Bringing a new kitten home is an exciting milestone, but for many new owners, the first few nights can be unexpectedly exhausting. Just when the household settles, your kitten may spring into action: racing across the bed, pouncing on toes, vocalising, or knocking items from shelves. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Night-time “naughty” behaviour is one of the most common concerns raised by new kitten owners, particularly across social media where advice is plentiful, passionate; and sometimes misguided.
I want to reassure you: this behaviour is rarely a sign of a “bad” kitten. More often, it reflects normal development, emotional adjustment, and the unique way cats experience their world. Understanding why your kitten behaves this way at night is the first step towards resolving it calmly and humanely.
Understanding Night-Time Behaviour in Kittens
Cats Are Naturally Crepuscular
Cats are crepuscular animals, meaning they are biologically primed to be most active at dawn and dusk. This instinct is inherited from their wild ancestors, who hunted small prey during low-light hours. While domestic cats adapt to household routines, young kittens (especially those newly rehomed) often revert to this natural rhythm.
When you head to bed, your kitten may simply be entering what their internal clock interprets as a peak activity window.
Developmental Energy and Neurological Growth
Kittens are growing at a remarkable rate. Their brains and nervous systems are developing rapidly, which often results in bursts of intense energy, commonly referred to as “zoomies”. These episodes are not random; they are a way for the kitten to practise coordination, hunting skills, and muscle control.
During the day, especially in quieter households, kittens may nap frequently. This can lead to a surplus of energy being released at night when stimulation drops and the home becomes still.
Attachment, Security, and Separation Responses
Newly rehomed kittens have experienced a major life transition. They’ve been separated from their mother, littermates, and the environment they knew. At night, when human activity reduces and the house becomes quiet, feelings of vulnerability can surface.
For breeds such as Burmese, Mandalay, Burmilla, and Tonkinese (known for their strong people-orientation) night-time may trigger a desire for reassurance and proximity. Behaviours like vocalising, climbing onto beds, or initiating play can be a kitten’s way of seeking comfort rather than causing trouble.
Everything in your home is new: smells, sounds, surfaces, and routines. Night-time provides uninterrupted opportunities for exploration. Cupboards, benches, and shelves become irresistible when the world feels calm and undiscovered.
From your kitten’s perspective, this is not mischief, it’s about learning.
What Is Your Kitten Trying to Tell You?
Common night-time behaviours often carry clear messages:
- Zoomies and running – “I have energy I haven’t used yet.”
- Pouncing on hands or feet – “I want to play and practise hunting.”
- Vocalising – “I’m lonely, unsure, or seeking reassurance.”
- Knocking objects over – “I’m exploring cause and effect.”
Understanding these signals helps shift our mindset from correction to communication.
Why Locking a Kitten Away at Night Is Often Unwise
One frequently suggested solution (especially online)is to shut the kitten out of the bedroom or isolate them overnight. While well-intentioned, this approach can be counterproductive. Please don't do this. For a young kitten still forming attachments, sudden night-time isolation can heighten stress. Instead of learning to settle, the kitten may become more anxious, leading to louder vocalising, scratching at doors, or destructive behaviour.
Cats are excellent at learning cause and effect. If crying or scratching results in eventual attention (even negative attention) the behaviour is reinforced. Over time, isolation can teach a kitten that escalating their behaviour is the only way to reconnect with their people.
Repeated night-time stress can contribute to ongoing anxiety, poor sleep regulation, and insecure attachment patterns. In some cases, it may even affect the cat’s confidence and social behaviour into adulthood.
This does not mean boundaries are impossible, but they must be introduced thoughtfully and gradually.
Humane and Effective Solutions That Work
1. Drain the Battery Before Bed
One of the most effective strategies is a structured evening routine:
- Schedule 15–20 minutes of interactive play (wand toys, chase games) before bedtime.
- Mimic a natural hunt: stalk - chase - pounce - catch.
- End play with a small meal or snack.
This sequence satisfies your kitten’s instincts and encourages post-meal relaxation.
2. Use Feeding to Encourage Sleep
Feeding times matter. Offering dinner after evening play helps create a sleep association. A content, fed kitten is far more likely to settle down for the night.
3. Provide Enrichment for Independent Play
Ensure your kitten has safe, stimulating options overnight:
- Puzzle feeders or treat balls
- Cat trees or climbing posts
- Soft toys that can be “hunted”
Rotate toys regularly to maintain novelty.
4. Establish Predictable Routines
Cats thrive on predictability. Consistent bedtimes, feeding schedules, and play routines help kittens learn when activity is expected, and when it’s time to rest.
Avoid encouraging late-night play, even if it feels easier in the moment.
5. Adjust Daytime Napping (Gently)
If your kitten sleeps most of the evening, try engaging them earlier. Short play sessions during the day can prevent energy from bottling up until midnight.
Navigating Social Media Advice with Confidence
Social media can be a valuable source of shared experience, but it often favours quick fixes over long-term welfare. Advice that relies on punishment, isolation, or dominance-based thinking rarely reflects current behavioural science.
When evaluating advice, ask:
- Does this reduce stress or increase it?
- Does it address the cause, or just suppress the symptom?
- Would this approach help a human infant learn to self-soothe?
Evidence-based guidance focuses on meeting needs, not enforcing compliance.
A Phase, Not a Personality Flaw
The most important thing to remember is that night-time mischief in kittens is usually temporary. As your kitten matures, settles into your household rhythm, and feels secure, these behaviours naturally diminish.
With patience, consistency, and empathy, you’re not just surviving this phase, you’re laying the groundwork for a confident, well-adjusted adult cat.
If you’re ever unsure, seek advice from reputable breeders, behaviourists, or your cat club community. Thoughtful guidance today can prevent problems tomorrow.
References & Further Reading
Core Feline Behaviour & Development (Highly Recommended)
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The Domestic Cat: The Biology of Its Behaviour
Turner, D. C. & Bateson, P. (eds.).
Cambridge University Press.Considered the definitive scientific text on domestic cat behaviour. Covers circadian rhythms, developmental stages, social behaviour, and environmental influences. Excellent authority for explaining why kitten behaviour is normal and adaptive.
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Think Like a Cat
Bennett, P.
Penguin Random House.Written by a certified cat behaviour consultant, this book bridges behavioural science and real-world household application. Particularly useful for explaining kitten communication, play behaviour, and owner misinterpretation of “naughty” actions.
Kitten Development, Play, and Sleep Cycles
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International Cat Care
(formerly ISFM)Publishes evidence-based guidance on kitten development, play needs, and environmental enrichment. Their materials clearly explain why young cats are active at night and how routines influence sleep behaviour.
Recommended pages:
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Kitten development stages
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Play and enrichment guidance
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Stress and adjustment in rehomed cats
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American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP)
Provides veterinary-backed behavioural guidelines, including the importance of predictable routines, environmental enrichment, and avoiding punishment-based interventions in kittens.
Stress, Anxiety, and Separation Behaviour
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Decoding Your Cat
American College of Veterinary Behaviorists
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.Written by board-certified veterinary behaviourists. Excellent reference for explaining anxiety-driven behaviours, attention-seeking, and why isolation or punishment can worsen behavioural outcomes.
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RSPCA
Offers accessible, welfare-focused guidance on kitten stress, settling-in periods, and why confinement or isolation can increase fear and insecurity, particularly relevant for explaining why locking kittens out overnight is discouraged.
Circadian Rhythms & Nocturnal Activity
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Bradshaw, J. (2013).
Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet.
Basic Books.Explains feline crepuscular behaviour in a way that’s easy for owners to understand. Particularly helpful for reframing night-time activity as biologically normal rather than behavioural failure.
Social Media Misinformation & Behavioural Welfare
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Royal Veterinary College (RVC)
Publishes research and commentary on companion animal welfare, including the risks of anthropomorphic interpretation and punishment-based advice commonly circulated online.
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Overall, K. L. (2013).
Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats.
Elsevier.A clinical reference used by veterinary behaviourists. Supports the position that suppressing behaviour without addressing underlying emotional needs increases long-term behavioural risk.
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