Morning and evening at cat inns | Researching when resident cats are active

Is it better to meet resident cats in the morning or at night? Cats are often described as crepuscular, being active at dawn and dusk. However, at a cat inn, the daily routine changes not only by sunrise and sunset, but also by meals, cleaning, check-in, the life of the host, and the area where the cat can rest.

The conclusion is that there is no one best time for all cat accommodations. It is necessary to consider the cat tendencies found in research and the interaction time provided by each inn.

Cats cannot be determined simply as “nocturnal”

A 2013 study examining the activity rhythms of domestic cats found that cats who lived closely with people and had limited time out in the garden were more active during daylight hours, which was influenced by people’s daily schedules. On the other hand, cats with wide access to the outdoors were more active during dark hours.

A 2019 study that continuously observed 14 group-housed cats found two main peaks in activity and eating in the morning and evening. However, feeding updates were updated in the morning, and the husbandry staff finished their work in the evening. Because the research environment and number of cats are limited, it is not possible to directly apply the same time to resident cats across the country.

In other words, while cats tend to be more active at dawn and dusk, they also have the flexibility to adapt to human care, light, and indoor/outdoor environments. It would be premature to make a reservation thinking, “Cats are nocturnal, so you’re sure to see them at night.”

Morning at Nekoyado: Breakfast, cleaning, and departure overlap

In the morning, while the cats may start to move, the inn business is also concentrated.

• Preparing and serving breakfast
• Taking care of the cat’s diet and litter box
• Cleaning guest rooms and common areas
• Checkout and luggage transfer
• Entrance, automatic doors, and car entry and exit

Nishiya in Shirabu Onsen, Yamagata Prefecture, states in the official information that the resident cat comes to the lobby from 8 am to 10 am. This is an example of clearly defining the morning social time.

Even if the time is set, it does not guarantee the cat’s physical condition or will. Instead of rushing through breakfast or chasing the cat right before departure, you can give yourself some time by asking about the day’s progress when you check in.

It is especially important near the entrance in the morning to concentrate on taking pictures and not to leave the door open. If you spread your belongings out into the hallway, it may block the cat’s path and the evacuation route for people.

Cat Inn Night: Post-dinner interaction and rest time

At inns where guests gather in common areas after dinner, they may offer interaction with cats during that time.

Petit Hotel Fromage in Izukogen, Shizuoka Prefecture announces on its official website that there will be “cat time” for about an hour after dinner, and that guests will be seen off at check-out. This is an example of setting rules and times for interaction, rather than allowing the cat to walk freely inside the inn all the time.

While people tend to have more time in their schedules at night, it is also a time for cats to return to rest. Avoid searching the hallways after lights out, calling in loud voices or making noises with toys, and looking into the staff area.

Even with guest-room visits, the cat does not necessarily stay in the room all night. If the cat heads for the door, walks restlessly, or meows, do not block the exit, and either let the cat out as directed by the inn or contact the staff.

Some accommodations do not have fixed hours.

Kiriya Ryokan in Nozawa Onsen, Nagano Prefecture is a type of inn where cats can spend their time freely inside the inn. An article on Rakuten Travel also introduces how cats can be seen at different times depending on their mood and whereabouts, rather than having to “work” at a fixed time.

With this method, the longer you stay, the more chances you have of chance encounters, but there is no guarantee as to which cat you will meet at which time. When the cat is not in the lobby, think of it as “resting” and enjoy the inn, including the hot springs and meals, rather than searching for it.

Consider the three interaction models separately

This is not a comparison of which one is better. Both the system that makes it easy to meet at a set time and the system that allows cats to live naturally inside the inn have different charms.

Questions to ask before booking

In addition to asking “What time does the cat come out?”, you can reduce misunderstandings by checking the following summary.

• Where to meet cats and approximate times
• Is this a social time that only guests can participate in?
• Rules for entering while eating, cleaning, and after lights out
• How to guide you if your schedule changes due to the cat’s condition
• Possibility of coming to guest room and how to get them to leave
• Rules for photography, flash, toys, snacks, and cuddles

Even if the time is written on the inn’s official website, the confirmation date may be old. As this varies depending on the cat’s age, health condition, season, renovations, and management methods, we prioritize the latest information before making a reservation.

How to spend each morning and night

Morning

• Do not run out into the hallway immediately after waking up; check your feet and around the door.
• Do not spread your luggage out into the aisle
• Observe breakfast and check-out times
• Do not approach the cat if it is eating.
• Follow the inn’s instructions to open and close the entrance.

Night

• Do not call the cat loudly or with toys after lights out
• Don’t use flash
• Do not block the cat’s path back to the rest area.
• Store food, medicine, laces, and charging cables in the guest room
• If the cat wants to leave, don’t hold him back.

Even when we can’t meet, it’s part of the inn

The behavior of a cat sleeping, going to another room, and not going out in public is also the time the cat lives in the inn. If you think of the staff as always working for the guests, the time you can’t meet them will feel like a failure.

Regarding how resident cats take time off, please also refer to Resident cats also have days when they don’t work | How to think about days when they can’t see each other.

Summary

Research has confirmed that cats tend to be more active in the morning and evening, but the rhythm changes depending on people’s lifestyle, feeding, light, and indoor and outdoor environments. At cat inns, each inn has additional mechanisms, such as a morning lobby, social time after dinner, and free movement without a fixed time.

Don’t just decide whether to stay in the morning or at night; be sure to check the officially indicated location and time, the cat’s rest rules, the accommodation’s meals, and the check-out time. The way to spend your time in a cat inn is to cherish the time you can meet, and respect the time you can’t meet as the time the cat has chosen for itself.

Reference materials

• Daily rhythm of total activity pattern in domestic cats maintained in two different housing conditions (Journal of Veterinary Behavior)
• Daily rhythms in food intake and locomotor activity in a colony of domestic cats (Animal Biotelemetry)
• A hot spring trip to be healed by 5 resident cats at Kiriya Ryokan (Rakuten Travel)

Note: Cat attendance, interaction hours, and inn rules are subject to change. Please check the official information for each accommodation before making a reservation and at check-in.