Adjusting Pet Routines for Daylight Savings

As daylight saving begins in October, Adelaide and greater South Australia enjoy longer evenings — but that shift can throw off your pet’s internal clock. Cats and dogs thrive on consistency, so small adjustments now can prevent stress, behavioural hiccups, or confusion.

• Their feeding, toileting, playtime, and sleep cycles are often cued by time and human routines.

• A sudden jump in walk or meal times can cause hunger, restlessness, or anxiety.

• For pets with medical conditions (e.g. on timed medications), changes in schedule may be more disruptive.

1. Gradual shift approach: Over 3-5 days, shift walk times, play sessions, and feeding times by 10-15 minutes per day rather than making a large jump.

2. Stick to predictable cues: Use light, voice cues, doors, or your footsteps to signal transitions (e.g. “dinner time,” “walk time”) so pets gradually adapt.

3. Maintain routine structure: Even if times shift, preserve the sequence: bathroom ? feeding ? play ? rest, so pets still recognise the pattern.

4. Special note for pets on medication: If your pet has medications tied to specific times (every 12 hours, etc.), consult our clinic to safely adjust timing so that the efficacy isn’t compromised.

5. Overnight environment: As evenings fill with light, consider using blackout curtains or dimmed lights to cue bedtime. This helps especially for cats who may become more active with extended dusk light.

If your pet shows signs of prolonged stress — frequent pacing, loss of appetite, disrupted sleep or toileting indoors — book in for a behaviour check or consult your vet. We’re happy to guide you through adjusting routines smoothly.