Do Your Pets Notice the Switch From Daylight Saving Time?

[Catty1]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/pets-notice...215405656.html

You might think it unlikely that this weekend's switch from daylight saving time (DST) to standard time could throw your cat or dog's busy schedule — eat, sleep, eat, sleep — off-kilter. But, as it turns out, some animals are so in tune with their owners' schedules that falling back an hour can cause our furry friends some confusion.

Just like humans, animals have their own internal clocks that tell them when to eat, sleep and wake up. This biological timekeeper, also known as circadian rhythm, is set in motion by natural sunlight. However, for pets this effect is minimized by the artificial environment they live in, where light comes and goes not only with the rising and setting sun, but most often with the flip of a switch.

[Taz_Zoee]

Yes!! When Taz was with me he always woke me up around 5am (which is my normal weekday schedule) to be fed, even on weekends. With time changes he still woke me up at the regular 5am time for a few days.

The dogs wake me up around 7am on weekends (Bruce feeds them during the week) to be fed. With time changes they still wake me up the first day at the old time. Again, it takes them a while to get on the new schedule.

[Randi]

Ha! Fister certainly didn't, he woke me up an hour before I was to get up, BUT... he soon got into the routine.

We had the change last week. Hate when it's getting dark so early!

[chocolatepuppy]

My furkids usually take a few days to adjust.

[redbird]

Autumn will wake me up an hour earlier tomorrow, I go through this every year with her. She doesn't know the difference, she only listens to her tummy. After a couple of days she gets back on the normal feeding time but tomorrow I know I will be up feeding her an hour early

[Karen]

Miss Hoppy always took a couple days to adjust. The only "time" she cared about was "RAISIN TIME!!!!! 11 o'clock" and I'd have to tell her "not yet" and avoid touching anything that would sounds like the ziplock bag the box of raisins was kept in for the next hour!

[Randi]

I think for Fister it depends on the light and the sound of the birds in the tree outside the window.

Have a good sleep-in!

[Marigold2]

Mine know when it is time to eat.

[pomtzu]

Yup - mine go by the belly and the pee schedules. They'll be up an hour earlier tomorrow. It takes them a while to adjust.

[happylabs]

I honestly don't remember but I guess I will find out tomorrow morning.

[phesina]

Ha! Fister certainly didn't, he woke me up an hour before I was to get up, BUT... he soon got into the routine.

We had the change last week. Hate when it's getting dark so early!

Same here.. Mine will be expecting breakfast at 4:00 tomorrow morning and Sydney in particular will be trying to get me up then. It will take a few days before they get used to the new routine.

Funny... they make the switch TO Daylight Savings Time in no time!

I also hate it getting dark an hour earlier. At least since we're at the far end of the Eastern time zone here, it isn't as early as some places. I'm writing this now at about 6pm, and it's only just starting to get dark. There is still the last bit of sunlight to be seen. This is how it will be at 5pm tomorrow.

When I first moved to the East Coast, which is at the beginning of the Eastern time zone, was I in for a shock when I saw it starting to get dark around 3:30-4:00pm when Daylight Savings Time ended!

[cassiesmom]

Gosh, I'm not sure! Interesting question, though! We don't have a very good schedule in place right now because I had three different start times for training this week. One day was at 9, two days were at 8 and two at 8:30. Guess I'll find out tomorrow!

I have a hard time adjusting to the time changes. This one is harder for me than the springtime one.

[Pinot's Mom]

Notice?? Oy! Normal weekday time to get up is 6:20. Weekends we try and stretch a little. Not this morning!! Welcome back from Daylight Savings Time! Pinot started at 5:30. I don't leave (hubby is out of town) for church until 9:30. I'll have a whole day until then. Sheesh!

[Bonny]

Yup - mine go by the belly and the pee schedules. They'll be up an hour earlier tomorrow. It takes them a while to adjust.

That happened here at 4:30 this morning.

[sasvermont]

No, they stick to their schedule. They could care less that we decided to change the clocks AGAIN!