Does your cat or dog want to play @ 3:00 am?

Does your furry baby wake you up at 3:00 am because they want to play, or eat, or just to get attention? Many times, this is due to the nocturnal nature of your pet, especially cats, that were hunters at night before domestication, and still have some of that hard-wired into their personalities. You must learn to either ignore their efforts completely, as any interaction with them will reinforce the behavior, or try to delay their waking time to closer to your own time. Does your cat kick things on your head from the headboard of the bed? Do they try to knock things off of the dresser or the nightstand, and then look at you expectantly when you open your eyes? Do they crawl under the covers with you or on top of you and stare lovingly into your eyes until you pet them? Your first thought should be - How sweet, they do love me. Then the second thought can be - How can I get them to stop so I can get some sleep?

One way to try and do this is to feed them a little bit of canned (wet) food right before bedtime, as full tummies generally help them sleep, and will delay their hunger reflex for a little longer. It doesn't have to be whole can or a whole bowl, but a bedtime snack sometimes will placate them for several hours.

You might also try a "play" session with them right before bedtime. Let them chase a laser light/laser toy, chase some furry mice, play ball, or some other interactive pastime that they enjoy, such as "hide and seek". A tired and satisfied pet will generally sleep longer than one that has not had much attention from their pet parent for hours. Dogs might also enjoy a walk on a treadmill, which will also drain some of their energy, but I wouldn't suggest this for a cat. Five minutes of one-on-one undivided attention can work wonders with your baby. Whether they like to be cuddled, petted, brushed, or just right next to you, they will thrive on the extra time that you spend with them right before sleepy time.

You can also put some treats in a "treat ball" and leave it out near their bed, so that when they get bored, they can try to get the treats out of the ball and stay occupied for a while. This is also good for mental stimulation. For cats, also leave out their scratching posts or other toys that they can use by themselves for amusement. However, be sure that whatever you leave out for them is appropriate for solitary play, and not something that can harm them if left by themselves.

If you have other tips for a full night's sleep with pets, please e-mail me and we will post them next month. Here's to a great night's sleep for both you and your pet.