The Perfect Cat Day: What’s an Ideal Cat Schedule?

If you could give your cat the schedule they want, what would it be? What schedule would make your cat the happiest? In this article, we will try to answer that question by helping you understand the way cats like to eat, sleep, play, and live!

How to Keep Your Cat Happy

• Sleep – Cats LOVE to sleep. Cats sleep more than people, but wake much more frequently. Sleep requirements differ slightly from cat to cat, but, generally, cats like to sleep approximately 13 to 19 hours a day. How much and when they sleep depends on the level of activity in their environment. A cat living as a pet in the home is likely to sleep more than a cat that is outdoors and has to work for their food. Some cats will sleep more due to boredom.
• Play – Cats like to play! You can help your cat be its happiest both mentally and physically by providing plenty of stimulation. This can be in the form of toys, a companion to play with, and/or playtime with you. A laser pointer is a fun way to play with your cat, even while you are watching television. A feathery flyer is also a great toy! To better understand your kitty, read How Cats Play.
• An Interesting Environment – Indoor-only kitties need an interesting environment to stay mentally healthy and happy. An interesting environment includes windows that allow your cat to enjoy watching passersby or the sights and sounds of nature, such as birds at a feeder. A window perch is often ideal, as they can watch what is going on outside. An open, screened window or door and/or a screened-in porch can be very stimulating to cats as well. Opening the screened door or window in the morning is the perfect time for your cat to enjoy the sounds of the outdoors. Music or TV shows for cats can also be stimulating. For more tips, go to Selecting the Right Environmental Enrichment for Your Cat.
• Water – Cats like to have free access to fresh, clean water at all times. Change the water daily and be sure to wash out the bowl.
• Food – Generally, cats like to eat several times a day. They are nibblers and will often eat several small meals. My favorite way to feed an ideal-weight cat is to leave dry food out, so they can casually nibble, and I also offer small amounts of canned food twice daily so I can assess their appetite and behavior. Loss of appetite, or Anorexia in Cats, is one of the first symptoms of disease in many felines. For more information on feeding your cat, read Feeding Your Cat.
• A Good, Clean Litterbox – Cats like opportunities to urinate and defecate in a clean box that feels safe. There should be at least one litter box per cat plus one in every home. If you have two cats, you should have three litter boxes. Clear storage containers that are deep are an inexpensive favorite for cats. Use a litter that your cat likes and clean the box often. If you use scoopable litter, scoop once or twice a day depending on how many cats you have. Ideally, when you scoop, there should be no more than 2 or 3 spots to scoop in the box. If there is more than that, you are not scooping enough.
• General Comfort – Cats like the comfort of a clean environment that isn’t too hot or too cold. Most cats are very happy indoors, although some outdoor and indoor-outdoor cats also have a great life. If your cat is an outdoor cat, they should have access to warm shelter in the winter and shade in the summer with constant access to fresh, clean water. Cats also love a soft comfy bed in a high location where they can watch their environment and feel safe.
• Time – Cats love to be fussed over and to spend quality time with their owners. This time makes them feel important and loved, just as you would feel when a loved one gives you undivided attention. This “time” can be just sitting or watching TV. Many cats love it if you also do some petting or brushing!

An Ideal Daily Schedule for Your Cat

7 am – 8 am

• Wake up and have a quick snack of canned food. Also, offer fresh dry food. Open the screened window or door and allow the outdoor sounds to stimulate your cat.
• Make sure your cat has plenty of fresh, clean water. Change the water to make sure the bowl is full and fresh.
• Spend about 10 minutes of quality time just talking and petting your cat. Look for anything unusual about their demeanor, attitude, hair coat, look of their eyes, etc.
• Scoop the Litter boxes.
• Fill the bird or squirrel feeder. Change water in the bird bath.
• Open a secure screened window or door and allow your kitty to enjoy the sounds and smells of the outdoors for a little while.

9 am – 12 pm

• Nap time!? Or time to follow you around as you do your housework. If you are off to work – then naptime it will be.

12 pm – 1 pm

• Ideally, most cats would enjoy some interaction again with the opportunity to play or be stimulated. If you work all day, make sure you have an interesting window, tall perch, or some toys around during the day.

1 pm – 5 pm

• Nap time again? Or still nap time? Or another opportunity to observe you working!

5 pm – 7:30 pm

• Drinks, dinner, and playtime. Again, change the water and offer dinner. Monitor your cat’s appetite. Offer a longer and more extensive playtime than this morning. Let them really play and burn off some of that pent-up energy.
• Scoop the litter box again.

7:30 pm – 11 pm

• Quiet family time. This may be a good opportunity to brush and groom your cat, clean their teeth, and spend some quality time on the couch watching TV.
• Open a secure screened window or door and allow your kitty to enjoy the nighttime sounds and smells.

Bedtime!