new 10 week old kitten waking us up!?

Question

he gives us 'kisses'- cuddling and pawing at our faces at 2 a.m., 3.a.m., 4 a.m. etc.. He also kneads on our neck and face. I tried leaving some food next to the bed thinking he might be hungry but that didn't work. We love it but we also need our sleep! anyone had a similar affectionate kitty? He doesn't do this in the daytime!!

p.s. we have 2 other cats so he is not lonely.

Answer 1

Hi there...I'm partially reiterating some of the other suggestions here, but elaborating on them. It sounds like your kitten 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. 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 2

He's a kitten. Kittens sleep in small little bursts and then are hyper the rest of the time. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do about him being awake at god-forsaken hours of the morning. It's the way of all kittens. The reason he's bugging you is because he wants to play and wants companionship. During the day, he doesn't have to do this since you're around. I mean, just a few short weeks, he had all the siblings he needed to keep him company and now he doesn't.

Your best bet? Keep the bedroom door closed and ignore him when he meows. It's pretty tough the first few nights, but then he'll realise that he won't get attention during the night. You could also try leaving a radio or the TV on in another room so the house isn't so quiet and empty. And don't forget lots of kitty toys that he can play with and entertain himself with. We found drinking straws and rolled up pieces of paper are more effective than expensive cat toys from a pet store. If this plan works, you can give him some cuddle time in the mornings before you get up but when you're still kinda awake.

If you don't have a bedroom door, try lying there and playing dead, no matter how much he bites and paws and pets. He might get a bit aggressive, but it's worth a try.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I've been there. My 1 yr old cat did it when he was a baby, and still does to this day. As hard as it may sound, you're going to have to close your bedroom door. The trick is, to keep it closed at ALL TIMES. It'll suck at first, and he'll meow like mad. Use the radio or the tv to drown it out. But after awhile of having the door closed all time, the cat will get used to that room being off limits. Be sure to pick him up frequently during the day. Even if he doesn't seem to want attention, give it to him!

Answer 4

I am going through the same thing with my new kitty. In addition, I have seven other cats so my kitty isn't lonely either. I think they just like the attention that we give and when we are not paying them attention, they feel ignored. As you know, cats are very demanding, proud, needy creatures. I'm not sure how your home is set up, but you may just want to close your bedroom door at night. If that doesn't work then I'm not sure. I guess we will just have to see what other suggestions are posted. . . .

Answer 5

I have two cats, on is the mother and one is the daughter. Mom had four kittens and at birth the umbilical cord became tangled around one of the kittens. Fortunatley we were able to save its life and the foot she had tangled up in the cord. This little cate - Button - has always been very affectionate and persistantly so. She had the company of her brother and sisters for a couple of months, and she still has her mom, but she insists on being picked up, on grooming us (licking face, hair, etc.) and being petted. If we shut her out she does the same thing your cat does, and I don't have the heart to listen to her begging to come in. With age, hopefully they will mellow out and become a bit more solitary. Her mom isn't like this at all. Good Luck, hope this helped in some way.

Answer 6

aw. let him come cuddle in bed with you for a while until you're tired, and then he needs to be locked outta the room. he might cry the first night or two but he'll probably start playing with your other cats sooner or later. just remember that your sleep is more important...which is hard because they're so stinking cute.
this is something he'll probably grow out of. my 3 year old cat sleeps about 17-20 hours a day. (including all night). good luck!

Answer 7

Locking him out of the room won't help, especially with persistent kittens. The pawing/banging on the door and the wailing are worse than the affection. Let him come on the bed and do those things, but don't turn and pet him or anything in response. Ignore him, and if he's REALLY persistent, lightly push him off of you (not the bed, but you) and MAYBE he'll get tired of trying.

This is how my cats were when we first got them, they got over it.

Answer 8

A young kitten is like a young baby. They do not sleep on our adult schedule. It's something you just have to live through. That's why it's always good to have two kittens as they can be separated from humans at night and still have company and someone to play with when they are feeling energetic in the middle of the night.

Answer 9

okay well does your cat sleep in the day? If so then make sure they stay awake during the day so that they will be tired at night. If u go to work all day get a dvd for kitties and toys out for them to play with. Here is a link that will show you what im talking about of the dvd....
http://www.catdvd.com/?src=overture&OVRAW=dvd%20for%20cats%20to%20watch&OVKEY=cat%20dvd&OVMTC=advanced

And here is also another link......
http://www.opamerica.com/product_info.php/products_id/1477

Where you can get some toys is like at walmart and stuff they have great toys!!! like for my kitty I get like a cat teaser, some pretend mouses( they come in a pack), and other great stuff!!!!
I hope you like my answer and have a "Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year"!!!!!

Answer 10

try setting a playtime every night, say you go to bed at 10pm, start playing at 8:30-9pm. Get a lazer pointer and some toys that your kitty can run after. Dont let him sleep while your home, this way when its bed time, he'll be worn out. Plus once he gets fixed he'll calm down and want to sleep