How can I teach my cat to let me sleep?

Question

Now, 9 am might not sound early to many people, but I work second shift so my 9am is most people's 5am. Now, evry morning my cat goes neurotic at 9am, waking me from a sound sleep. She yowls, runs back-and-forth, scrathes on things she's knows is wrong (destroying our woodwork :(...), and climbs all over me to get me up. At first I thought she was hungry...but she doesn't eat, she just wants me up.

Is there anything I can do that doesn't invlove ignoring her while I listen to my security deposit get ripped apart by her claws?

Answer 1

Hi there...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 waking you up at this particular time. 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) using 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 bursts: http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/archives/bursts.txt

Answer 2

Right before bedtime, spend some time with her playing with an interactive toy that she loves - a feather on a string, a laser toy, whatever she'll chase until she gets tired. After she's gotten some good exercise, feed her a good meal - canned food is best, because it will keep her satisfied. This will mimic her natural hunting, chasing, and eating patterns, so she'll be more likely to go to sleep on your schedule, and let you get some sleep too.

Also, if you normally feed her when you get up, DON'T feed her as soon as you get up. Establish a routine that involves some sort of cue that you give her to let her know that she will be fed on a schedule - feed her after you've brushed your teeth, or after you've eaten your breakfast, and try to stick to the same routine. That way she won't associate you getting out of bed directly with getting her meal.

If she still bothers you when you're trying to sleep, try putting the vacuum cleaner within reach near your bed, and plugging it in - when she starts pestering you, just switch on the vacuum cleaner for a moment. Most cats hate the noise the vacuum monster makes - it shouldn't take long for her to make the connection.

If she's damaging things with her claws, you can trim the sharp tips off so they're blunted and won't do as much damage. This link has instructions: http://www.catscratching.com/htmls/article.htm
If it's really bad, you could try using softpaws nail caps on her.
http://www.softpaws.com/

Good luck!

Answer 3

I once worked graveyard shift with a two year old and two cats.....the toddler I shipped off to grandma's, but the cats had to stay......They had each other, but like you said, they just want you up. Give em some petting the first time. Confine them to a bathroom or kitchen with doors that you can close off and be sure to catproof that room....just as you'd do for children. I had a small apartment with mine, so I kept a squirt gun with me at all times. It works! Especially for getting on countertops and the scratching stuff bit. Good Luck!

Answer 4

Sounds like my cat and dog at 4am.
I tried everything- and to no avail....I finally just started changing my routine (as hard as that was)
So I am up at 4am- to feed, take outside, snuggle and play for about 30 mins then go back to bed for a few hours. They both settle in with me and fall back to sleep.

Answer 5

Teaching your cat not to wake you up takes a bit of time and patience. I taught my cats to be quiet or go to sleep when I sleep and not to go berko in my room while I am in bed. I keep my 2 cats with me in my bedroom when I sleep becuase I do not want to leave them to roam freely throuh the house and get into things they shouldn't. In the beginning (and every now and then), they'd meow to go out. I say "no," get up and stand by the door and spray a room deodorizer UP IN the AIR (never at them). The cats do not like the "psssttt" sound it makes so they move away from the door. Then, if one or both of them begin to act berko (zipping through the room, scratching carpet, etc.), I clap my hands real loud and say, "No. Sleep sleep now." Everytime they make noise, I clap my hands real loud and say "slep sleep now." After a few days of doing this consistently, they got the idea. I NEVER ever had to hit any of my cats. Now, when I go to bed, they go to bed too. I know they get up during the night to drink and to nibble at their own leftover dinner. Of course I keep their food bowl, water bowl and an extra litter box in my bedroom. It helps if you can schedule one of their main feeding times to just before you need to go to bed. Cats always seem to want to nap when they have a full belly. I also put in a handful (just a handful) of dry kibble in a bowl for my two cats to nibble at during the night - cats eat when they are bored. But you have to watch the amount of dry food you leave out - you don't want the cat to get over-weight by free feeding. Anyway, the hand clapping the and {psssttt" by the door worked for me.

What I suggest is that when your kitty wakes you up, clap your hands real loud and just say, "No!." Chances are kitty will scoot under your bed and try again a few minutes later whereupon you clap again, etc. Do NOT get up... sooner or later, kitty will learn that zipping around the room simply does not work and you'll wake up when you wake up.

Answer 6

Not realizing what I was doing at the time because I was very much asleep. I knocked my cat off the bed so hard she hit the closet door (which was about 1 foot from the edge of my bed) with a very loud bang. I loved that cat and she was a wonderful cat and she forgave me for the incident but she never bothered me in the bed again.

The cat was not injured by my actions.

Answer 7

1. Shut her outside your bedroom.
2. You may think this is not about food, but it actually may be. My cat does the same, and although he doesn't eat immediately when I give him food, I found out that the solution is to have an automatic feeder with a timer just before the time he wakes up.

Answer 8

The squirt bottle (water only) is the best approach. Someone above recommended vinegar with the water - that actually can hurt their eyes.

If you don't think it is compounding the problem you might want to consider a second cat. Two can amuse each other.

Answer 9

yep that sounds just like my cat when i sleep. they don't like it when we sleep. because when we're gone all day long that's when they sleep. therefore when we come home they want our devoted attention. my answer to our problem/question is a "scat mat" - place it right in front of your bedroom door. you'll sleep so nicely - if you do purchase one. i know i have.
chin

Answer 10

Keep her out of your room. Put a mat in place under your door where she would possibly scratch.