It’s 3 A.M., and your cat is full of energy. You should be sleeping, but instead, all you can hear is the sound of small paws moving quickly. During these moments, you can’t help but wonder how cats feel about darkness. Is that why they enjoy running and leaping around when everyone else is trying to rest? Do cats have a preference for darkness?
Cats enjoy being in the dark. Domestic cats tend to be most active during the early morning and evening hours, which is known as being crepuscular. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that cats have a specific preference for darkness. Instead, they are naturally inclined to stay alert during the periods just before sunrise and sunset.
If you’re a cat lover like me, you might be wondering why cats love hiding in dark places or why they become more active at night. Well, it turns out that cats in the wild are naturally more active during the night because that’s when they hunt. In this article, we’ll delve into the relationship between cats and darkness, and also discuss whether it’s safe to leave your furry friend in complete darkness.
Do Cats Really Like Darkness
Observation and deduction are necessary for understanding certain aspects of life. And when it comes to the question of whether cats enjoy the dark, it falls into that category. Why? It’s simple: cats have no means of expressing their preference for or aversion to darkness.
Therefore, cat lovers have no choice but to study cat behavior in order to come up with a hypothesis or theory. We have already mentioned that many veterinarians around the world claim that cats, especially pets, are most active during the twilight and sunrise, which is known as crepuscular behavior.
If your cat enjoys waking you up in the middle of the night for food and then goes wild running around in the dim light, it’s because cats are naturally active during twilight hours. It’s also understandable that eating late at night replenishes your pet’s energy, leading to playfulness even in the absence of light.
However, it becomes more challenging when cat owners say that their cats prefer to stay up all night, making them nocturnal. Can some cats enjoy being awake at night while others don’t? Definitely. Cats have unique personalities.
However, it’s hard to determine if cats enjoy being in the dark because their sleep and wake patterns are innate and not based on personal preference.
Why Do Cats Like To Hide In Dark Places
People often think that cats enjoy being in the dark because they frequently choose to hide in small, dimly lit areas. For instance, cats tend to seek refuge in cardboard boxes, closets, and the space under your bed.
However, cats’ preference for dark places is not because they actually like the darkness, but rather because they feel safer and more secure in such environments.
Cats are surprisingly nervous and cautious animals, and even the smallest thing can trigger their fears. For example, the sudden sound of a doorbell, dropping something heavy, or any other loud noise.
When something surprising occurs, your cat will probably quickly go to a spot where it can hide. Additionally, dark areas provide cats with the benefit of being able to see any potential danger while remaining unseen themselves.
Cats have a natural instinct to hide, which they inherited from their ancestors. In the wild, it is common for large cats to sleep in trees during the day as a way to protect themselves from predators.
Similarly, you might observe that cats who have recently been adopted and are not yet comfortable in their new surroundings tend to seek out dark corners to take naps in, as they are not completely at ease with their environment.
Should You Leave A Cat In The Dark
Many people believe that cats can see perfectly in complete darkness, but that is not accurate. Cats can see better than humans in low-light situations, but they still require some light to see properly. Therefore, it is important to avoid leaving cats in total darkness as it can increase the chances of them getting hurt.
Cats have the ability to navigate in the dark better than humans, thanks to their amazing eyesight that allows them to see in low-light conditions.
Cats have a curved cornea and a big lens that allows them to fully expand their pupils to take in as much light as possible.
Cats have more rods than cones in their eyes, which makes them very good at seeing in the dark, detecting motion, and having a wide field of vision. In contrast, humans have more cones, which allows them to see better in bright light.
Lastly, cats possess a special kind of reflective tissue known as the tapetum, located behind their retinas. This tapetum aids in reflecting light towards the sensory cells, enabling the retina to gather more light. This is also the reason why your cat’s eyes appear to glow in the dark or when light is shone directly at them.
Do Cats Like Sleeping In The Dark
Cats absolutely adore sleeping. In the wild, cats snooze for extended periods during the day to save up energy for their nighttime hunting adventures. Even though domestic cats don’t need to hunt for their meals, they still have the natural inclination to conserve their energy and make good use of it.
Actually, cats can sleep anywhere, whether it’s light or dark, even if there are loud noises around, as long as they feel secure. That’s why many cat owners often find their furry friend lying in front of the window, enjoying the sunlight.
It’s just as likely to discover your kitten snoozing under the covers, on shelves, and beneath tables. However, what all these beloved sleeping spots have in common is that your cat understands there’s no danger present.
Proximity to you and having enough warmth are other things that can influence where your cat chooses to sleep. However, whether it’s light or dark doesn’t really play a big role in their decision.
Things To Consider
If you’re a cat owner trying to help your cats stay calm at night, don’t worry! We’ve put together a list of helpful tips to make sure your pet is less likely to stay up all night.
● Increase Play Time
Many cat owners often express their frustration about not having sufficient time to engage in playtime with their pets due to exhaustion from a long day outside. This is a completely understandable concern.
However, the good news is that you don’t have to put in a lot of effort for your cat’s playtime. This is possible if you buy awesome cat toys like lasers and cat teasers.
To make sure your cat sleeps well at night, it’s important to keep them active. The more energy they use before bedtime, the higher the likelihood of a calm and restful night.
● Try Keeping Your Room Door Shut
If your cat doesn’t seem to want to change its nighttime routine, you can create a cozy spot for it outside your room. Make sure to include a water bowl and everything else your cat needs. This way, you can keep your bedroom door closed without feeling too bad about it.
It might take your cat a couple of days to adjust to not being allowed in your space, but eventually, it will find more interesting activities to occupy its time.
● Get Your Cat A Companion
It may surprise you, but your cat might act like Godzilla at night because it feels lonely or bored. If you don’t want another cat as a pet, there are ways to make your cat feel less lonely. Many cat owners find that having two cats in the same house keeps them entertained as they chase and play with each other.
You can also check this YouTube video about this topic:
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[Wikipedia] [Encyclopedia Britannica] [National Geographic] [cdc.gov] [Purina]