Meet Ellie, the adorable orange tabby cat who has been crowned the “cutest alarm clock.” Her owner might not love the 6 a.m. wake-up calls, but it’s tough to resist Ellie’s playful charm.
An Instagram video shared by her owner, known as @ellie_thetabby, captured Ellie’s adorable morning antics, quickly racking up 1.8 million views and over 102,000 likes.
In the clip, Ellie prances into the bedroom with a toy in her mouth, announcing that it’s playtime. She doesn’t hold back, meowing insistently until her groggy owner engages her in a much-needed game.
Why the early wake-up? Cats are naturally inclined to be active during dawn due to their ancestral hunting habits. In the wild, this is when they would hunt small creatures, and many domestic cats still carry that instinct.
Even while most cats adapt to their owners’ schedules, younger and more energetic felines might stick to this age-old routine, leading to lively mornings.
If you want to help your cat adjust their wake-up time, consider these tips:
- Feed your cat their last meal just before bedtime to keep them full longer.
- Utilize an automatic feeder for morning meals, so your cat doesn’t rely on you to wake up.
- Engage your cat in more play during the day to burn off excess energy.
- Stay firm in ignoring morning attention-seeking behaviors, as responding can reinforce them.
It’s all about consistency to help your cat learn that early mornings don’t result in playtime or food.
Viewers loved watching Ellie and shared their own morning stories. One fan exclaimed, “It’s the ‘meeeoow-meh’ for me!” while another supported Ellie, saying, “Good job Ellie! Your human shouldn’t be sleeping when it’s playtime.” Many cat owners can relate, with one sharing how their cat demands breakfast as early as 5 a.m.
Clearly, Ellie’s morning wake-up antics resonate with countless cat parents grappling with feline energy at dawn.