On quiet nights, while humans are immersed in dreamland, cats are on energetic “night mode”. They weave, jump and play around the room as if they have inexhaustible energy. The nocturnal nature of cats has always been a topic of curiosity for many cat slaves, so today let’s unravel the mystery of active cats at night.
I. Evolutionary roots of nocturnality in cats:
The nocturnal nature of cats stems from the survival needs of their ancestors. In the wild, felines are mostly nocturnal hunters. The ancestors chose to be out at night to avoid the threat of natural enemies. While powerful predators such as raptors may have been active during the day, the relative safety of the night allowed the cat ancestors to hunt and survive with greater peace of mind. In addition, many small prey such as mice and other rodents are nocturnal and come out at night to feed. Cat ancestors gradually adapted to the rhythm of nocturnal activities in order to hunt these prey, and the hunting advantages of keen night vision and senses such as hearing at night were also fixed during the long evolution, giving cats their innate nocturnal genes.
Ⅱ.The unique physiological structure of cats to help night walking:
a.Excellent night vision
The cat’s eyes have a magical structure, and its pupils can be adjusted as flexibly as an “aperture”. At night under low light, the cat’s pupil will dilate to its limit to capture as much light as possible. Moreover, the “reflective membrane” (tapetum lucidum) behind the cat’s retina allows light to be reflected back to the retina again, which is equivalent to installing a “reflector” for the eyes, so that under the same light conditions, the brightness of the objects that can be seen is 6 – 8 times brighter than that of human beings. 8 times brighter than humans under the same light conditions. Even at night when there is only a little moonlight or starlight, cats can clearly see their surroundings and pinpoint prey or obstacles. Outstanding Hearing to Capture Small Movements A cat’s ears are like “radar” that can rotate 180° and operate independently to capture sound in all directions. They can hear a wide range of frequencies, and can hear high-frequency sound waves up to 65 kilohertz, much higher than the 20 kilohertz of humans. Many small animal activities at night or the slightest sound made by flying insects can not escape from the ears of cats, which enables them to quickly detect prey trails, and in the dark can also be accurate.
b.Sensitive whiskers detect environmental details
Cat whiskers are “tactile sensors” that can sense tiny air currents and the contours of objects. At night, cats weave through complex environments such as narrow gaps and furniture crevices, the whiskers first test the size of the space and the internal situation, helping them to determine whether they can pass through smoothly, avoid collision and injury, and ensure that they can move freely at night.
Ⅲ.Behavioral manifestations and purposes of nocturnal activities in cats
a.Release of hunting instinct： Even if domestic cats live a privileged life without the need to forage for food, the hunting instinct is still deep in the genes. At night they will take the small toys, paper balls and even dust in the house as “prey”. From lurking, staring, creeping forward, to suddenly jumping and grabbing, a whole set of hunting action in a smooth flow. This is both an unconscious flow of instinct and a nighttime pastime entertainment method for them to expend their energy and hone their “hunting skills” in mock hunts. b.Territory Patrol and Marking At night cats will patrol their territory to confirm safety and to clarify the extent of their turf once again. They will leave scent marks in areas of frequent activity, such as leaving scent marks on furniture, corners, etc. with facial gland secretions or claw scratches. This is equivalent to declaring sovereignty to other cats and reinforcing the sense of territory. Especially in multi-cat families or cats gathering environments, night patrol marking can help maintain territorial order among cats and reduce conflicts. c.Social interaction and communication Although cats are often considered to be aloof and independent, they will socialize with other cats at night. In the gathering place of cats, nighttime is the peak time for collective activities, where they groom each other, play and establish social relationships. Wandering cats will exchange territorial information and search for breeding partners at night, and through various behaviors they will maintain group ties, pass on their genes and continue the population.
IV. How to cope with the impact of cats’ nocturnal nature on life：
1. Provide abundant nighttime entertainment To deplete your cat’s energy at night, put interactive toys such as moving cat teasers and laser pointers in a safe place. Set up multi-level cat climbing frames for cats to climb and jump. Automatic feeders can be timed to feed dry food to motivate cats to “hunt for food” at night, satisfy their desire to explore, and reduce mischief-making behaviors such as scratching furniture and barking due to boredom. Establish a regular routine to guide A regular routine is important for adjusting your cat’s biological clock. Interact with your cat more during the day, such as playing with it and combing its fur, to deplete its energy and make it appropriately tired during the day, thus reducing its nighttime activity. Feeding at a fixed time in the evening allows the cat to form a conditioned reflex to understand that the night is a time for rest rather than activity, gradually adapting to the owner’s routine and reducing nighttime disturbances. 2. Create a comfortable resting environment It is important to provide a quiet and comfortable resting space for your cat. Put a soft litter and a warm blanket in a quiet corner, away from noisy areas where people move around a lot. Put catnip and other relaxing items next to the litter to help the cat relax during the day or in the evening, so as to promote rest and reduce the amount of activity at night.
The nocturnal nature of cats is a unique habit endowed by natural selection and evolution. Understanding its causes and purposes not only allows us to better understand the logic of cat behavior, but also helps us to reasonably cope with nocturnal activity. By respecting the cat’s nature and taking good care of it, we can share the day and night with it, make it happy and make our own life more beautiful and interesting because of the cat’s companionship.
