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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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Fgfgfg · 03/02/2026 22:37

Have you tried blinking at Marvin? DP is a bit of a cat whisperer with the more psychotic ones that we've had. Blinking very slowly usually calms them down a lot.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 03/02/2026 22:46

Puppylucky · 03/02/2026 22:02

As handsome as Gizmo is obviously!

🤣

Pudmyboy · 03/02/2026 22:52

Posters talking about cats being crepuscular made me smile: my late little love Pud wasn't. He used to sleep on my bed and I have a fond memory of waking up, needed the loo, at 2:30am, putting on the bedside light and Pud looking at me with bleary eyes, very much 'turn that light out willyer!'. By the time I was back from the loo he was sound asleep 😻
(Nb the fond memory is of Pud, not particularly of waking up at 2:30am!).
Marvin is a magnificent moggy and I hope you manage to establish some sort of compromise soon @Puppylucky 😽

soddingkitten · 03/02/2026 22:57

Do you have a household routine? Our Siamese cat loves routine but we didn’t create a special routine. We have fairly predictable routines about when we get up, when we sit down for dinner, when he’s likely to find a receptive lap in the evening and so on. He adapted to our rhythms and works the evening cuddles in bedtime order, so I get the last shift because I’m the night owl. Someone else said you might be confusing him by being too cat-centred and eager. I agree. Get on with your lives. He’ll work out when your availability lines up with his wants.

Puppylucky · 04/02/2026 08:04

Cat centred and eager just about sums me up @soddingkitten ! I will try and cool it a bit 😄

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