Have you ever had this experience? Your cat wakes you up before your alarm clock even rings. Could it be that they actually understand clocks and have a sense of time? If so, how do they judge the time?
Animals and Their Sense of Time
In fact, back in 2018, Northwestern University conducted research confirming that animals do possess a sense of time! However, it's not quite the same as how humans perceive it.
How Cats Perceive Time
Cats rely on sequential memory to recognize events. For example:
- At night, when they see their owners turn off the lights, they understand it means it's time to sleep.
- In the early morning, when their owners' breathing becomes shallower and movements increase, it signals that they're about to wake up.
- When the alarm clock rings, it means their owners are preparing to sit up.
- Once their owners stand up straight, it's time for petting and feeding.
In other words, cats can make precise predictions about what's about to happen by carefully observing subtle cues!
Interesting fact: The more regular your daily routine is, the easier it is for your cat to predict your next move!
Are Cats Super Smart?
Given this ability to anticipate events, it's safe to say cats are incredibly clever. But what if you don't want to be woken up by your feline alarm clock every morning?
How to Avoid Being Woken Up by Your Cat
If you want to avoid being disturbed, try this: after waking up in the morning, do something else before interacting with your cat. This way, your cat won't associate your waking up with getting attention. Using this subtle strategy of "playing hard to get", you can greatly reduce the chances of being woken up early by your cat's persistent calls.
If your cat wakes you up again before the alarm tomorrow morning, give this method a try! And don't forget to leave a comment and share your results with me!
