How can I stop my cat waking me up at night?

Question

My cat Noodle comes and goes as he pleases - he is a bit of a wanderer, using the cat flap to get in and out. Most nights at 2, 3 or 4 am, he wakes me up by nibbling me and will not go away unless I feed him, or physically pick him up and take him to his bowl of food that I have already left out for him. If I shut my bedroom door, he will only claw the carpet. He is two years old and otherwise adorable - help!

Answer 1

This is learnt behaviour. My cats got into this anti-social habit, and once they learn that you will get up and pander to them, the behaviour continues. I found that when they did it, I got up and put them somewhere they didn't want to go ie a room where there is no food. It only took three nights for them to stop waking me up, for fear of being put in the "Naughty" room.

Answer 2

i dont let my cat Shelley in the bedroom at night as he wakes me up by biting my feet.

sometimes he sits outside my room meowing and clawing the door early in the morning so i have just ignore him coz he will go away when he doesnt get any attention. either that or i put him in the sitting room and close the door. he has his water and litter tray in there anyway so i know he is fine.

it might sound a bit cruel but i find the less contact with my cat at night the better chance i will sleep.

Answer 3

I have had cats for 20 years and I have always let them come and go as they wish. I have no problem with them on my bed (they always sleep on my side)- it's my husband who wakes me up during the night. He fusses that he can hear them snoring, or cleaning themselves, which is total nonsense. I have trained the cats to sit by the door once I have washed and dressed in the morning and we all go downstairs together. 2 are kittens that we have had for only 4 weeks!

Answer 4

Do you have a basement, or a bathroom (basements work better)? It may sound mean, but you should put the cat down into the basement at night, put his litterbox and maybe his dishes down there as well. Stick a.... door wedge thingy on the door so he doesn't claw or bang on it and wake you up, and let him out first thing in the morning.

Answer 5

Close your bedroom door and lock the cat flap. She will cry for a few nights but it will not harm her. If you ignore her she will realise that she is not going to get a response from you. No other way im afraid. be firm and show her who's top cat.

Answer 6

Set her up in her own little space, like the bathroom. Give her some food, water, a cat box and something soft to sleep on. You might even try turning on a quiet radio station for her if she is the type who needs constant attention. Good Luck!

Answer 7

You shouldnt put him in a cage or anything! Just close your bedroom door. Try putting something on the carpet so it cant be ripped up like a mat or a cushion for him to sleep on?

Answer 8

You could try leaving the bowl of food by your bed then every night move it about a foot more towards where you want it to be.

Answer 9

my kitten did the same thing, but i think he was taken from his mama too soon{he was a drop off} so i bought a carrier and every time he thinks he wants to wake me i get up and put him in the carrier, id do the same thing now to keep him off the coun
.terhe hates the carrier but hes getting the idea now that when he does something i dont like thats where he goes. good luck

Answer 10

Get a water spray and when he scratches say OUT and spray him. My cat now runs like crazy when I say OUT I don't use water anymore and he still loves me and goes in the Kitchen when I'm out.