Did you know?
Cats are Crepuscular, meaning they are awake during the twilight hours, or dawn and dusk.
Check it out!
Did you think they were nocturnal like bats, or owls? Nope. Haven't you noticed your cat waking up at the crack of dawn and darting around like a maniac? Or perhaps your cat likes to beg for petting right when you need to be preparing for bed. That's because they're not nocturnal, they're Crepuscular, meaning they're awake at dawn and dusk.
The domestic cat's wild ancestors once had to adapt to very harsh conditions. Hunting was a tricky job, because an unsuccessful hunt meant wasted time and energy. Too many unsuccessful hunts in a row could mean starvation. There was also the issue of the environmental dangers surrounding them.
To make up for these inconveniences, cats developed a crepuscular time schedule. By sleeping during midday and midnight they were able to avoid the hot sun which might threaten dehydration, and they were able to avoid freezing to death in the middle of the night. This trait has survived all the way from the wild to your cute little kitty, but that doesn't mean they'd be opposed to a midnight snack.
Cats are Crepuscular, meaning they are awake during the twilight hours, or dawn and dusk.
Check it out!
Did you think they were nocturnal like bats, or owls? Nope. Haven't you noticed your cat waking up at the crack of dawn and darting around like a maniac? Or perhaps your cat likes to beg for petting right when you need to be preparing for bed. That's because they're not nocturnal, they're Crepuscular, meaning they're awake at dawn and dusk.
The domestic cat's wild ancestors once had to adapt to very harsh conditions. Hunting was a tricky job, because an unsuccessful hunt meant wasted time and energy. Too many unsuccessful hunts in a row could mean starvation. There was also the issue of the environmental dangers surrounding them.
To make up for these inconveniences, cats developed a crepuscular time schedule. By sleeping during midday and midnight they were able to avoid the hot sun which might threaten dehydration, and they were able to avoid freezing to death in the middle of the night. This trait has survived all the way from the wild to your cute little kitty, but that doesn't mean they'd be opposed to a midnight snack.