Every cat owner understands that living with a feline means never having privacy. They follow you to the bathroom, bedroom, and, of course, the kitchen. Any door you’re behind, in particular, becomes a feline adversary. But why do cats dislike closed doors? The explanation, with so much of pet behavior, emerges from a complicated intersection of modern living and primordial instincts. Here’s why your cat hates it when you shut them out and what you can do to preserve your paint intact.

Why do cats dislike closed doors?

When you go to the restroom and close the door, you may hear the sounds of a cat positively tearing the exterior (see also velcro dogs). They don’t just want to be near you. Cats have a distinct perspective on their own environment and a desire to dominate it. After all, they own your house as well.

First, there’s the matter of cat FOMO. Yes, you read that correctly: the dreadful Fear of Missing Out. This phenomena affects both humans and animals. While we may be envious of our friends’ vacations on social media, our four-legged pals are more concerned about why you closed the bedroom door. Dr. Karen Sueda, a veterinary behaviorist, told LiveScience: “The FOMO of like, ‘I don’t know what’s on the other side, and I want to go see and figure it out.'” We knew our cats were curious, but it’s still astonishing how many of their peculiarities stem from their desire to investigate.

Cats also feel compelled to understand and influence their surroundings, which is due in part to their unique position in their ecosystems. Remember that in the wild, tiny felines can be both predators and prey. “”Cats like to control access to spaces, vital basic needs, and territory,” Johnson told Live Science. “It does not make them mean.” It doesn’t make them anything other than a predator-prey species that must hunt in order to exist while still feeling safe and confident in their surroundings. That also explains why our furry friends transform boxes into miniature dens to keep them warm and safe from the outside world.

How can you avoid your feline friend from scratching the door?

We want to clarify that scratching the door is completely typical behavior and not a symptom of anything wrong with your pet, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating. Don’t panic, there is hope for your doorframe. Follow these suggestions to avoid the worst of it, and consider scratch protection for the most heavily affected places.

Stay constant.

It is far preferable to keep certain locations off limits than to allow your cat in at times but not others. when this may be inevitable on occasion (you both need to use the bathroom, but you want privacy when showering), it can be beneficial to keep a few cat-free spaces. They will eventually give up and leave those locations alone (hopefully).

Provide scratching posts.

Cats have a natural desire to scratch, which helps them maintain their claws neat. A well-placed post can allow your beastie to vent their frustrations on a suitable surface. Once you’ve determined where your cat enjoys tearing up the most, cover those areas with as many scratching posts as you can accommodate.

Keep the toys around.

Finally, play can keep some of the cat’s energy and frustration from harming your walls. But be careful not to overstimulate your mouser. Recent study reveals that excessive playtime can have the opposite impact. Other stressors may also increase scratching activity, so assess your pet’s environment holistically to see if your cat is stressed.

Cats enjoy following us around, but they are quite upset when we close the door on them. To keep your baseboards and your sanity, try to follow our suggestions as closely as possible. Also, keep in mind that your pet may be under more stress than you know, particularly if you have a youngster or another pet in the house. Setting aside particular playtime helps to alleviate this nervous response. Check for any excessive noise, an overflowing litter box, or interruptions in the routine. When you suddenly move from entirely remote to hybrid, expect your best friend to act out. Finally, cat pheromone diffusers may be effective. While the research is limited, the findings are promising.

Many pet parents would attest that cats enjoy going bump in the night. Whether it’s pawing at the automatic feeder, jumping off furniture, or getting a case of the zoomies, you’ve definitely had a late-night panic when you thought you had an intruder but it was actually a member of the household.

The intensity of nightly activity may lead you to believe that cats prefer to be awake at all hours of the night and morning, but are they nocturnal? We’ll explain what their strange behaviour truly signifies.

Are cats nocturnal?

The short answer is: no. The longer answer entails breaking down mammals’ sleeping habits. Humans are diurnal (usually), which means we are awake during the day and sleep at night. That makes sense for most of us and our history (though some night owls may disagree).

Interestingly, dogs conduct the most of their eating, hunting, and playing during the day and are also diurnal, although cats are not. So, where does it leave them? Kitties come into a third group known as crepuscular, which means they are most active at sunrise and sunset. If that applies to your household, you’ll now understand why.

We believe cats are nocturnal because they sleep a lot throughout the day, exactly like a nocturnal animal, but on a slightly different timetable. This does, however, mean that you may receive an early morning wake-up call when your cat hears their internal breakfast bell.

Why do cats sleep during the daytime?

Evolution, of course. Your feline’s wild ancestors evolved extraordinarily strong eyesight, particularly in low light, and used it to their advantage, as do some species today, like as lions. Hunting in low light (but not at night when it is completely dark) offers them an advantage.

It also allows cats to sleep during the warmest portion of the day, which saves energy and water in warm, dry climes. Your modern mouser will take full advantage of this when they cuddle up in a particularly delectable sunspot and soak up the sun, recharging their batteries for an evening of seeking prey.

Top tips for managing your frisky feline

Even though the ancient instinct is ingrained in their DNA, many pets are able to adjust to their owners’ routines. That implies they may be comfortable getting up throughout the day and sleeping with you for the most of the night. If your habits don’t seem to be in sync, try these methods to get your days and nights on track.

Set aside playtime.

The key to a simple bedtime for any child, whether furry or not, is to get their energy out before you both go asleep. They may like playing with a mouse on a string, messing with a Kong toy, or even trying their hand at a cat game on your phone. The idea here is to bond while also working their bodies and minds before bedtime.

Make sure they are full.

Have you ever had a particularly wonderful meal and become a little sleepy? It’s because your digestion works overtime when you need to process a lot of extra food. Giving your four-legged companion a nibble before bedtime may help them settle down for a long night of dreaming.

Ignore them.

Cats feed off of attention. If they irritate you enough and you give in, you’ve just shown them that their antics work. Even if it helps you fall asleep for a few hours, this will not result in long-term sleep. After a few attempts, they’ll realise their tricks don’t work and will give up, at least in principle.

Keep the bedroom closed.

While sleeping with our pets has some true advantages, it is not suitable for all humans or our fur babies. They may perform best in a separate area of the house so you can get your full eight hours of sleep, and they can go on a nightly roam to evoke memories of their predecessors.

The next time you hear your pet kitty up at 4 a.m., you’ll understand that they can’t help it; it’s just how they were designed. While you might be able to work them into your routine a little, you need also account for their crepuscular nature and give them extra care when they’re most attentive – in the morning and evening. Hopefully, everything goes as planned, and they don’t convert you into a half-nocturnal beast.