Everyone knows cats sleep a lot. A lot.
And this results in interesting relationship dynamics between a cat parent and the cat herself.
I am sure you must have seen cats waking their mom or dad up at 5 AM for food, water, and love.
Some like that but many potential owners look to find if there is a way around that.
Ragdoll cats are one of the most preferred cat breeds across the world.
And therefore, so many people ask varied questions about their temperament, personality, and general behavior.
In this article, let us talk about their schedule, sleep patterns, and if they are the kind of breed that will wake you up early in the morning.
When you finish the article, you will hopefully learn a little more about ragdoll cats, their schedules, routines, and patterns.
Are ragdoll cats nocturnal?
No ragdolls cat are not nocturnal meaning they are not active throughout the night. They, however, are like most other cats crepuscular meaning they tend to show relatively more activity at dusk and dawn.
I know; I have poked at your curiosity now. Don’t worry, by the time you have finished the article, I will lead your curiosity to a happy conclusion.
Types of Animals Based on Sleep Patterns
So, I just threw a few fancy words up there.
This is the section where I explain those. I know most of you are aware of what nocturnal animals are. Animals that are active at night right?
Bats, owls, and the like. But what do you call animals that are the opposite of that?
Or what do you call animals that are some of this and some of that?
So allow me to formally introduce you to different types of animals divided based on their activity times or sleeping patterns.
Nocturnals
Only those animals that are active ‘throughout’ the night can be called nocturnals.
Daytime is their sleep time, and they engage in activity through the night.
Examples are bats, skunks, owls, etc.
There are many reasons why some animals adapt to this kind of lifestyle.
One big reason is the weather conditions.
Many nocturnal animals live in desert or desert-like conditions.
They avoid daytime owing to the heat.
Another reason is they are active during the night to prevent diurnal animals.
Diurnals
So, if nocturnal animals are active at night, diurnal animals are the opposites of that.
Diurnal animals are active during the day and sleep throughout the night.
And yes, you guessed it correctly, humans are diurnal beings.
Most primates, mammals, reptiles, and birds are diurnals.
For the most part, the reason for diurnal adaptations is being able to use light for hunting and gathering.
Crepuscular Animals
Crepuscular animals are active during dusk and at dawn.
You can either call them a bit of both diurnals and nocturnals or neither.
This is because they can sleep both during the day and at night.
But their sleeping patterns are adjusted so that they can be the most active during dusk and dawn.
Dawn and dusk are the cooler parts of the day and additionally, no threats from nocturnals and diurnals.
The light is just enough so that they can hunt with ease.
Examples are deer, porcupines, black-tailed jackrabbits, and cats.
So, contrary to what many people think, cats are not nocturnal animals because they sleep at night and for most of the day.
Cats and that includes ragdoll cats too; you will observe love to run around during the dusk. That’s when they are at the peak of their energy.
So, evening times are convenient for most people.
It is when they decide to run around during the early morning hours that it becomes rather inconvenient.
Ragdoll Cats Persona and Temperament
Now that we know that ragdoll cats, like all other cats, are crepuscular animals, can you do something to ensure they don’t disturb your sleep deep into the night or early in the morning?
Well, yeah, of course, you can. That’s what I have been building up towards.
But before I tell you what to do, you must understand the inherent demands of a ragdoll cat’s personality.
You can only ask an innocent animal to behave differently by addressing the core demands of its personality.
So, what kind of personality do ragdoll cats have?
Ragdoll cats are one of the sweetest, most gentle, calm, loving, and affectionate cats you can own.
People who have had one refer to them as the dogs of the cat world.
That’s because they exude dog-like devotion and affection towards their owners.
Their size is visibly big, and it seems the size of their body is proportional to the size of their heart.
They are very accommodating, docile, and patient and get along very well with other pets.
They love attention, and if you timely give it to her, she will reward you with unending love and loyalty.
Yes, Ragdoll is a laid-back, quiet cat breed, but don’t mistake them for being lazy.
They are a muscular, energetic cat breed that requires daily playtime, exercise, and attention.
Of course, their demands aren’t as stark as, say, a siamese cat or a Bengal cat, they aren’t big in climbing too, but they carry excess energy that needs to be expended via acts like exercise and playing with toys.
This is very important given the context of the article, so keep this in mind.
Another essential trait regarding ragdolls is that they can be left alone only for a short time.
These cats thrive and develop as well-adjusted pets in company, action, and attention.
Without this, their energy won’t find expression, and they may build boredom, sleeplessness, and anxiety.
Ragdoll Cat Sleeping Patterns
Now that we know what ragdoll cats are like, I think we are building up the article pretty nicely.
In this section, let me tell you what kind of sleep routine your ragdoll cat will likely follow.
But let me tell you, this isn’t something written in stone.
There are so many factors that come into play.
Factors such as how much exercise your ragdoll is getting, does she have a playmate, how much you engage with her, how much she sleeps during the, etc.
But one can say with certainty that cats (including ragdolls) sleep around 16-20 hours a day.
This amount is more than double the time humans sleep.
If you have had the pleasure of owning a cat you would know this.
Cats sleep their day off curled up in their human beds, and with ragdolls, it gets better.
Ragdolls are the perfect lap cats, and if you work from home, I won’t be surprised if she spends a couple of hours purring, cuddling, and sleeping on your lap.
As I said, cats are crepuscular animals. Cats sleeping throughout the day is good as it gives you more time to work and do your own thing.
Cats going off sleeping with you in the night feels even better.
It is in the mornings when things take an unwelcome turn.
Most cats wake up at around 4-5 AM.
If you already wake up early, that’s great, but unfortunately, many people don’t.
Now, it’s true that many cats don’t necessarily want their human to wake up, but many enjoy their human’s company.
Some cats are happy with the company and curl up in your bed.
Unfortunately, for most cats, including ragdolls, this is when they want their needs of food, water, and play met.
As far as they are concerned, it’s just an innocent gesture.
In one of my previous articles, I discussed how cats see their humans as an extended family.
They are up and want their family to care for their needs, just like they do by bringing dead birds to you.
Now, of course, that’s rather inconvenient on your part.
Is there something you can do so that your cat doesn’t wake you up early?
Or, at the very least, wait a couple of hours.
Yes, of course, you can. Let’s discuss this in the next section.
What to do if your Ragdoll Wakes you Up Early?
So, what can you do to ensure that your ragdoll doesn’t trouble you early in the morning?
See, to be honest with you, there are no concrete methods but some reasonable steps that you can take.
For this reason, I explained a ragdoll cat’s sleeping pattern and her persona.
If you take care of her basic needs and the needs that a ragdoll cat’s personality demands, you will always have a harmonious relationship with your cat.
I want you to see where you lack in addressing your pet’s basic demands.
Address them, and most things fall into place.
Here are some things you can do to ensure your ragdoll doesn’t wake you up in the morning.
- Use gravity feeders and keep enough food and water that lasts through the night. If your cat wakes you up in the morning for food and water, this should stop it.
- Keep her quiet toys in a place where she can access them in the morning if attention and playtime are what she demands in the early hours. I say quiet toys; otherwise, the noise will wake you.
- Close access to your bedroom. It will be tough initially if she usually finds the door open. But you must, at some point, relay the message that the bedroom is out of bounds in the morning. It may take time. But eventually, she will understand
- Do NOT punish your cat. Cats are innocent creatures that act out of habit. Punishing and yelling will only scare and confuse them. Instead, slowly train them not to do things they don’t want by creating boundaries.
- Do NOT get up and feed your cat in the morning. Pre-emptively keeping food out at night is okay, but don’t reward her mind by giving her food when she demands it, or it will become a habit
- For similar reasons, Do NOT play with her in the morning when she brings toys to the bed. Playing is essential, but when it is the right time to play and not necessarily on her terms. If she wants to do it independently, keep her toys out to play. That is fine.
- Exercise and play with your cat in the evening to the point her excess energy is exhausted, and she will sleep like a log for the most part.
Conclusion
So here is what we have learned today.
There are three varieties of animals based on activity time. Nocturnal, Diurnal and Crepuscular.
Cats are crepuscular animals because they can sleep during the day and night and reach peak activity levels at dawn and dusk.
Getting specific, ragdoll cats can sleep around 16-20 hours every day.
For your cat to not wake you in the early morning hours, ensure that,
- She has enough food and water, going into the night in gravity feeders.
- Leave her quiet toys where she can access them.
- Close access to the bedroom.
- Don’t punish your cat.
- Don’t automatically get up and feed your cat.
- Avoid playing with her first thing in the morning.
- Exercise that feline in the evenings.
I hope you enjoyed this article on, are ragdoll cats’ nocturnal.
As you can see, I gave you quite a bit of information on a seemingly simple topic are ragdoll cats nocturnal?
But here is the thing, there are a lot of connections behind what seems like a simple question.
Maybe you already own a ragdoll cat and are wondering why doesn’t your cat sleep through the night.
Or maybe you are looking to get a ragdoll cat and wish to know how they behave when they are alone and during nighttime.
So, I have tried answering questions about ragdoll cats and their ways.
I hope you enjoyed reading the article as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Shoot any other questions you may have in the comments below.
Take care of yourselves and your cat. I will see you at the next one!
Bye!
