'I'm losing my mind': Sleep-deprived cat owner can't figure out a solution to her kitty's early meowrning wakeup calls, she seeks internet advice on best next steps for a full night's rest

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Mar 5, 2026 11:00 AM EST

Cats are early risers… and masters of manipulation. If your cat cries for you to wake up before your alarm, these expurrt cat owners are here to help you have a more peaceful meowrning.

Dog owners may have to take their pets out multiple times per day to let them get out energy and do their business, but at least they let you sleep in in the mornings. Cats, on the other hand, are the best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) alarm clock in the universe. If you want to remember to do something at a specific time every day, give your cat a treat during that time. We guarantee you that your cat will remember the exact time within in a few days and will nag at you daily around that same time for you to give them their daily treat.

Our pawrent's problem today is one that most of us cat owners expurrience: getting woken up at the crack of dawn by your tiny, screaming fur baby. Cats are typically active during dusk and dawn, so cats are known for being extra vocal during these hours. And when you just want to sleep in past 6 AM once, it can be a nightmare (because if you didn't know, cats are very purrsistent). Her cat continues to wake her up very early and it's driving her crazy, sound furmiliar?

Well, our trusty cat community came to the rescue. With tips and tricks that worked for themselves, we're sure this pawrent is going to get a full night's sleep soon. And if not, well, there's always earplugs.

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  • 01
    Tired Woman Can't Sleep
    via RyanKing999

    Tired Woman Can't Sleep

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    My cat will go to sleep with me whenever I go to bed. But at about 6 am, every day, he starts meowing (well it's more like a murmur sound, mouth closed) and pacing around.
    via veetown
  • 03
    I usually get up, feed him and my other cat, they eat and I go back to sleep.
    via veetown

  • First problem, right there. Like we said earlier, cats are masters of manipulation. If their hooman feeds them after constant meowing in the morning, this cat now understands that all they have to do to get fed whenever they want is to meow consistently. And cats can quite literally do that all day and all night.

  • 04
    Well now he's decided that's not enough. He walks around my bed, jumps on any available surface, knocks things down, and makes that murmur meow nonstop.
    via veetown
  • 05
    Tabby Cat Meowing on Wooden Floor
    via Наталья Севрук from Pexels

    Tabby Cat Meowing on Wooden Floor

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 06
    He'll be quiet if I say his name for about six seconds. If I move to get out of bed even half an inch, he runs out of my room.
    via veetown
  • 07
    I've followed him to see if he's trying to indicate something but no. Plenty of water in his bowl, food usually still available, other cat is fast asleep.
    via veetown
  • 08
    He won't leave me alone and I don't know what to do about it. I can't shut the door because the litter box is in my room (roommate + apartment living) and even when I've tried playing more it doesn't seem to help at all.
    via veetown
  • 09
    Help me I'm going crazy and I miss sleeping.
    via veetown
  • 10
    sarahnottsara = This is now a habit. Meows/crazy behaviour my human will get up. Ignore it. Get up when he calms down. DONT get up if he's doing unwanted behaviour. You're giving in. My cat does the exact same thing. My cat is in my room overnight and he CONSTANTLY meows at the door. (but he has gotten significantly better). It took a lot of restless sleep, frustration, etc to break this habit that i let happen.
    via sarahnottsara
  • 11
    Woman sitting on bedroom floor, sadly holding her face
    via Peopleimages

    Woman sitting on bedroom floor, sadly holding her face

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    divamermaidprincess Is he neutered? Your description of the sound he makes sounds to me like mating call..
    via divamermaidprincess
  • 13
    Help_a_user_out Don't feed your cat in the morning. He's waking you up to get fed. Leave food out overnight or set a feeder with a timer or provide food later in the day.
    via Help_a_user_out
  • 14
    veetown Original Poster's Reply I used to do the auto feeder but my cats both have to be on separate diets now and it's a pain in the bot. I have to use the microchip things or they'll eat each others food.
    via veetown
  • 15
    n7Angel Had the same issue, an automatic feeder solved it for me.
    via n7Angel
  • 16
    veetown Original Poster's Reply I used to do the auto feeder but my cats both have to be on separate diets now and it's a pain in the bot. I have to use the microchip things or they'll eat each others food.
    via veetown
  • 17
    No_Afternoon2216 Very playfully and very lightly like a pillow softness. Grab him like a battering ram and run towards the wall. Tell him let me sleep! Very slightly playfully and pillow softly, however. Joking, of course, but I would do it. But once again like you would your own child.
    via No_Afternoon2216
  • 18
    DigginInDirt52 You have rewarded the behavior by feeding them. You are now their slave for life.
    via DigginInDirt52

  • The only thing that will really work in the long run is to ignore them. We know it's hard and annoying. Believe us. We had a cat that woke us up at 5 AM until we broke that habit of theirs. It took weeks, but eventually they stopped, and we finally got to sleep in (until 7 AM).

  • 19
    anon7777777777777779 Wear earplugs and a sleeping mask. Stay limp and give no sign that you're awake. That broke my cat of the habit. 6 am is about dawn. Cats are most awake at dusk and dawn. So his instincts are telling him to hunt breakfast (not eat, but hunt) and he's bored.
    via anon7777777777777779
  • 20
    veetown Original Poster's Reply Found some earplugs today going for this tonight. I will break him (lovingly)
    via veetown
  • 21
    DrawingRoomRoh I sympathize. My own cats are too smart for their own good so they get bored with toys very quickly, making playtime difficult. If your cats are on the same diet, maybe hide snack toys around the place instead of an evening feeding? It might make him less bored. Boredom is a real bear with intelligent cats. My own little queen will wake me up at two or three AM because she wants a drink out of the faucet. It's not so bad because I'm usually getting up (temporarily) around that tim
    via DrawingRoomRoh
  • 22
    OohHelpMeDrZaius I have the Ozlo sleep buds for my partners snoring but they're also great at drowning out loud cat meows in the morning. They pricey but worth it. They have special noise cancelling white noise soundscapes and a built in alarm clock.
    via OohHelpMeDrZaius
  • 23
    veetown Original Poster's Reply Oh man these might be great. My ears are so sensitive but something designed for sleep might work. I'll look into them more
    via veetown

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cat owner problems cat community morning cat owners sleep deprived Cats cat advice animals waking up early
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