as they know its tea time. They have treats before we go to bed . They fit in with us not the other way round. They don't go out after tea aa we know they wouldn't come back in lol
Litter trays cleaned twice a day. They have three . One each.

MrsLeonFarrell · 01/02/2026 17:16

We feed at the same time each day, the cat doesn't agree with this but she gets fat if we leave food out all the time. We also shut her in each night. She seemed quite happy to come in so I assume it's what she would prefer. That isn't really a routine more our convenience. Otherwise her patterns change seasonally.

If she swipes at me I hiss at her, open my eyes wide and then turn my back. Basically copying what she does to me when I displease her!