'It's only at night when he becomes demonic': Former stray cat keeps his human up all night but makes every sleepless moment worth it

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Sarah Brown • Writer and Editor
Nov 6, 2025 7:00 PM EST

This four-year-old former street cat has mastered the art of double living: sweet angel by day and full-on mischief maker by night. Since being rescued in February, he's settled into his new life with ease, spending his days napping in sunny spots, playing with his dog companion, and soaking up affection. But once the clock hits 1 a.m., everything changes. He scratches at furniture, knocks over anything left out, and demands food like it's an emergency. Even after a small scoop, he's back at it again by sunrise.

His tired hooman has tried nearly everything, from Feliway diffusers to rearranging the room and even shutting doors, but this clever cat has learned how to open them. It seems nothing stands between him and his nighttime antics.

An automatic feeder might finally bring peace to the household and give everyone some much-needed rest. Despite the chaos, his pawrent knows he's worth it. Life with him may be noisy and unpredictable, but it's also filled with love, laughter, and a very persistent purr.

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  • 01
    'I'm up several times throughout the night with him waking me up'
    via Nils Jacobi / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I rescued my cat from the street back in February and the vet thinks he's about 4 years old. Overall, he adjusted pretty quickly to the new life. However, just in the last few weeks he's started doing some things specifically at night that are driving me insane.
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  • 03
    Usually around like 1 AM he'll be scratching at the desk and chair in my room. Sometimes he'll hop on my dresser and knock over my tray of rings. I've put away all the things that were previously on my desk because he'd just constantly be knocking them over.
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  • 04
    J AMO
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  • 05
    This seems to be trying to get my attention to feed him. If I go give him a small scoop of food, he'll usually stop. Then this often starts again early in the morning around 5 AM.
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  • 06
    My sleep quality is absolutely awful. I'm up several times throughout the night with him waking me up and then trying to get him to stop doing whatever it is and making sure he doesn't break anything. Well this morning I was awakened by him knocking over my TV that was on a shelf onto the floor. It's now completely shattered.
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  • 07
    I don't know what to do. He's a perfect angel during the day! He sleeps and plays and sits on my lap, all the normal cat things. It's only at night when he becomes demonic lol. I have Feliway diffusers all over the house. Should I be feeding him more during the day? Or get an automatic feeder so he can eat at night?
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  • 08
    Any advice at all I'd appreciate. I love him so much but when he does this I'm ready to throw him back on the street
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  • 09
    Edit: I will try the automatic cat feeder! I'm aware he is big, but he is a tom cat and has been this size since I got him. His weight is on the higher end of the spectrum but still considered normal. I don't plan on feeding him a higher quantity of food, but breaking it up into smaller portions throughout the day/night.
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    Cat eating out of an automatic feeder
    via Olga Stock / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 11
    I'm know feeding him reinforces the behavior but when I ignore it I end up with a broken tv :( He doesn't have a cat friend, but I have a small dog that's his size and they spend all day playing and running around. I would love to get another cat, but I live in a rental and there is a 2 pet max.
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  • 12
    I have tried closing the door but he is an evil genius and has figured out how to open it. If I keep him out of my room, what's to stop him from knocking things over in other rooms? Thank you for the helpful advice
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  • 13
    mallardramp If he wakes you up and you feed him, you are training him to wake you up to be fed.
    via mallardramp
  • 14
    sitdowncomfy 1: he's trained you to feed him when he wakes you up, stop doing that! 2: get a child lock for your bedroom door cats will make you their slave if you let them, remember who's boss
    via sitdowncomfy
  • 15
    ssinff Shut the door. Giving him food only reinforces the behavior.
    via ssinff

  • You’ve got to stay strong and not give in, or he’ll keep learning that chaos gets results. Cats are smart. One midnight snack and they think they’re running the house!

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    VianneM I have an automatic feeder that goes of at 4 o'clock in the morning, because when my 2 cats were kittens they'd wake me up between 4 and 5. Now I also have two balls I fill with kibble, that they have to kick around for food. Works very well and they are 4 years old now.
    via VianneM
  • 17
    They do still have zoomies and wake me up several times a night, and occasionally the still break something. But actually having to get out of bed doesn't happen that often. i just accept it honestly
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    Cautiouslron7633 Awww he is stunning, what a naughty little guy lol. Sorry you're going through that, that happened to me with my cat but eventually he stopped, I had to take away things he normally played with ar night and tape cabinet doors as he often would go in and out of them which was noisy
    via Cautiouslron7633
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    Striking Variation1... Get an automatic feeder and set it for the time he starts with the shenanigans - Also, I would put a scratching post in front of the desk/chair.
    via StrikingVariation199

  • An automatic feeder might be the perfect solution. It lets him eat on his own schedule without waking you up, so everyone gets what they want. He gets snacks, and you get sleep!

  • 20
    UnluckyAd3315 A timed feeder helped our cats nighttime shenanigans soooo much.
    via UnluckyAd3315
  • 21
    catslikepets143 Get a timed feeder. Set it to go off at 1am. You can also confine him to one room at night( include the timed feeder in the room) I'd try just the timed feeder & see how it goes, then confine him to one room if that doesn't seem to be enough. It won't hurt him to be confined to one room while you sleep if that becomes necessary
    via catslikepets143
  • 22
    negino Please don't throw him back. They're nocturnal. Maybe get a toy he can ply with or a friend? Mine love little balls they can run around with. You can do it!!! He loves you and he's so cute omg!!
    via negino

  • Catto’s just being his natural self! They’re nocturnal little hunters at heart, so while you’re dreaming, he’s out there living his best midnight life, paws, pounces, and all.

  • 23
    Poudre DeTopaze The solution is super easy: don't let him into your room. Don't you have a living room? Your cat's behaviour is perfectly normal. They are nocturnal animals, that are active at ngiht.
    via PoudreDeTopaze
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    Capital_Drive6350 Definitely try the automatic feeder! It might help him realize that waking you up won't get him food
    via Capital_Drive6350

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Cats behavior pets advice feline pawrents sleep night
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