When Your Pet's a Night Owl
Dogs and cats are wonderful companions! They are a delight to come home to after a long day at work. They relieve stress by their mere presence, and of course they provide us with endless unconditional love!
But is that love so great they feel compelled to wake you several times a night, just to say "I love you?" All the affection in the world can't make up for non-stop sleep deprivation caused by a needy pet. But what do they want? Affection? Food? Play-time? Catch up on Boardwalk Empire? It's hard to tell, much less care about the cause, when all you really want is a good night's sleep.
But discovering the cause is the first step to finding a solution, and pets can be trained to sleep through the night! It just takes patience, persistence and understanding.
Many New Yorkers work long hours, which can sometimes make their pets a little stir-crazy! This is an easy fix! A dog-walker or doggie daycare is perfect to help active dogs with serious energy to burn. Cats might need a bit more playtime with exciting and interactive toys, or a giant cat-tree is great for kitty calisthenics! Some of our cat sitting clients have even had kitty's favorite sitter stop by for a mid-day play-visit, if they're having a particularly busy time at work. Also try spending a good half-hour on seriously focused play-time as soon as you get home; the extra attention and activity can encourage a good night's sleep.
 If your pet's wakefulness is paired with whining or yowling, their midnight meanderings they might just be lonely. Sometimes another animal companion is the perfect solution, especially for cats! Paired pets can offer each other daytime playtime and non-stop snuggling, and it will definitely take some of the pressure off you when you get home. Bonus: there will be two foot warmers on cold winter nights instead of just one!
For the harder-cases: dogs who will not stay off the bed and snore and steal the covers, or cats who treat your nose as a chew-toy, you will need a little more patience and a lot more resolve! For dogs, crate training can be a good option. New puppies especially will feel safe in their snug little den, and you will feel more sane being able to sleep for longer than an hour at a time. For hard-case cats who just won't sleep through the night, try feeding them their main meal later in the evening. Cats tend to sleep after eating, so a later dinnertime can help reset their clock.
For more ideas on how to get your pets on a more human-friendly schedule, PetMD is a wonderful resource with articles for Dogs and Cats! Good luck!
| 
