A cat owner has shared her astonishment online after deciphering her pet's peculiar nightly antics, wondering if her feline friend has secretly been trying to tuck her into bed.
The Puzzling Feline Alarm Clock
The revelation came from a Reddit user who is a proud owner of a one-and-a-half-year-old orange cat named Toad. She explained that she and her partner had begun to notice a consistent pattern. About an hour after his evening meal, Toad would start to act unsettled if they stayed up late watching television.
"He drives us bonkers with meowing, walking on us, and is just generally unsettled," she wrote. Attempts to play with him were ignored, and it was clear he wasn't hungry. The bizarre behaviour would only cease under one specific condition. As soon as the couple went to bed and turned off the lights, Toad would instantly calm down, retreat to another room, and settle for the night.
This led her to the heartwarming question: "Is he just trying to tell us it’s bedtime? Does he just want us safely tucked into bed?"
Other Cat Owners Share Their Stories
The online post prompted a flood of responses from fellow cat enthusiasts who recognised similar behaviour in their own pets. One user recounted how their orange cat performs a literal tucking-in ceremony. Minutes after they lie down, the cat arrives to "make biscuits" (knead) on them for about ten minutes before departing to its own bed, repeating the ritual if the owner gets up in the night.
Another commenter highlighted the feline love for routine, stating, "Cats like routine, and you staying up is seriously upsetting his routine." A third shared that their "void" (black cat) enforces bedtime and then acts as an "Alarm Cat" in the morning.
Further stories included a tuxedo cat that herds its owners upstairs, waits in the hallway, and then stands guard by the bed before finally settling down. Another cat was reported to tap its owner's leg if they work too late, then patiently wait by the bathroom door during their pre-sleep routine.
Understanding Our Feline Overlords
The collective experiences suggest this behaviour is more common than many owners might initially think. While it may seem like a charming attempt at caregiving from our pets, animal behaviourists often point to the cats' inherent need for predictable schedules. Disruptions to their expected routine, including human activity during typical quiet hours, can cause them anxiety.
This adorable habit, whether interpreted as tucking-in, herding, or simply enforcing house rules, underscores the deep bond and shared domestic rhythm between cats and their owners. As one Reddit user perfectly summarised the sentiment felt by many: "I love our furry overlord weirdos."
