Morning to bedtime: a pet parent daily schedule that works

Routines are different for everyone. Whether it’s our work schedule, when we like to eat, our hobbies and interests or our family life, each our routines are very personal to us.

Things can get even more complicated when we introduce pets into our lives. They thrive on routine and have needs of their own. But how do we incorporate our pets into our established routines, and how can you find a daily schedule that works for both of you?

We’re here to help. Here, we discuss why our pets love consistent habits, some examples cat and dog daily routines, and how you can get your pet used to a new schedule.

The science of habit: why your tailmate (probably) loves consistency

Our tailmates love consistency for a few reasons:

• Deepens bonds between pet and parent, helping us to feel “in sync” with our pets.

• Helps set expectations, which improves communication and training.

• Predictability means security.

• Promotes physical health benefits, like regular exercise.

But what does the science say? Have they proven why stability is so key to our pets' feeling good?

Predictability vs anxiety

A study in Applied Animal Behaviour Science showed that unpredictability caused pets to be “hyper-vigilant” and stressed. When they can’t predict when their biological needs are arriving - like food and water - it leads to a state called “high arousal”, causing destructive behaviour like excessive barking, chewing, and scratching furniture.

So, by having a routine, this ensures something called “Predictable Signalling”, where certain signals, like opening the pet food cupboard or putting your shoes on before walkies, activate signals in your pet’s brain. This helps them understand if and when things are happening, leading to calmness.

The Mirror Effect in dogs

A major study in Scientific Reports from Linköping University found that dogs tend to mirror their pet parent’s stress levels over time.

Now, when we talk about routines, it doesn’t just benefit pets - it benefits you, too. If you feel your stress levels lower from routine, this, in turn, makes your dog feel happier and calmer too; it’s like a mirror.

The researchers proved this by measuring the volume of cortisol in the hair of dogs and their pet parents. Interestingly, there was a strong correlation between the two. That means, if the pet parent was stressed, so was the dog, and if the dog was relaxed, the pet parent was, too.

So, when planning out a schedule, remember to pick one that works for you, too. As you feel calmer and happier, your dog will reflect it right back at you. Pets just know when the vibe is off!

Earning their meals

Studies have shown that dogs prefer to work for their food, and, traditionally, it has been shown that cats prefer to get given “free food”.

But a recent study in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery showed that food puzzles significantly reduced feline aggression, boredom, and obesity as it simulates hunting.

This means by incorporating play into your schedule, and timing it before meals, your cat can simulate hunting, which satisfies the “hunt-eat-groom-sleep” schedule cats love so much.

What’s a good daily routine for a dog or cat?

A good daily routine depends on you and your tailmate. You’re each unique, so your routine and schedule will look a little different than everyone else’s.

Generally, though, to support a healthy, happy pet, your routine should include structured:

• Bonding time

• Cleaning

• Exercise

• Meals

• Play

• Watering times

You’ll need to make sure the schedule works around your pet’s age, health, and interests, too.

The morning routine: handling the pre-work sprint

The goal: Efficiency, getting things done, and ensuring a “calm” departure

Exercise early, but you don’t need to walk if it doesn’t work

Walking your dog or playing with your cat early can work for numerous pet parents. But if your mornings are stressful and a bit chaotic, you can choose to exercise your pet later in the day. In these cases, a morning "sniffari" beats a stressed-out walk.

Instead, you hide treats around the house for your cat or dog to find, allowing them to feel mentally and physically engaged in finding them while you make your coffee, brush your teeth and get ready. For cats, you can focus on 10 minutes of high-intensity play, like with a feather wand, to engage their hunting instinct before feeding them.

Play, then eat

If you feed your pet in the morning, you should feed them after you play or exercise them. This sets off a satisfying cycle in your pet’s brain, mimicking hunting. For example, with cats, they want to enter the “hunt-eat-groom-sleep” cycle, so some playing then feeding means they’ll be nice and relaxed when you leave the house.

Consistent departure rituals

Don’t do big, emotional goodbyes if you need to leave the house in the morning. Keep exits low-key, or it can end up overexciting and “winding up” your pets before you go.

The middle of the day: avoiding the mid-day slump

The goal: Keeping your pets engaged throughout the day and allowing you to focus.

Focus on the window of boredom

If you need to pop home during work to see your pets, they tend to get bored around 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. This is a great time to squeeze in that mid-day walk or play session.

Aim for passive enrichment

The middle of the day can get busy for us pet parents, so passive enrichment, like cat TV and toys, are very helpful. Just remember to rotate shows and toys to maintain newness.

Aim for short, intense breaks if you’re busy

You can think of this as a short Pomodoro-style break where you take five or ten minutes for a quick play session, some grooming, or just hanging out together. Short and often is better than long streaks of nothing when it comes to pet enrichment and stimulation.

Keep a “boredom checklist”

If your pet is exhibiting signs of being bored, like vocalisation, destructive behaviour or excessive attention-seeking, use that as a sign that they need some face-to-face time.

Pop home if you can

Popping home during the work day is a great time to give your pets the attention they need during the day, but we understand this depends on you, your work schedule and if any family members can do it instead.

The end of the day: ending your schedule the right way

The goal: Decompression and signalling the end of the day.

Maintain a predictable, safe bed time

Try to keep bedtimes as predictable as possible - take your dog out to pee at the same time, space out play and feeding time around an hour before sleeping, things like that. Pets thrive on predictability, especially when you want them to be calm and relaxed.

Make calm, together time the priority

Have some time to chill out together, like calmly sitting together and relaxing.

Prioritise post-work reconnection

We get it: sometimes after work, time gets taken up with tidying up and social time. But make sure you make some time for a post-work reconnection with your pet - exercise, play time, and a dedicated bonding section help stop attention-seeking and destructive behaviour in the evening.

Syncing your circadian rhythms

Dim the lights as the evening goes on and send signals that set your pet’s biological clock to sleep time. It’ll help you sleep better, too!

A good way to do this is to lean into the “hunt-eat-groom-sleep” schedule we keep talking about. Engage in play time around an hour before bed, then feed them, and time the grooming and sleep part of this cycle to when you’re going to sleep.

How to easily sync your and your tailmate’s schedules

Routines and schedules aren’t just about our pets; it’s about feeling in sync with our tailmates. And this doesn’t need to be hard. Here are some quick tips to improve:

Calendars and tech

Using shared calendar apps can help keep you and other family members organised, so you won’t miss essential things like feeding time, training, play, and exercise - they’re especially good if you’re busy.

You can also try automatic feeders to keep feeding times scheduled and organised alongside some dedicated pet apps to create and manage schedules with reminders.

Integrate pets into your goals

We’ve covered this in our healthy habits for you and your pet article, but integrating pets into your new habits, like getting more steps in or getting more sunlight, is an easy way to feel in sync.

Take things slowly

It’s important not to rush too much at once, both for you and the pet. It’s okay for things to sync up gradually.

Use “habit stacking”

Try to pair things you do on a daily basis, like making your morning coffee, cooking dinner or coming home from work, and with doing something with your pet, like playing with them, feeding them, or doing whatever else is in your schedule.

For example, let’s say you want to get some sunlight in the morning with a stroll or hanging out in the garden. Why not bring your pet along with you? Similarly, let’s say you’re making a cuppa - how about every time you make tea, you play with your cat for a few minutes?

By “stacking” time with your tailmate into things you do every day, you’ll soon feel in sync with them.

Hopefully, these tips will help you move away from “me” and "them” to “we”.

How to get your pet used to a new routine

New routines are hard for everyone, especially our pets, who thrive on established ones. Here are some key strategies to get your tailmate up to speed without stressing them out:

• Start a little earlier, and go slow: Introduce new things, like meals and walks, gradually, and if you’re changing the time you do something, make it earlier or later slowly. Don’t make sudden changes if you can help it.

• Keep the things you don’t need to change the same: Let’s say your new routine has similar mealtimes and potty breaks - try to keep those the same. Don’t change anything that doesn’t need changing.

• Don’t compromise exercise and enrichment: You shouldn’t sacrifice exercise, play or enrichment in new routines - they’re essential to have a healthy, happy pet.

• Use positive reinforcement training: Positive association builds habits the fastest in pets, so when introducing new things, use that. Negative reinforcement doesn’t work, and it’ll just stress your pet out.

• Prioritise calm environments: Make sure the home environment is as calm and restful as possible, as this makes learning easier.

• Observe, be patient and trust your tailmate: Every pet is different, and you know your tailmate best. Tailor your routine to them, and make little changes as you learn more about each other.

What to do when the routine breaks

We get it: life happens, and routines can change. When routines change, it should, theoretically, be easier to get your tailmate back on their old schedule. But here are some quick tips to get back on track:

• Gradually reintroduce schedule changes.

• Practice patience - even if you’re getting back to an old routine, it can take time.

• Shift timings back to normal slowly.

• Stay consistent.

• Use positive reinforcement training.

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FAQs

How do I stop my cat from waking me up at night for food or play?

Cat waking you up at 4AM to play? Are they meowing due to hunger at 2AM? We’ve been there, and you aren’t alone. To stop this, you should:

• Establish a solid “hunt-eat-groom-sleep” cycle a good hour before bed. So, play for 15 minutes or so, let your cat “catch” the toy, feed them, and then your cat will naturally “groom” and “sleep” themselves.

• Pair feeding or playing with your cat with something you do in the evening, like brushing your teeth. That establishes a clear point in the evening where your cat can get stimulation or food before you go to sleep. That way, your cat associates that act with food or play. This is known as “ritual association”.

• Completely ignore midnight meows. If you give them fuss in the middle of the night, this can positively reinforce the behaviour.

• If you’re really struggling, use an automatic feeder and set it to go off at a time when your cat wakes.

Is it "cruel" to have a different routine on the weekends?

We wouldn’t say it’s “cruel”. While it’s better to be consistent, schedules are about flexibility as well, and as long as your core routine is the same Monday to Friday, it should be okay.

What is a "Sniffari" and why is it better than a fast walk before work?

Some pet parents prefer to do a “sniffari” instead of a morning walk or play before work. It’s basically hiding treats around the house for your cat or dog to find, and the mix of physical and mental stimulation can be as mentally tiring as a brisk walk. It’s perfect for a morning time-crunch.

But remember: you still need to walk or exercise your pets. A “Sniffari” isn’t a total replacement for good, balanced exercise.

How can I tell if my pet’s routine is too boring?

Common signs your pet is bored include:

• Attention-seeking

• Changes to habits.

• Compulsive behaviour, like excessive licking or grooming.

• Destructive behaviour, like chewing furniture or scratching curtains.

• Excessive vocalisation, like barking and howling.

• Hyperactivity or lethargy.

• Inability to rest or settle.

Your pet’s routine and schedule may cause this, but more commonly, it’s a lack of exercise, enrichment, or stimulation.