Ramadan Revelations: Feline Friends Join Early Morning Suhoor

The holy month of Ramadan, a time of spiritual reflection and fasting for Muslims worldwide, has brought about an unexpected, yet heartwarming, phenomenon: cats joining their owners for the pre-dawn meal known as suhoor. Despite their usual sleepy demeanor, these curious felines are determined not to miss out on the action, adding a touch of levity to the solemn observance.

Across the globe, cat owners are sharing stories of their furry companions’ bewildered, yet insistent, participation in the early morning ritual. These accounts highlight the strong bond between humans and their feline friends, showcasing the cats’ unwavering desire to be included in their families’ lives, even if it means sacrificing a few hours of precious sleep.

In the United Kingdom, Bella, a two-year-old Bengal cat, has surprised her owner, Sanah, with her newfound dedication to suhoor. Described as a "homebody" who cherishes her sleep, Bella has been fighting through her tiredness to join her family for the pre-dawn meal since Ramadan began.

"Bella is such a homebody, and my partner and I always laugh at the fact that as soon as it hits 10 p.m., she will head straight to bed," Sanah told USA TODAY. "You can imagine how perplexed she was when suddenly the house came alive at 4 a.m. on the first day of Ramadan. She has to know what’s happening, so she fought through her tiredness to make sure she could join in."

Sanah recounted Bella’s initial shock upon witnessing her family eating so early in the morning. "She looked so shocked that I had no option but to give her some snacks to make sure she felt included. She was definitely expecting a full meal, too, but she had to wait till her usual breakfast time for that," Sanah said, adding that Bella enjoys chicken treats and has developed a fondness for dates, although she isn’t allowed to have them.

Despite the early hour and the unusual circumstances, Bella remains steadfast in her commitment to suhoor. "As I prepared my suhoor meal, Bella would just stare at me and would focus on not falling asleep," Sanah shared, illustrating the cat’s determination to be a part of the family’s routine.

Across the Atlantic, in Toronto, Canada, Arya, a two-year-old Persian and Maine Coon mix, experienced similar confusion when her family began waking up earlier than usual for the pre-dawn meal. Arya’s owner, Anum, explained that her cat typically sleeps in her bed, "but now that we wake up for suhoor she’s confused."

Anum believes that cats are inherently family-oriented creatures who thrive on being around their owners. "Especially Arya, she always has to be wherever we are in the house." As Anum and her family prepare suhoor and iftars (the evening meal that breaks the fast), Arya sits with them in the kitchen, eagerly anticipating a few treats, which she often receives. Anum noted that Arya particularly enjoys her pureed snacks.

Millie, a two-year-old domestic shorthair, is another feline who refuses to be left out of the Ramadan festivities. According to her owner, Zaina Mirza, Millie wakes up instantly at any sound and is always ready to investigate. On the first night of Ramadan, Millie heard her family wake up and "immediately assumed it was morning."

"To her, me getting out of bed equals breakfast time, no matter if it’s 5 a.m. or 11 a.m.," Mirza explained, suggesting that cats wake up during suhoor because they are highly attuned to their owners’ routines. However, unlike some of her feline counterparts, Millie doesn’t seem particularly "thrown off by the time shift" and simply "wants to be involved" and perhaps score an extra meal.

Cat owners generally agree that their feline companions are driven by curiosity and a fear of missing out on the fun. They are willing to fight through tiredness and confusion to ensure they don’t experience FOMO (fear of missing out). "Millie has a serious case of FOMO," Mirza said. "If we’re up, she’s up. If something’s happening, she needs to be there, even if she has no idea what’s going on."

"Ramadan is no different, she’s just following the vibes," Mirza added, highlighting the cats’ ability to sense and adapt to changes in their environment and routines.

Suhoor, an Arabic word meaning "the last part of the night," is a meal consumed by Muslims early in the morning, before dawn, to prepare for a day of fasting, which concludes at sunset. The timing of suhoor varies depending on the time of year in which Ramadan occurs and also fluctuates throughout the month as the length of the day changes, according to Islamic Relief.

These heartwarming anecdotes of cats joining their owners for suhoor offer a glimpse into the unique bond between humans and their feline companions. They demonstrate the cats’ unwavering loyalty, curiosity, and desire to be a part of their families’ lives, even during the early hours of the morning. As Muslims around the world observe Ramadan, these furry friends are adding a touch of joy and companionship to the spiritual journey.