It’s common knowledge that we cats like routine. What isn’t common knowledge is what exactly routine means to a cat. It’s not always what you think. And it is possible to change routines and make new ones, if you understand what your cat is looking for. So I am going to help you with that.
First off, let’s see what routine is and isn’t, from a cat’s perspective.
Routine is a series of steps, repeated in the same order and the same way, repeatedly.
Yes, it is really that simple. Humans, however, tend to complicate it, or assign the idea of routine to specific routines, and not generalize it. They look at their routine of, say, going to and coming home from work. They may believe that when they go away on vacation the cat is upset that their routine is being disrupted. No, they are upset that you are leaving them. They see the routine you have of pulling out the suitcase and packing it. You see, the act of preparing for travel is another routine, and we recognize it.
A cat’s life consists of many different routines, and not all of them are daily routines.
Routines can be good or bad — for both cats and humans.
Cats have routines humans don’t like, such as waking them up at 3 AM for a snack. But you know what? That routine always seems to result in food, so why stop? And humans have routines that cats don’t like, such as hunting them down to take them to the vet. Yep, the whole hunting down part is a routine! I bet you didn’t think of it that way. Chances are your cat goes to hide in the same place, or series of places every time. She has ingrained this “going to the vet” routine in her brain. It’s a series of steps, repeated in the same order, and the same way, remember?
Some good routines are the mealtime rituals, the times when you pull treats or toys out of the special place you keep them, evening couch time, sun puddle time. They are all routines that make your cat happy.
Here is some food for thought for you humans about cats and routines.
Routines are created. They don’t just appear, fully formed.
The mealtime routine, the 3 AM routine, the vet visit routine — all these didn’t exist at one time. They developed over time and repetition, usually unconsciously. If humans want to improve a cat’s life, and their relationship with their cat, one of the best things they can do is consciously think through and create routines. That way, it’s easier to make up positive routines, and less likely to form negative ones.
If you let your cat create the routine, it’s your fault if you don’t like it.
Hey, you were the one who got up to dispense treats in the middle of the night instead of figuring out an alternate, more satisfactory routine.
You can change routines over time, and your cat won’t freak out, at least most of the time.
Don’t all of a sudden do everything different! Change one element of the routine, and leave it that way for a while. Then change another part of it. Keep going and eventually you will have an all new routine! Rewards for following the new steps along the way are helpful too. Cats enjoy rewards as much as they like routines.
Make up new, fun routines for you and your cat.
Set aside a new playtime, or way of playing. A new treat ritual. One routine my human has had for literally decades is getting her cats to sit up for tastes of our breakfast before she gives us our full meal. And we all like it! So she was teaching cats tricks for a long time before I came along.
Cats understand the differences in routines.
Do you know that I have different carriers for different trips? I have a small carrier for visits to the pet shops and therapy pet visits, my round Sleepypod for cat shows within driving distance, and my Sleepypod Air and Atom carriers for plane travel. (There is also the carrier that only gets used for vet visits.) When I see what carrier my human has pulled out, I know what kind of trip I’m going on.
And if you are wondering, yes, I do have a routine for going on a trip and one for going outside around my house. My human puts the harness on me right away for trips. For going outside, she takes the harness and leash and places them on the floor. Either way, I know what’s coming up.
Think before you act when it comes to your cat, and you will create much better routines! It’s never too late to start. Once your cat realizes there’s an order and a repetition, she will adjust. It’s easier for some cats than others, just as it’s harder for some people to change routines, but eventually nearly every cat will come around.
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Furabuluss post Summer an Miss Janiss!! LadyMe was tot at an eerlee age to make roo-teenss fore her cat Simpson an fore all her catss. When mee ferst came here mee had no roo-teen…mee was so lost. Little bye little mee started to ree-spond. LadyMew iss FURRY firm ’bout mee roo-teenss an has made sure all our frendss abide bye them!
Mee feelss so comfertabell now knowin mee roo-teen…..an mee sleeps rite thru till 6 a.m.!!!
Mew mew mew…..
***purrsss*** BellaDharma
MK says she watches closely for any changes in our routines and just makes sure it’s due to us changing because we feel like it or if something’s up. Luckily for us – it’s nearly always just down to our need to watch HER adjust!
Purrz!
Selina
That makes sense. Sometimes common sense gets lost when trying to solve a problem especially when dealing with another species, but sheesh – it shouldn’t. Thanks Summer!
Routines are so important to how we relate to what humans are doing. Humans can be inconsistent by nature, and cats love things the same every time. It sounds like you have your human trained well, Summer!
Your one smart kitty, Summer. Do you have your Ph.D.? MOL You’re so spot on with the hunting down part. I hate that routine, and our mom does it with me EVERY time we go to the vet!
Great information and I love the picture of you in pearls.
This is excellent information. Mom knows about routine- but changing the routine slowly always hadn’t occurred to her. Summer..you made an excellent blog.
Treat routines are my favorite!
Summer, you are so smart! Thank you for sharing these great tips!
So true Summer! Most of our routines are purrfectly OK but some arent and sometimes the Beins even create them not realizing it.
Excellent information, Summer! We just hope our mom takes note.
You got it Summer! We have routines and it’s our humans that actually set the ground rules or not. Thankfully our mom is a “creature of habit” herself. She keeps dad mostly inline, MOL. Great posting Summer! Purrs
Professor Summer, you are brilliant!
This is all good advice, but it seems to us that if there is one specific carrier for the vet, you’d head for the hills when you see that. XOCK, angel Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, angel Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth, Calista Jo, Cooper Murphy and Sawyer
It never comes out in the open! My human takes us to a closed off hallway to put us in it.
Great advice. Joanie is so used to dressing up for my great-niece that when she was playing something else, Joanie got right in the middle of it to remind her 🙂
Those were all very interesting and hopefully useful to peeps everywhere!
Very good. Thank you.
You always have good advice, sweet Summer…XO…J, Halle, Sukki
Speaking of routine…. One of the two ferals I feed has ME on a strict feeding routine. I come home or go out the door and there she is, meowing loudly that I am LATE. Still not quite sure how that happened.
I cannot get into a routine and it’s driving me crazy. Pop doesn’t realize this either altho I’ve tried to tell him. We had a morning routine where for 12 years he awoke at 6 a.m. and we had bonding time together. Now I never know when he’s working from home and getting up later. I’m in a state of flux. My eating is off and everything. If he worked from home the same days I might get used to it. On Monday I just start eating good again cos he’s been home 4 days and the next day he’s gone. What’s a cat to do?
It doesn’t have to be the same time of day, although that is an option. As long as he goes through the exact same steps, always when he does bond with you, it will help you get used to it.
Since The Hubby gets up several times every night, he and Angel have developed a routine so she doesn’t keep meowing her head off when he just goes back to bed instead of interacting with her. I don’t know the routine, since I’m snoozing away while it happens, but they are both quite please with the extra snuggle time.
Very good advice. I love to start at about 4:30 AM jumping on himon, know she is awake and just want her up. She will not co-operate but I keep her awake.
Bodacious
mom has a “no food before the alarm goes off” routine here. MOL But we know what you are talking about – mom had to shift some of the routine when taking Chanel places cause Chanel was beginning to make “chase me around the house for 10 minutes” part of the routine
The mom has never let us get into the 3am food routine.
Good tips, Summer. Eric and Flynn tried the 3am thing but I ignored them. They soon gave up and left us in peace until 6am.
Definitely something we need to ponder. Especially the 3 am routine I am starting to sleep though much to Harvey’s annoyence.
Good info as usual Summer.
WE have a pretty simple routine here.
Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ
Great information, Summer!