How can I keep my cat from keeping me awake at night?

Question

She spends a lot of time on my bed, being her friendly, loveable self, and she keeps me up a lot of the time. Is there anything I can do to get some sleep. I can't kick her out of the bedroom because of our other cats. Please help. I need more sleep than I currently get.

Answer 1

Hi Christina...I'm partially reiterating some of the other suggestions here, but elaborating on them. It sounds like your kitty has found a schedule of her own. There are many possibilities as to why she may be keeping you up at 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 her schedule to yours consider by playing with her using more physical active activities (e.g. laser light) such as interactive play for 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

Answer 2

You may have to start putting him in a carrier at night, make sure he goes to the restroom before bed - cats can hold it for up to 12 hours. If you get a larger dog sized carrier he'll also have room to move around in. You could also try putting bubble wrap on the door where he scratched. They don't like it. This method is used to keep them from jumping on counters. We used to keep our first kitten [now we have two] locked out of the bedroom for the same reason, and she'd come crying at the door every morning at 6am. But it wasn't an hour long thing. She'd stop after awhile and leave.

Answer 3

We have 2 cats and we have never, ever let them sleep in our room for that reason. I had an issue for a while with our older cat meowing and digging at the door several times a night(for no real good reason...she had a full dish of food, water and all that) and she was driving me crazy and I wasn't getting any sleep. I tried SSSSSSttting at her and telling her to go away, but I ended up getting up and chasing her away from the door at least 4 or 5 time a night. OY! I was really tired, and really at the end of my rope. So I borrowed one of my kids water guns. The first sound of her at the door I got up and gave her a good squirt. She never bothered me for the rest of the night. She tried it again the next night, so she got a good squirt again. I'm happy to say it seems to be working, I've been sleeping MUCH better!

Answer 4

I know how you feel. My cat (plus one more now) used to wake me up in the middle of the night or too early. Drove me nuts. Like you, I cannot kick them out of my bedroom becuase then, they will wake everyone up (it happened before: Kaffe jumped on Monica's bed... Monica was jolted from a nightmare and screamed... Sean in next bedroom screamed thought Monica was under attack... Nick and Tony screamed... coz everyone was screaming... last I saw the culprit Kaffe going at a fast trot from Monica's room with his ears flattened all the way back - it was comical).
I can report now that my cats hardly ever wake me up now once I am in bed asleep. It took 3 or 4 nights to "train" them... but this is what I did. When I am ready to go to bed, I take the cats to the room with me. I feed them (cats are more willing to settle down and nap after they eat). Then I read a little in bed, turn off the lights and go to sleep. If one or the other wakes me - I say "ssshhuuuush!" and clap my hands real loud. Then I turn over and go back to sleep. I do this each and everytime the try to wake me up. Soon they learnt it was no use and they might as well sleep along with me. :)

Answer 5

If you feel very tired in the daytime ,because of lacking of sleep ,I think you might try to sleep in another room for days for having a good rest .(if possible to do that)
if you have another bedroom ,you can leave her there at night(cause you said you couldn't kick her out of the bedroom)

well, to be honest ,I think your question does be difficult to me ! Judging from your words ,I know you love you cats very much !

the above is just my idea , I don't know whether it is right for you ,anyway hope you'll have a good sleep at night !

Answer 6

I have the same problem. I have three cats and if Maggie goes downstairs Sydney attacks her. I let Maggie stay up on my bed at night but she always wants food or something like that. What I do is I wear earplugs (i normally wear the expandable kind). I don't know if that will help you in your situation but I hope it helps some. Good Luck.

Answer 7

Cats are naturally nocturnal, so it might be tough to get her to leave you alone at night. If you have the time and energy, you might be able to "train" her into adopting the same sleep pattern you use. You'll have to make her stay awake during the day, waking her if she "naps". This won't happen in a day, so be persistant. Good luck!

Answer 8

problem is your cat sleeps all day, and wants to play at night. if you are home during the day, bothe her, and try to keep her awake so she will sleep at night. otherwise, you might have to invest in a kennel slightly larger than her, get plenty of toys, and put her in there at night.

Answer 9

Feeding you cat before bed will usually settle the cat down. It usually works with our cat (although not 100%).

Answer 10

keep her in a room with no other cats just , her food and water, toys, treats, a blanket/bed and her litter box.