How can I stop my cat from waking me up around 4.30am. If I dont get up he comes and sticks his paw on my nose

Answer 1

Either close your door or put him into a kennel at night.

Answer 2

Hi Susan ...I'm partially reiterating some of the other suggestions here, but elaborating on them. It sounds like your kitty has found a schedule of his own. There are many possibilities as to why he 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 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 his schedule to yours consider by playing with him using more physical active activities (e.g. laser light) in interactive play for 10-15 minutes prior to bedtime to exhaust him so he'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

Answer 3

I put the cat down by my feet, and think or say, "Smart and good cats sleep here." Often he lies right there.
Here is what I else I do, if he occasionally bothers me. I have a little squirt bottle with water in it right by my bed, in easy arm's reach. When the kitty bothers me when I want to keep sleeping, I just show it to him, or, if necessary, give a squirt.
Then I say or think "Come back in daylight." and picture daytime. Cats know the difference between daylight and dark.
It will pick up your message by the images you send, so send what you want the cat to do, not what you don't want. (No images of cat touching nose, rather, an image of cat coming back when there is daylight. )
This really works with our cat.
I learned this communication from Sonya Fitzpatrick's book "What the Animals Tell Me." I got it from Amazon.com. She is the pet psychic on Animal Planet.
It took a little practising, but it works.

Answer 4

Easy. don't let the cat sleep in your bedroom, lock your door and
make the cat sleep in your living room. It may take a couple of nights to retrain your cat, when the cat claws on the door or vocalizes, all you have to say in a firm loud voice is "No" and the cat gets the message after a while.

Answer 5

I have to get up at 6am, so my cat wakes me up at 6! Really..
The cat sleeps in the living room, but if I am not up at six, it will meow, jump up, open the door, jump on my bed and will rub it's nose against mine. Then I get up and feed the cat, talk to the cat and play with it before taking a shower and getting dressed. I am thankful that I am not late at work...and the cat is happy too.
Hopefully your cat will learn to wake you a little later..
Good luck

Answer 6

My rescue cat used to wake me at 3.30am by dabbing my face but with perseverence I've managed to change it to a more civilised 5.30am. It doesn't seem to be about food or attention but purely a habit which can be changed if you're patient.

When you're ready for bed sit with you're cat and tell him that he's not to wake you up until 4.45am. If he wakes you up any earlier ignor him (hide your head under the covers if necessary) until 4.45 and then get up. Repeat every day for a week. Keep adjusting the time by 15 minutes each week until you reach your target time.

Good luck.

Answer 7

What do you do in the morning for your cat???
I have two cats and they started doing the same thing to me. I got sick of it and thought what do I do early in the morning? Well first thing I do is give them FOOD. So now as rule if I want to sleep in I give them a cup of food before I go to bed and that holds them off so I can get my much needed beauty sleep.
Also try leaving a blind or shade open to the outside so he can watch birds or squirrels on outside. That could keep him busy for awhile and maybe he'll forget about you.

Answer 8

close the door and when he paws, don't answer it. it sucks for a few nights, but they get used to it. or you could just ignore him when he sticks his paw on your nose. any attention keeps him going. you can also play with him before bed and keep him up as much as you can during the day.

Answer 9

Mine does the same thing and also bites (softly) my nose. If I don't get up he starts clawing the carpet, trying to make noise, (if he can find some paper he will begin to rattle it). If the bedroom room is shut, he will claw at it and cry. Unfortunately the only thing I can do is let him out and go back to my nice warm bed and try to fall asleep again.!!!!

Answer 10

There are a bunch of things you should know about dog training but we are going to discuss what I feel are some the most important. Keep in mind that these are only some of the things you should know. Go here http://OnlineDogTraining.enle.info/?KptM

1. Repetition is the number 1 principle of dog training. Dogs just like humans learn by doing things over and over in order to get better.

2. Dog Training can and should be fun for both you and your new pet.

3. Training sessions should always be short but sweet. I never work a dog more than 15 minutes in a session to keep from losing the dog's attention. You should train you dog at least once a day but never more than three formal sessions a day.

4. Your goal should be that each training session is just a little bit better than the last one. You need to always strive to make the training better, slowly. I mention this because quite often I see people who do daily training sessions but the dog never gets better and it is not the dogs fault.

5. Having patients is very important in dog training. Losing your temper does not work with a canine it simply makes things worse.

6. Exercise is very important in the training process to get rid of all the dogs nervous energy.

7. Taking your pet for walks is very important because it develops serotonin which gives your dog a feeling of well being.

8. Always be sure to give your dog a bunch of praise in your training. It is your dog's paycheck for doing a great job.

9. Never hit your dog. I have heard people say I never hit my dog instead I roll up a magazine and swat it. It's the same thing... hitting is hitting.

10. After each training session be sure to do something that your dog will enjoy. Take it for a walk, throw the ball or maybe even rub its belly. Just do something that makes the dog look forward to the next training session.

These are things that I teach my dog training students as well as my dog training clients. I hope these things will give you something to think about when training your dog. Spend some time training your dog daily and you will both reap the benefits.

Answer 11

What does he get you up for? If its not to be fed, it sounds like he is just lonely and is waking you up so hes not alone. Try playing with him before bed so that he gets worn out then take him to bed with you. Hopefully he should sleep with you most of the night.