Cats 🐱 Are Especially Cuddly in the Morning

Why are cats particularly clingy in the morning?

It’s because they need psychological comfort after staying “on guard” all night. Cats sleep up to 15-16 hours a day, but three-quarters of that is light sleep. Their deep sleep, which makes up the remaining quarter, mostly occurs during the day—so they aren’t truly resting at night.

As “night owls,” they’re busier at night than during the day. For house cats, they’ll wake up periodically to patrol the house, ensuring their territory is safe and checking if their owner is still okay.

Finally, just before the alarm is about to go off, they find a reason to wake you up.

Once you’re awake, they relax their tense nerves, instantly switching from “guardian” to “adoring fan,” craving your care and comfort.

Beyond that, they cherish the short time they get to spend with their owner each day.

Cats can sense changes in time through natural cues like the sun rising and setting—this is what we call their “sense of time,” and it’s twice as precise as humans’.

They not only know what they should do at different times of the day but also figure out their owner’s daily routine.

Starting from waking their owner up in the morning, they’ll stick by their side almost constantly, except during meals or bathroom breaks. They’ll even wait at the bathroom door while you wash up, staying close until they see you off when you leave. This short “early morning bond” ends only then.

Because they know this moment is precious—missing it means waiting a whole day, and how many whole days are there in a cat’s life?

This morning clinginess is most common in companion breeds like British Shorthairs, Ragdolls, and Sphynxes.

Of course, for active or more independent cats, the reason for being clingy in the morning might be simpler: they’re just out of food or water. Once their needs are met, their attitude can change in an instant.