Are cats really nocturnal?

Question

I have always heard that cats are nocturnal, but I'm not so sure. What do you think?

Answer 1

Cat are nocturnal by nature. Their physiology tells it very clearly. Their eyes are tune to work at night and their wiskers are there to guide them in the dark. In the wild, cat will hunt at night. Their movement are tune to be used in shades (fluid and silent)

But before being a nocturnal creature, cats are routine creatures. They adopt a routine according to their environnement. Domestic cats adopt a routine on what is happening in the house. If there is no activity and they see that playing and being pet only happen during the day, they will save their energy for that time of the day and will rearrange their routine accordingly. That's why a lot of cat sleeps when their owner does. But you will notice that in household where there is more than one cat, they tend to play together during the night. That's because they can adopt a routine with someone else.

Hope it helps.

Answer 2

It's debatable, but I'm sure they are not "true" nocturnal animals like owls or bats. So I would say no.

Answer 3

Cats are hunting machines, with a catch rate of over 90%, which is much better then other animals. They use the night, because of the advantage they have with their very good night vision. During the day the have to keep the iris of their eye very small, so it is harder for them to hunt that way. It limits the field of vision for them. At night the eye can be wide open and they see better then most of their prey. A lot of their favorite prey animals are out feeding at night, so they hunt when the prey is out.  

Answer 4

I'm not sure, mine sleeps at all times and only wakes up to demand food before going straight back to bed again!

Answer 5

If they live in the wild, YES!  However, for the most part, if they are inside cats, they tend to sleep most of the night and take a lot of "cat naps" during the day!  

Answer 6

Yes.

They can be trained to sleep at night with you, but instinctually they are nocturnal.  

Answer 7

I don't think cats are noctural "instinctively".  I think, if anything, outdoor or wild cats, are conditioned to being awake more at night -- because that's when it is quieter, cooler, fewer humans around, and they can raom more freely to look for food, socialize or whatever.  My cats (outdoors & in) sleep day & night, and are awake day & night, for hours (or less) at a time, without any seeming preference.

Answer 8

i believe so; mine vary, but do seem to be active at night /evening - although the older they get they seem to sleep at night instead better than when they are young

Answer 9

by nature yes they can learn to sleep when there owner does but they are by nature nocturnal if you think about it they hunt mice, and rats and animals like that and all those animals mostly come out at night so if there wild they would almost have to be in order to eat.

Answer 10

i dont no but i have a dog and she sleeps all day, every day. I think its just wot the animals personality is like.