I have a 3 year old cat who since i have had him will not sleep though the night. He wakes up at about 4 am and DRIVES ME INSANE!!! He runs around the house Jumps into windows running through. He attacks my feet if they move. It's driving me insane. Other then killing him which I have thought of, or giving him away which is not an option either cause I love the damn cat what can I do? Any suggestions?
2006-11-30 05:22:28 · 21 answers · asked by Songbird 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Damn you guys. A friend of mine told me I should get another cat a playmate for my cat. I just can't manage that right now. I will try that playing thing try to keep him up as long as possible. Unfortuntely I live in a single so locking him up isn't an option. Believe me I tried it the damn Wonder cat can't open doors. CRAZY A$$ CAT! Thanks everyone for you advise!
2006-11-30 05:35:15 · update #1
Hi there...sounds like your kitty has found a schedule of her own. There are many possibilities as to why she may be waking you up at this particular time of night. Has anything in the distant or near past always occured around this time that was either frightening or pleasant? For example many cats who are fed at a scheduled time will learn when to expect their meals, the family members come home and leave for day, etc. It's more of a conditioned response from a pattern which is being continually reinforced...and is why I'm making this assumption.
If you would like to change/adjust her schedule to yours consider by playing with her using more physical active activities (e.g. laser chasing) with the kitty 10-15 minutes prior to bedtime to exhaust her so she'll sleep longer. If your cat isn't free fed (food available at all times) some people who feed their cats on schedule (once in the morning and once at night) have found that by feeding right just before bedtime also note that this has a sedating effect because their tummy's are full.
This particular method isn't known to many as most people are not willing to consider it, however one the things we as animal trainers/behaviourists do to break bad behaviours with animals is to ignore the undesired behaviour. What follows is called an extinction burst where the behaviour becomes progressively worst for awhile hoping for the same positive reinforcement as received in past. Eventually the animal learns this behaviour does not gains them any positive reinforcement and eventually fades away.
Here's another example of how an extinction burst works: This happens when a proven method of doing something that brings a desired response (i.e. stealing socks always elicits a chase from a human), all of a sudden stops working. The extinction burst is the part where the dog tries the proven method again and again, and hundred times stronger before they figure out that it just doesn't work anymore. Human equivalent: you're at the elevator. You pressed the button 10 seconds ago. This has always made the elevator come and pick you up. For some reason, there's no sign that the elevator's coming. You press it again. And again, and again and again, harder and harder, with more force (extinction burst!), until finally you just give up and use the stairs. If the original method doesn't work anymore, why use it?!
More on Extinction Burst: http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/archives/bursts.txt
If your kitty had more serious behavioural problems some cats can be successfully helped who are on antidepressants, but it's usually given to cats who suffer from aggression/anxiety disorders as well as inappropriate elimination (urine spraying/peeing) disorders: http://www.newmanveterinary.com/feline.html
2006-11-30 06:17:28 · answer #1 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Cat Up All Night
2016-12-12 10:51:55 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats are nocturnal, meaning they sleep most during the day, and are the most active at night. Give your 10-month-old sweeties a few more months, and they will be less spastic at night. Get them to cuddle up with you when you go to bed, and that will train them (as much as it is possible) to sleep with you at night instead of running across your forehead.
2016-03-13 01:06:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Animals are a bit like children...if they sleep all day they will be up all night. So the solution is to keep the cat awake for as much of the day as you can. If you cant do that then isolate him in a room where he can run around and not bother anyone.
2006-11-30 05:28:40 · answer #4 · answered by dragonrider707 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are home during the day, don't let him sleep. Play with him. If you work during the day, make sure you play with him for about a 1/2 hour to an hour at night. I use a laser pointer and a feather with my cats. You could also try to get another cat, they will play with eachother at night instead of you. I have two, and they hardly ever wake me up at night any more.
2006-11-30 05:25:34 · answer #5 · answered by D B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have two cats I allow to sleep with me because they sleep through the night. The others I put in my largest bathroom at night and keep anything that they may destroy put away.
2006-11-30 05:55:34 · answer #6 · answered by digitalkitty98 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats are nocturnal, and they expect you to be also. I have to close mine off in a different part of the house of they will do the same. Sleep all day and up all night.
2006-11-30 05:28:49 · answer #7 · answered by Andrea M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reacting to him reinforces the behavior because that is what he wants, you as a playmate.
Other people have the right idea, keep him up as long as you can, keep him awake during the day if possible, and wear him out completely before bed time.
Then when he starts waking you up, don't give him the satisfaction. They learn quickly that you will not stir an to find something else to play with (by quickly I mean in about a week or two)
2006-11-30 05:55:55 · answer #8 · answered by Thomas J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
play with him alot before bed -make him really ,really tired ,he will look foward to this and sleep through the night .try one of those toy wands with a feather at the end -hope u get some sleep !
2006-11-30 09:01:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Play with him excessively right before going to bed. If you tire him out enough, he should sleep through the night.
2006-11-30 05:26:57 · answer #10 · answered by KL 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you want to put your baby to sleep in 20 seconds you must get the "Instant Baby Sleep" MP3 sound track. Here is their official web-site: http://www.instantbabysleep.net
The sound track gently produces energy over the full human hearing spectrum with an embedded pulse that gently eases the brain to the Alpha state well known for drowsiness and sleep induction.
2014-09-25 08:03:04 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋