Glossary

Crepuscular

Most active at dawn and dusk, the pattern cats follow because their natural prey is busiest at those times.

Also called: dawn and dusk activity, active at dusk, nocturnal cats, early morning cat

Crepuscular means active in twilight. Cats are not strictly nocturnal. Left to themselves they are busiest around dawn and dusk and sleep through much of the day and night, with short bursts of activity in between. This matches the habits of mice and small birds, which cats evolved to hunt, and a cat's eyes, helped by the tapetum lucidum, are well suited to dim light.

Indoor cats keep the rhythm, which is why many wake owners at five in the morning to ask for food or play. Adult cats typically sleep for around twelve to sixteen hours a day, and kittens and older cats often sleep more.

You can shift the pattern a little. Play with the cat energetically in the evening, ending with the hunt and a meal, see predatory sequence, so it is ready to sleep. Feed the last meal late, or use an automatic feeder, and do not reward early calling with attention or food, or it will learn that it works. Ask your vet if a cat that was calm becomes restless or noisy at night, or if sleeping patterns change, because illness is possible.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

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Related terms

Zoomies Short, sudden bursts of high-speed running and leaping, common in young cats, usually in the evening or early morning. Night howling Loud calling, wailing or yowling at night, common in older cats and in cats in heat, and sometimes a sign of illness. Predatory sequence The chain of behaviours cats use to hunt: watch, stalk, chase, pounce, kill-bite and eat, which good play should echo. Tapetum lucidum A mirror-like layer behind a cat's retina that bounces light back through the eye, improving night vision and causing glowing eyes in photos.

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