How cats tell time

During the day, cats rest and their metabolism and heart rate slow down. — Freepik

Cats operate on what scientists call a circadian rhythm, which basically means their body knows when it’s day and when it’s night.This term comes from Latin: “circa” means around, and “diem” means day.

Basically, cats are in tune with nature, and this gives them an inner clock that is incredibly accurate.

During the day, cats rest. Their metabolism and heart rate slow down, just like ours when we nap.

But cats don’t need alarm clocks. They waken naturally just before dusk and dawn, fully alert and ready to go. This is because cats wired to be most active when mice, birds and other prey are on the move.

Exactly how these internal clocks work is still a mystery.Scientists know that a certain amino acid kicks off the genes that help regulate these rhythms, all managed by a part of the brain called the hypothalamus.

But what’s super interesting is that sudden changes in light – like when you travel across time zones – can really mess with their schedules too.Cats who travel, or who are subjected to random clock changes, become grumpy just like us humans.