Man’s ‘cutest alarm clock’ is forgiven for waking him up at 6 a.m. Each day

An orange tabby cat has officially earned the title of “cutest alarm clock,” but her owner has forgiven her for her early-morning antics.

A 6 a.m. wake-up call might not be the most convenient, but the feline’s desire to play is hard to resist.

Ellie’s owner, who goes by @ellie_thetabby on social media, recently shared footage of his cat’s morning routine, which has since gone viral, amassing 1.8 million views and 102,000 likes on Instagram.

“POV: You have the cutest alarm clock but it demands play time at 6am,” he captioned the video.

The video captures Ellie confidently strutting into the bedroom, a toy dangling from her mouth, as she prepares to jump into bed. Her mission is clear: it’s playtime. With her owner only half-awake, she starts to meow until he grabs her toy, ready to entertain his energetic little friend.

Cats tend to be particularly active in the early morning because of their natural hunting instincts. In the wild, dawn is a prime time for hunting, which makes early mornings an energetic time for domestic cats too.

Cats’ ancestors would typically hunt small animals that are also active at dawn and dusk, so our feline friends have inherited this crepuscular behavior.

While most domesticated cats adapt to our schedules, some cats—especially young and active ones—may stick to this instinctual routine and bring a lot of early morning energy into the household​.

If you’re looking to adjust your feline’s morning routine, there are strategies to help make early wake-up calls a little less common.

First, consider feeding your cat their last meal right before bed to keep them satisfied longer.

Owners could also try using an automatic feeder to provide breakfast at a set time in the morning. This way, your cat can get fed without needing you to wake up. Additionally, make sure your cat gets plenty of activity during the day—interactive play sessions can help them burn off energy and sleep better at night.

Finally, it’s essential to ignore any early morning attempts for attention, as responding can reinforce the behavior. Although it can take some time, being consistent is key to teaching your cat that morning wake-ups won’t lead to attention or food​.

Viewers couldn’t get enough of Ellie’s morning ritual, with many sharing their own experiences.

“It’s the ‘meeeoow-meh’ for me at the end,” wrote Marilyn, charmed by the kitten’s final meow.

Another commenter cheered Ellie on, saying: “Good job Ellie! Your human shouldn’t be sleeping when it’s playtime.”

One cat parent shared a similar story, explaining: “I have one that gets me up at 5:00 in the morning to be fed sometimes 6:00 it depends.”

It seems that, just like Ellie, plenty of cats have mastered the art of waking their owners up in the name of fun (or breakfast).

Newsweek reached out to u/ellie_thetabby for comment via Instagram. We could not verify the details of the case.

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