Had this problem until we got an automatic feeder. She gets fed at 6am, noon, 6pm, and midnight. If she’s hungry she goes to the feeder, not us!

This is why I switched to feeding before going to bed

Don’t blame the cat if it works. It has trained you well.

Stop feeding them at that time then?

I’ve got 6 of the friends and we don’t have that problem anymore because I simply ignore them till I’m ready to get up. Eventually they all just stopped, and waited till I got up to go crazy.