'[He's] trying to tuck us into bed every night': Cat pawrents come to the heartwarming realization that the reason their cat is acting out is because they're “late” for their imaginary bedtime

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jan 17, 2026 11:00 AM EST

Cats love routine, and they will use any means necessary to keep you purrfectly punctual.

Our fluffy living room lions have many made-up rules that we've somehow been coerced into following over the years. Fur example, we must immediately go to have cuddle time on the couch after dinner, any deviation from that plan will be met with screams and attempts to trip us until we head back towards the couch. We also must get up, every day, at 7 AM to feed them (even on the weekends). We've also learned to set our alarms a few minutes earlier so we can have 10 minutes of mandatory meowrning snuggles before breakfast. Cats are sticklers for routine, and get pawsitively peeved when you don't follow theirs.

One pair of pawrents noticed their orange fur baby getting generally unsettled every night. He would meow incessantly and walk all over them to get their attention. But, as soon as they turned the lights off, he stopped. After some investigation, they found out that he was trying to get them to go to sleep. Their little baby was tired, and clearly, he couldn't go to sleep without his hoomans being fast asleep! 

What can we say, cats are just silly! They don't realize that they can go to sleep whenever they want, wherever they want. But for this ginger guy, lights out meant lights out! Now they've learned his cues, and promptly head to bed, adding this to the long list of made-up rules we follow because of our cats. Read the full story below!

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  • 01
    Original post: We're proud parents of a 1.5 year old orange brainless child, Toad. We've been slowly realizing recently that anytime we stay up late watching a movie or tv, he drives us BONKERS with meowing, walking on us, and is just generally unsettled.
    via Strict-Gas4654
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10594722304
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  • 03
    This happens like an hour after he gets his wet food, so he's not hungry. We try to play, he doesn't want to.
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  • 04
    He doesn't need anything. Then, as we soon as we get into bed and then the lights off, he completely stops.
    via Strict-Gas4654

  • Cats are much smarter than we give them credit for. Just because we don't speak the same language doesn't mean that they aren't good communicators, you just have to know what to listen for. They're like little toddlers in terms of IQ, but with the purrsonality of royalty. They also see us as giant, hairless cats, so to them, we must be kind of stoopy. This kitty is just making sure his giant hairless cat roommates get their beauty sleep! Very thoughtful of him.

  • 05
    No more craziness ― he just goes into another room and beds down to sleep. That made us wonder, is he just trying to tell us it's bedtime?
    via Strict-Gas4654
  • 06
    Does he just want us safely tucked into bed? If anyone else has noticed this I'd love to hear about it just because it's interesting X)
    via Strict-Gas4654
  • 07
    Edit: I love all of our little bedtime supervisors. Toad doesn't even sleep in our bed!
    via Strict-Gas4654
  • 08
    Our other cat Pigeon is the bedtime cuddler but weirdly enough she doesn't herd us, just patiently waits like a little angel while Toad pushes things off the coffee table or sits in front of the projector.
    via Strict-Gas4654
  • 09
    Also I forgot to mention that his nickname is "Boneless Toad" because he is a floppy stuffed animal.
    via Strict-Gas4654
  • 10
    Bebinn Cats like routine and you staying up is seriously upsetting his routine.
    via Bebinn
  • 11
    AMGamer94 My orange literally tucks me in, usually minutes after I lie down, he shows up, proceeds to make biscuits on top of me for about 10 minutes and then he's off to his own bed.
    via AMGamer94
  • 12
    And when I get up at night for whatever reason and lie back down he does it again.
    via AMGamer94
  • 13
    WorthyJellyfishODoom Yep, you are staying up past bedtime. How dare you?!
    via WorthyJellyfish0Doom
  • 14
    Stoutkeg Our void does this, and then plays Alarm Cat on the mornings when no alarm is set because nobody has to go to work.
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  • Our cat is the most effective alarm clock we've ever had. Every meowrning, without fail, she wakes us up at 7 AM for some cuddles and breakfast. Even if it's a weekend. Even if it's a holiday (every day is a holiday for her). If you ever need help remembering to do something at a certain time, give your cat a treat around that time. Eventually, they will request a treat from you every day at that time, and it will be the most reliable alarm clock that runs on purr-power.

  • 15

    Hello from one Toad to another!

    Spooky Seraph
    via SpookySeraph
  • 16
    sneakyminxx My tuxie does this. Will pace and herd us upstairs and wait in the hallway until we are in bed. He'll then crouch on my husbands side of the bed on the floor facing the door until it's been quiet for about 15 mins, after which he will settle into bed in his room or downstairs. lol I love our furry overlord weirdos
    via sneakyminxx
  • 17
    Fuzzy_Information yup, my cat does this too. He will tap my leg if I'm up too late at my desk. He doesn't understand that he's a cat, who can sleep anywhere in the house he pleases. At any time.
    via Fuzzy_Information
  • 18
    He usually gets off the couch (where he is sleeping) to tell me it's time to go to bed. He will even patiently wait by the bathroom door while I wash my face/brush my teeth. He's so weird. I love it
    via Fuzzy_Information
  • 19
    E E
    via Applebottomgenes75
  • 20
    This little madam sits on top of the projector and blocks the image if we dare to watch a movie in bed after 10pm. 'Lights out' clearly means LIGHTS OUT!!!
    via Applebottomgenes75
  • 21
    nasnedigonyat My girl dingo used to go mad for bedtime. If you even walked in the direction of the bedroom she'd run ahead meowing and shivering her tail, looking over her shoulder, like 'come on already let's SPOOOOOON'. And if you were just going to the bathroom and not to bed she'd get so impatient and stand in the bedroom door yelling out into the hall. Full throated, actual cat yells. You could hear her annoyance.
    via nasnedigonyat
  • 22
    Get in bed and she would be the little spoon under the covers happy as could be. Dingo was a lovely little lumpkin. I miss her all the time. Her bedtime screaming will be remembered fondly. Love you always dingo darling.
    via nasnedigonyat
  • 23
    Segat1 Yes! My cat will bring me her toys around bedtime, and then (love) bite me until I go to bed. Then she settles in beside me til I fall asleep, and then brings me offerings all night. It took me a bit to realise she was putting me to bed. She also tries to bite me out of bed. It's funny how they do this but I really love it.
    via Segat1
  • 24
    kotoneshiomi My boy does this. He will scream until I go to bed, and then in the morning it's time to pat mommy's face cause he likes pats so I should too when I wake up. At first I thought he was just slapping me awake for soft food or treats but I think it's his way of petting me the way I pet him for comfort cause 68 he does it when I cry too he's amazing
    via kotoneshiomi
  • 25
    Defiant_Policy969 Yep, my orange pair always give me heck for staying up past their imposed bedtime.
    via Defiant_Policy969
  • 26
    juneshepard My sweet orange is very specific when it comes to telling me I've stayed up too late. There is a vase of fake flowers beside the TV that she normally doesn't so much as glance at. But if it's past my bedtime, she's there, threatening to munch!!
    via juneshepard

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heartwarming routine bedtime funny cats cat parents late Cats animals
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