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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?
OP posts:
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FishFingerSandwichs · 01/02/2026 17:16

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.

Edited

Omg some cats that do as they are told!!!

Catowl · 01/02/2026 17:17

😂Well I think you may struggle to enforce a routine with a cat.
But our cat sort of has a routine due to family life.
He gets fed in the morning when I get up to give children breakfast and at dinner time in the evening. Dry food always available. We are out at work/ school all day so he can only try and pester for more food at weekends really in the day.
With regards to bedtime I open the cat flap in the morning when he gets breakfast and close it at dinner time. He is in all night and does sleep.
But my cat is 8 and been doing this since he was a kitten so is very in tune with children's routine.
If he tries nipping or bullying me for extra treats ( yes he will do this) I promptly put him out in the garden. He doesn't like that this time of year so comes back in and is more polite.
We have a good bond and understanding;
But he is bossy, demanding and expects the be carried constantly and will beg for food, yells loudly and tries to push me around will literally climb me if I don't pick him up etc ,. So if he was a dog he would be very badly trained but he is an untrainable cat so we just ignore his faults, tell him he is beautiful and indulge him.
If you want to get feeding into a routine just feed at the same time each day, he will learn quickly when food is due.

TheMorgenmuffel · 01/02/2026 17:19

It is my experience that the cat creates the routine and you fall in line.

ginasevern · 01/02/2026 17:20

OP you literally are trying to herd cats. I got my first cat 10 years ago (always had dogs before) and I know it sounds daft, but what a difference! Dogs want to please, cats do as they please. I give him breakfast when I get up and dinner in the evening, either of which he may or may not eat at the time. One day he might love Whiskas for example and the next he'll look at me as if I'm Lucrezia Borgia. I give him a few Dreamies each day around mid evening and play with him when I've got time. He's got the cat flap and comes and goes as he pleases. It never occurred to me to sort out a routine and I honestly think anyone would go bonkers if they tried.

80smonster · 01/02/2026 17:20

Your cat has created a routine for you, whether you see it or not…

birdglasspen · 01/02/2026 17:20

Currently have 3 cats and a kitten. I don’t over think them. They go outside.
Cats only get dried food so i put some out when I get up in morning and whenever I notice it’s all gone.
I chuck the cats out at night because otherwise I’ll be woken during the night and with three young kids I’m not game
for that!
they have spaces outside they can sleep or they go on the prowl.
the three cats just sleep when inside. One takes a swipe as you pass but is
the most likely one to come and sit with you. They are all different, one steals a cherry tomato daily and any other food going, one is always looking for water (not in worrying way) and one takes being loved by a 6 year old very well!

I would just work with the cat you have and forget routines or training.

kitten is more work as litter tray needs tended to and needs stimulation as cant go outside yet.

AgnesMcDoo · 01/02/2026 17:26

If a cat wants a routine then the cat will set the routine.

the cat is in charge

IceIceSlippyIce · 01/02/2026 17:40

Wel, DCat knows what time I get up, and is often waiting in the dark (she's black) outside my door.
She also knows what time DS2 gets up - and is always waiting by his door to guide him downstairs to the dreamie cupboard.
No further time demands other than she is usually on DC2 chair when he gets home to supervise his homework, and the sofa after tea (next to me)
She gets wet food as I go to bed - used as a bribe to get her inside in summer.

CMOTDibbler · 01/02/2026 17:50

Mine get fed wet food at the same time ish every day and that’s about it in terms of routine. They are both arseholes and will bite/ swipe if they feel like it, but you just pick them up and move them positively off the laptop or wherever they are inconvenient

Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 18:02

FishFingerSandwichs · 01/02/2026 17:08

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” 🤣

Um no - embarrassingly it's Marvin 😬 It was so nearly Ringo though which would probably have been worse!

OP posts:
Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 18:06

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!

Now this I can try - thank you!

OP posts:
TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 01/02/2026 18:10

Marvin is a glorious cat @Puppylucky

And I love his name.
I reckon you're doing just fine.

Every so often, I think my two are in a kind of routine, then one of them changes something, and I go back to realising that I always fall in with their desires, never the other way round.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 01/02/2026 18:13

Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 18:06

Now this I can try - thank you!

Something I do with Gizmo, who has a great deal of attitude, is to shake a bottle of water in his direction.

He assumes that I'm going to flick a few drops of water on to him, so he runs off and starts behaving.

Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 18:15

Thank you so much everybody! I know I sound like a neurotic pet owner - because that's exactly what I am 🙂. I do love the community here though as I always get some common sense drilled into me - much appreciated 🙏And here's Marvin appreciating you all too in his own special way!

How do you create a routine for a cat?
OP posts:
FishFingerSandwichs · 01/02/2026 18:28

Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 18:15

Thank you so much everybody! I know I sound like a neurotic pet owner - because that's exactly what I am 🙂. I do love the community here though as I always get some common sense drilled into me - much appreciated 🙏And here's Marvin appreciating you all too in his own special way!

Omg - he looks like he could get up right now and go and put the kettle on 😻😻😻

Toddlerteaplease · 01/02/2026 18:31

Good luck with that OP🤣🤣

BrentfordForever · 01/02/2026 18:35

We do have routine, he goes to bed same time every day, eats wet food exactly same time morning evening

we even trained him to come home when his gps tracker is beeping

Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 18:37

FishFingerSandwichs · 01/02/2026 18:28

Omg - he looks like he could get up right now and go and put the kettle on 😻😻😻

Edited

You see my problem!

OP posts:
Bobbi73 · 01/02/2026 18:48

I can’t recommend an automatic feeder enough. My cats are always sat in front of it at exactly the time it comes out. Other than that, they mostly sleep with occasional forays into the garden to ensure that the neighbourhood is as they left it. In the summer we barely see them except at food time .

FishFingerSandwichs · 01/02/2026 18:59

Puppylucky · 01/02/2026 18:37

You see my problem!

yes your never going to tame that boy 😹

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 01/02/2026 19:07

You can train cats to some extent, my cat knows when it’s bedtime and follows me up to bed and then wakes same time I do. Meal times are set.

If she swiped at me I’d swipe her back or do as pp said and hiss with eyes wide open. Basically my cat knows who is in charge, though she sometimes thinks she is!

Rayqueen2026 · 01/02/2026 19:14

Eh a routine for a cat lol...erm all mine the food bowls are always full, water fresh twice a day and litter tray done once a day that's it they go and eat when they want to

Gettingbysomehow · 01/02/2026 19:16

We have a routine but the cats created it not me.
I wake up at 6am on a work day, get up and feed the cats and give them treats then head back to bed until 7am with my coffee.
Both cats come for a cuddle on my lap.
I go to work while the cats sleep for most of the day one or the other might go for a stroll in the garden but they never go far...I have cameras.
I get back around 5 and they get their food topped up.
They like to have a play at this time either with their toys or chasing each other round the house.
We all go to bed at 9 or 10. I read for an hour and cuddle them then we all go to sleep.
They do not like their routine disrupted.

yay4vee · 01/02/2026 19:29

Have to say our girl is very much in a routine which I guess we’ve developed together, she’s very repetitive.

We feed her when we get up (we keep her in the kitchen/diner over night) she’s always still fast asleep when we go down, no scratching at doors. She goes out after breakfast, comes back at lunchtime for a snack, and then comes in again as it gets dark when she has her dinner. She stays out longer in the summer, we tend to have to call her in with dreamies whereas winter she brings herself back, she’s not keen on the cold!

She’s not a very hungry/demanding cat, I guess that helps! She frightens the life out of us when she has a rogue day though like not coming back for snacks or dinner!

luckylavender · 01/02/2026 19:32

I thought the cat always created the routine

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