Cats prefer sleeping in the dark or in the daylight. They are “crepuscular” which means they are most active during dusk and dawn; twilight. Their prey has just been out all night, and can't adapt as well to the increasing light conditions.
Turning out the lights when you leave the house can be a good habit to have from an economic standpoint, but leaving your cat in complete darkness can actually be very stressful for them.
Generally, cats like to sleep anywhere and at almost any time, regardless of whether it's dark or light. As long as they feel safe, a cat can fall asleep in almost any conditions. This means that they will fall asleep in a well-lit room, a dimly-lit room, or a room in near darkness.
House cats are more crepuscular, meaning it's likely to be at its most active during the dusk and twilight hours. That doesn't mean cats have a preference for darkness, but they're wired by nature to stay alert right before the sun comes up and goes down.
Like other mammals, light is a necessity for their eyes to work properly. However, cats do need less ambient light than humans do to capture the same clear view by their eyes, and besides their eyes, cats can also explore the surroundings in the dark with the help of other parts of their body.
Where Cats Go at Night. It's natural to wonder where the heck cats go at night. At home, they're usually sleeping, playing, cuddling, eating, or sleeping some more.
Regardless of their reputation, cats do get lonely when they are left unattended for long periods of time. Research proves that cats are social beings that form strong bonds with their owners. Do cats get sad when you leave? Short answer: yes.
Amount of light: Contrary to belief, cats do need some light to see. Try placing a night light near their litter box and turning it on in the evenings so they feel safe and can navigate to their box easily.
The behavior is hardwired into cats for a few reasons. Cats will tend to sleep when it's pitch-dark. But at dusk, they're most active. Instinctive behavior they might exhibit outside, such as prey chasing, translates into activity that is within a confined household.
Cats prefer warmth but will be okay in rooms hovering between 50-60 degrees. This is not ideal for them though, and you'll likely notice your cat seeking out additional heat by snuggling up to a radiator, blanket, or you!
Position your cat's sleeping spots away from any noisy appliances (such as washing machines) and busy areas of the home (such as the hallway). A quiet corner of a bedroom or living room is ideal, and once your cat is snoozing, make sure you leave them alone to avoid startling them awake.
Cats like hiding places and they like to be high up, so make sure they have a nice space to sleep at the top of a cat tree. Cats that are part of the same social group will often choose to sleep cuddled together or close to each other. If your cat gets on with your dog, they may also sleep in close proximity.
Most cats like to be up high, like on a cat tree, bookshelf, back of the couch, window perch or some other spot where they can watch what goes on in their world. These perches help cats feel safe enough to sleep as they should, so provide these vertical spaces where possible in your home.
Cats can see in low levels of light, and while they dislike complete darkness, most cats are not afraid of the dark. However, they can have a negative association with the dark, because of a traumatic experience like being captured, abused, hunted, or injured.
The truth is that cats cannot see in absolute darkness any more than we can. However, they are much better adapted than humans for seeing in low levels of light. They use three clever evolutionary adaptations to allow them to do this. First, as compared to a human eye, the cat eye can let in several times more light.
In the home, cats are often scared of noisy household appliances, especially if they didn't become accustomed to them as young kittens. Vacuum cleaners, lawnmowers, printers, washing machines and hairdryers are common culprits.
Depression in cats
Without enough sunlight, both you and your cat also fail to develop enough melatonin, the chemical regulating sleep cycles. This can result in depression, drowsiness and sometimes anxiety.
Cats can meow for a variety of reasons, but if your noisy little feline is being particularly disruptive at night when you're in bed then it could well be because they're feeling lonely. Those cries for company won't quieten down either until you find a way to keep them stimulated.
This independence could be tied their wild ancestors, who were solitary animals. However, domesticated cats have evolved to crave companionship, often forming strong bonds with humans and sometimes even other pets. So, do cats get lonely? Because of the attachments they form, the answer is yes; cats can feel lonely!
“Cats will sometimes jump into the litter boxes and often use them while, and right after, their people have scooped them,” says Marilyn Krieger, certified cat behavior consultant. “Cats love clean litter boxes, ones that are freshly scooped and don't smell of excrement.
Many cats and kittens will instinctively use a litter box without needing to be taught, because of their instincts to expel bodily waste in dirt or sand. Therefore, with a new kitten, owners usually need to simply show the kitten where the litter box is located, and how to get in and out.
When individual cats were assessed, 70% showed absolutely no preference (i.e. used both boxes equally), 15% used the covered litter box more significantly, while 15% used the uncovered more than the covered. Pretty even results. It seems cats tend to think inside the box - as long as it's clean.
If you only have one interaction with a cat, she's likely to remember you up to 16 hours later. However, a cat's long term memory is quite strong (about 200 times better than that of a dog). This means that a cat can remember someone they are familiar with for years.
After several years, they can still remember people, places and events from the past. So maybe next time you find your cat staring blankly at a wall or closet, it may be possible that she is thinking of the past and replaying it over and over again.
Ears flattened back against the head and slightly sticking out—”like airplane wings”—are a sure indicator your cat is upset, Shojai says. Don't worry too much but do keep your distance. “An all-out attack toward people isn't terribly common and, when it happens, may actually be a redirected aggression,” she explains.