Every morning my 1 year old cats start whinning and crying around 4 in the morning. They have food and water, so they are not crying out of starvation. Anyone have any ideas on how to help, I havent had a decent sleep in months!
2007-01-23 09:56:15 · 25 answers · asked by jlark2918 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Hi there...I'm partially reiterating some of the other suggestions here, but elaborating on them. It sounds like your kitties has found a schedule of their own. There are many possibilities as to why they may be waking you up at this particular time of 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 their schedule to yours consider by playing with them using more physical active activities (e.g. laser light) using interactive play for 10-15 minutes prior to bedtime to exhaust them so they'll sleep longer. If your cats are not 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
2007-01-23 12:19:52 · answer #1 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am guessing younger cats (kittens) they are naturally nocturnal creatures... especially if there is nothing for them to do all day while you are at work (cat sitting DVDs are great) Punishing a natural behavior isn't going to help.... working on changing the behavior by getting to the root of the problem will make a difference why not leave out some dry food that they can snack on when they get hungry at 4am? if this is really only about food.... then providing them a self-feeding dry-food source should alleviate the problem About an hour of interactive play-time before you go to bed will also help also, try to realize, that even spraying them with a spray bottle still means they successfully got you up... in this case, you don't mean to reward them going all-out to wake you up... but the fact that you did anything other than ignore them, means they got at least part of what they wanted... and that is only going to enforce the behavior
2016-05-24 01:59:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, Shame on all of you that suggested she put these cats to sleep or give them away! There are so many homeless pets out there already! You could try the water bottle thing, but there are other things to try as well. The kitties are probably lonely. Do you play with them during the day? I also read somewhere that you could put a vacuum cleaner near your door and when they cry, turn it on. This also will make them learn. However, I don't know if you want a vacuum cleaner to wake you up at 4 am as well! Maybe buy them some new toys as well? Good Luck!
2007-01-23 10:12:02 · answer #3 · answered by vnorg 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have the EXACT same situation but my cat purrs in our ears at that hour. I have learned to sleep through it but my husband hasnt yet. One thing that has helped a bit is we play w/ both of our cats for about 30 mins every night before we go to bed. So you figure if you go to bed at say 10p, start playing with them at about 9 9:30 and wear them out. But make it a good hard play time. This will help them sleep more. Also, watch what times they are taking their naps during the day. If they are taking them in the morning after you get up then try keeping them up for an entire day with no naps. That broke my older cat of staying up all night. She still gets up now but not as much and doesnt bother us as much at the wee hours. If all else fails, you are just gonna have to learn to tune them out. Eventually, they will give up when they realize they are not bothering you. Even if you just "act" like you are asleep, they will eventually get the point.
Best of luck to you. I dont advise closing the door because they want to check on you as you do on them.
2007-01-23 10:37:21 · answer #4 · answered by Lucky Me 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My seven-year old does this as well. I usually talk to her a few minutes and pet and snuggle her, then roll over and go back to sleep.
They are nocturnal animals.
If I am wakeful, I wake them to comfort me, they just do the same thing. Once in a great while, the older one wants out and nothing else will do.
Usually a snuggle is all needed to calm them, and back to sleep we all go. If I am in a bad mood I talk sharply and they back off. It just takes time.
2007-01-23 10:48:32 · answer #5 · answered by CYP450 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First of all do NOT put them to sleep or give them up. Buy them a cat house/toys and put cat nip on them. Also if you see them asleep during the day wake them up so they sleep at night. Good Luck!
2007-01-23 10:03:43 · answer #6 · answered by sassybluechicago 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Cats are nocturnal so they naturally stay awake at night. They can sometimes be trained to sleep thru the night but your best bet is to put them in another room. I know when I had a cat (which I ended up giving away), I had to keep it in another room at night because it would wake me up if it was in my room.
2007-01-23 10:00:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Try playing a radio on low in the living room or where ever they are.Maybe give them their own bed close to a heater but not where they will get too hot.That might make them cozy & want to sleep in ;O)
2007-01-23 09:59:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like what my cat was doing. I suggest you close the bedroom door and if he continues to do this then have a spray bottle ready with water in it and squirt him a few times. He will get the message.
If he is not fixed then fixing him will help. Good luck!
2007-01-23 10:00:37 · answer #9 · answered by The_answer_person 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My cats do this as well.
We have to lock them down one end of the house to get a decent nights sleep!
Just give your cat a nice bed, and a toy and he/she will be entertained through out the night =)
2007-01-23 09:59:18 · answer #10 · answered by Radio Flyer 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋