How can I control my cat???

Question

He's the cutest... sometimes. But I live in a small flat (on the 4th floor) and this just isn't enough to entertain him despite his array of toys! It's like having a new born... I haven't had a good nights sleep in months. He is still young (just under a year) and we had him castrated already.... the main problem is him waking up at about 5 and keeping me awake because he wants feeding... any suggestions?

Answer 1

Hi there...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. 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) using 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

omg!!! i feel your pain..i have two kittens that are about 8 months..that are exactly the same..i live on the 3ed floor of an apartment bldg...and i worry all the time that they are making too much noise...they are so wild and full of energy and love to play mostly at night..they are narcturnal and kittens so it goes without saying that your kitten will be this way for a while.. you just got to ride it out cause it wont last like this forever...i had to really accept they are like babies..i just stay on them, telling them no in a firm voice, discplining them when they do something i dont like..i have the laundry room that is like time out..they hate it but it works..cause they stay clear of that room at all cost lol! and i got a spray bottle that i use not a lot but at times to calm them down... but let me tell ya i have had them for about a year and they are already calming down and sleeping through the night..just hang in there...it will be so worth it..i am so close to them and they are really starting to listen to me..dont stress to much like i did..i almost got rid of them..but now i look back on those stressful nights of being up at 3 or 4 in the morning, with fondness and apprciation of them being cats..plain and simple!!

Answer 3

he may be making his kitty nightly rounds of his kingdom like all cats do. Some cats emit strange utterances which may sound like he's asking for food but he may be play-hunting and alerting the family that he caught something. well i have a female and she does this frequently at 4 or 5 in the morning.

Answer 4

If your cat sleeps all day like most do. he will want to play at night. We got our cat a automatic feeder cuz we travel with him alot, and he is not fat. Our cat is 10 months old and snuggles with us at night,then he leaves when he wants to.

Answer 5

ok, first of all relax. comprehend that animal administration isn't it t make existence difficult for you. they are interested in this occasion strictly in public well being. i could think of that in case you clarify precisely what got here approximately to them, they are going to easily supply you a run down on it being significant which you get you cat as much as date on her photos. must be some variety of quarantine technique you need to undergo, yet i'm not sure who has the spectacular to impose a criminal quarantine on an animal (around right here, that's e CFIA, yet they have greater significant issues to do with their time.) actual, the probabilities of your cat having rabies are exceedingly tiny, and the bite became provoked, which makes it even much less probable. i do no longer think they have the rig to get rid of e animal from you without your permission or some variety of courtroom order. (they do no longer around right here) i do no longer think of given what you describe that there is a lot risk of them pushing for it (think of of the PR outcomes). So, with this in techniques, i could be open and trustworthy approximately what got here approximately from this factor forward, yet refuse to enable them to take your cat in the event that they attempt. (for my section, i does no longer have advised them it became my cat that did the biting, i does no longer have lied, yet i does no longer have volunteered the advice. something alongside the strains of 'i became bitten by skill of A cat, it became provoked, yet i'm no longer telling you which ones cat it became, because of the fact i do no longer want this to bypass any extra than right here') That way you get the scientific care you prefer, and that they do no longer ought to rat on you. ordinary. @CTU -- you need to constantly take cat bites heavily. i've got heard many many thoughts of individuals going to the well being care expert with a cat bite, them being advised 'Oh do no longer difficulty' and sending them homestead, in user-friendly terms to come again returned the next day with a raging an infection.

Answer 6

If this is a kitten, it will not hurt to leave food out for him continuously. Otherwise, close your door and don't let the cat in the bedroom.

Answer 7

I have always kept the food bowl full so that they don't gobble the food down. You could wake him during the day so he sleeps at night but cats are nocturnal animals. They hunt at night and he loves you so he is hunting you, his best friend.

Answer 8

if the worst of the problem is him waking you for feeding, then go out and get an automatic feeder that you can leave out b4 you go to bed and have it set to feed at around 430am.

:D

and young kittens/cats just have sooo much energy... hopefully he/she will calm down soon...

Answer 9

Maybe your cat needs to go outside. he sounds restless and all cats love the outdoors and maybe thats all he needs! if your area is not safe as in a freeway or a lot of dogs ask your vet about cat collars and leads. the outside might do him the world of good

Answer 10

he's just going to do that for a while. Eventually, if you ignore his initial attack, he'll just go back to bed. But you need to keep firm with him.

And what about putting his breakfast out at night? That way, he'll eat when he's hungry and won't need to wake you.