If you are going away you may be wondering if you leave the light off or on. But, will your cat be OK with the lights off?
Can I Leave My Cats in the Dark While I Go Away?
You should not leave your cats in the dark while you go away because they may feel anxious and lonely. Also, cats shouldn’t be left too long on their own regardless of the lighting.
So, now you know why this is not a good idea. But, can cat’s see in the dark? Are they nocturnal? Should you leave some music on for them? Keep reading for these answers, and so much more…
Contents show
Main Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Leave Cats in the Dark
Cat in the dark.
You may feel sad in your dark and dreary room when your parents go away. Similarly, it’s completely normal for your cat to miss you when you leave them, especially in the dark.
For a genuine reason, it is okay. However, leaving a cat or any other living being in the dark may not be the best idea for several reasons:
01. Your Cat Could Get Anxious
Darkness can bring out feelings of anxiety in a meek cat. She might get scared when there is darkness around instead of a familiar, bright, and warm environment she is used to.
02. They Might Feel lonely
Loneliness is not associated with darkness for humans only, but cats as well.
Your cat is used to having a lot of noises and different sounds and activities in your presence. When you leave and the house goes dark and quiet, your cat will feel lonely and abandoned.
Can Cats See in the Dark?
According to science, all living creatures have different ranges of vision power. Undoubtedly, cats can see in dim surroundings a lot better than us humans. However, if no light is emitted, there is no possibility of vision.
You might have caught your cat staring oddly at the corner of the room or just any object around and wondered if they can see in the dark!
Regarding their sleep, cats like to sleep in the dark just like humans. So, if you want to keep the lights on at night, keep them as dim as possible. Lights at night can affect the quality of your cat’s good night’s sleep.
Should I Leave a TV On For My Cat?
To prevent the symptoms of loneliness from arriving, leaving the TV on for soothing music or cartoons can really glue your cat to the screen thereby fetching you some free time to read stuff like this or enjoy your hobbies.
This choice varies from cat to cat and how the cat is brought up. A person can’t be always cuddling the pet and being for them at every hour of the day. So, it could be a good practical choice.
A better alternative to TV watching is making her befriend another cat around so that she is around her own species.
Does My Cat Get Sad When I Leave?
For cats, they will get sad if the master is not around but if you provide a supplementary element for the cat to get engaged, this will help.
You would be surprised by how many emotions animals share with us. They are capable of showing love, affection, loyalty, and grief, and many more. Now, many different types of animals have long-term memory, but for the most part, animals live in the now, in the present.
As cats can easily identify their owner by the hair, clothing, or similar physique, they tend to attach themselves to them. So, make sure you train them to be stress-free when you are not around.
Do Cats Get Lonely at Night?
When not given sufficient attention or there is any disease troubling them, they might roam around at night thereby giving rise to loneliness.
Some cats meow at night too because they’re lonely, bored, or anxious. To make sure that your kitty is getting enough love and attention, spend some time with them in the evening.
The irregular sleep schedules may also give rise to your cat turning irritable so make sure to cuddle it to sleep. It is because cats can spend or may spend 70% of their lives sleeping. So, when they don’t get enough of it, well things may get rough!
Do Cats Like Music Left On?
For cats, the “beautiful music” must be in the frequency range and with similar tempos to those used in natural communication by each species. It’s a pity but the straight-up fact is that they don’t enjoy human music.
Your cats’ whiskers are sensitive to even the tiniest of vibrations in the air. In addition to it, they also have a very well developed sense of hearing. This could mean that your cat finds the music that you listen to either too noisy or that it has too much bass.
They do not hear your bass through their ears but whiskers! However, here’s a quick fact. Scientists, today, are actually trying to invent and develop music, especially for cats. So, maybe soon, you can actually have a cat that loves music and listening to it.
Let’s hope we soon get to see that day.
Are Cats Nocturnal, or Not?
Cats are classified as crepuscular, meaning that they are more energetic and active at dusk and dawn.
Your cat is most active at that time between nightfall and daylight. During this time, they want to play, eat, and cuddle the most.
However, your cat can adjust their sleeping schedule in your presence. So, when you are around, they will sleep less in the daytime. On the other hand, if you are absent, they will sleep more in the daytime and become more active at night.
Why Might Your Cat Get Stressed in Total Darkness?
Some cats are meek and docile since they were a kitten and some are fierce from birth. Things may get a little surprising when your cat shows symptoms of stress all of a sudden!
Your cat may get very anxious if they can’t locate their water bowl or litter tray in the total darkness. They also do not feel safe because they may feel like a predator is lurking around.
Could Bright Lights Affect Your Cats Sleep?
Pets are taken care of like human babies so their sleep pattern should also be focused upon. Cats prefer to sleep in the dim light or rather darkness.
This fact is supported by the biological fact that cats secrete the “hormone of darkness”, melatonin the only known hormone synthesized by the pineal gland. It is released in response to darkness.
So bright light is definitely not a solution for a cat’s healthy sleep. A small, dim night light can be an alternative to it.
Do Cats Have the Same Vision As Humans?
Needless to say, the visions of humans and animals vary a lot!
We can only see the spectrum of colors ranging from violet to red in the electromagnetic spectrum. However, cats can also see ultraviolet (UV) rays which account for their sixth sense.
Many people may term this simple scientific knowledge as a paranormal entity. Due to this misinformation, cats are known as ghost-detectors by many people!
Cats can even see detailed objects in dim light which may account for them staying up at night and staring at a particular object.
Why You Shouldn’t Leave Cats in the Dark When You Sleep
When you make the house go all dark, there is a good chance that you might step on or trip over your cat. This could cause them serious injuries and it can even be fatal. So, try to put on a dim light around the house all the time.
FAQs
Is it okay to leave my cat in the dark? ›
Turning out the lights when you leave the house can be a good habit to have from an economic standpoint, but leaving your cat in complete darkness can actually be very stressful for them.
Should I leave a light on for my cat when I'm not home? ›“It is best to keep your typical routine as much as possible if you are going to be away for the night. If there is usually a light on, then you should leave that as normal. However, having lights on throughout the night that aren't typically on could disrupt your cats' ability to sleep.”
How long can you leave cats unsupervised? ›| Age | Time Alone |
|---|---|
| Under 4 months | 2-4 hours |
| 4-5 months | 5 hours |
| 6 months | 8 hours |
| Healthy grown-up cats | 24-48 hours |
This independence could be tied their wild ancestors, who were solitary animals. However, domesticated cats have evolved to crave companionship, often forming strong bonds with humans and sometimes even other pets. So, do cats get lonely? Because of the attachments they form, the answer is yes; cats can feel lonely!
Are cats OK in a dark room at night? ›Generally, cats like to sleep anywhere and at almost any time, regardless of whether it's dark or light. As long as they feel safe, a cat can fall asleep in almost any conditions. This means that they will fall asleep in a well-lit room, a dimly-lit room, or a room in near darkness.
Can cats live in total darkness? ›You now know that even though cats like the dark, they can't see in total darkness. Indeed, they need a minimum of light to be able to move at night. So, you're probably wondering if you should leave a light on for your kitty at night: the answer is simply no.
Do cats like being alone at night? ›Cats can be social, compassionate and incredibly loving. And what this means is that without regular interaction or stimulation, they can easily become lonely; in some cases even a little sad.
Do cats get scared of the dark? ›Sometimes cats will be afraid of the dark, and there are several possible reasons why cats develop this fear. The first reason is that some cats may feel disoriented in the dark. This is especially common for young kittens and elderly cats.
Can cats see in pitch black? ›However, they only need one-sixth of the amount of light that humans do and can see in very low light. Cats won't be able to see in the dark, in the rare event that absolutely all light is blocked out, but their sight is much more advanced than that of humans for all of their night time adventures.
Can I leave my 2 cats alone for 3 days? ›While some people think of cats are solitary animals, cat owners know that kitties form close connections with their human caretakers. Plus, our cat friends benefit from the care of responsible humans. To be safe, you shouldn't leave your cat alone for more than 24 hours at a time.
What is the longest time to leave a cat? ›
Remember that all cats are different though and the length of time they're comfortable alone will vary if they are left with enough food and plenty of fresh water. Based on veterinary advice, the maximum amount of time you should leave a cat alone is 24 hours.
Can I leave my cat alone for 3 days with food and water? ›Cats who eat dry food that you can make readily available may be left on their own for 24-48 hours as long as fresh water is accessible as well. Beyond that time frame, water may get too dirty to drink and the litter box full.
Do cats realize you're gone? ›If you leave the house for a quick errand or two, it's unlikely your cat will even notice that you're not home. A quick pet and a snuggle can remind your cat that despite your absence, you've got kitty on the brain!
Do cats get mad when you go away? ›It can be disappointing to discover that your cat seems upset after you've been away on vacation. Actually, this behavior is completely normal! Below, Cat in a Flat dives into why Mr Whiskers seems standoffish and how to help your cat adjust before and after you go on vacation.
Do cats remember their home after being away? ›Yes, cats can return home many days, weeks, months, and even years after they wandered off or were lost. According to the Lost Pet Research project, there were reports of cats traveling 50-80 miles in 2.5 years, 38 miles in 6 months, 30 miles in 10 days, and 20 miles in 21 days. So if your cat is lost, keep up hope.
Do cats need a light on at night? ›Like other mammals, light is a necessity for their eyes to work properly. However, cats do need less ambient light than humans do to capture the same clear view by their eyes, and besides their eyes, cats can also explore the surroundings in the dark with the help of other parts of their body.
Do cats like dark places to sleep? ›They usually find some safe hidden place, up high, but they also really like dark, warm hideaways, especially in winter. The main reason for this is instinct, their need to hide from predators, but these places are also nice and quiet, anti-stress therapy, if you will.