I am stuck in the same room with my cat all night, and there is no compromise. He gets in my bed and starts clawing me, purring, and BEGGING for attention several times throughout the night. I ignore him and push him away, but then he just gets worse. I've made sure he has food and a clean litterbox in here, and it's not at all a small room. I lose ALOT of sleep because of him. What should I do?
2007-02-12 04:14:05 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Hello. Depending on how recently this change has been made, he may just be lonely and anxious at night, and this will just take some time to resolve.
But cats are nocturnal. They're most active during the night and twilight hours. If your sister catered to him and gave him attention when he cried, she reinforced his behavior, and it will take time to correct it.
If you have a spare room, laundry room, or bathroom you could keep him in with food, litter, and water overnight, do that. He will certainly be upset at first. However, it does work to train most cats. After a couple months, they change their sleeping habits to coincide with their owners'.
I always recommend that cats be kept with other cats, too, if feasible. They'll keep each other company throughout the night. I have one cat who cries all night long if she's not with another cat. We put one of the other cats out of the bedroom with her (because she sucks on my neck at night!), and she's fine.
If the behavior continues, you may want to consult a vet or animal behaviorist about separation anxiety. There may be exercises you can do to help stop this behavior. Last of all, an anti-anxiety medication might benefit him. This can usually be discontinued after a few months, once the behavior has been controlled.
2007-02-12 04:22:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats tend to sleep during the day and are more active at night. We have different body clocks. This isn't a problem until we have to share a confined space. Your cat is bored and wants to communicate. As you're both in that room there is no one else to communicate with but you and I'm guessing no way for him to go out, see other cats/ people.
As you are in control of his choices I'd suggest giving him more freedom - can you let him out more? If not then he really needs more things to do. Have fun playing with him. Cats are really easily pleased. A simple piece of string can keep them amused for ages.
I don't want to sound unkind but f you can't meet puss's needs maybe you should let someone else take care of him.
You'll get all the sleep you need then and cat will be happy too.
Remember he's not doing what he's doing out of spite or malice, it's just a mismatch of what you want and he wants, he's just trying to let you know he wants something to do.
Hope it works out for you both.
2007-02-12 04:42:49 · answer #2 · answered by kittyfreek 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What you need to do is get him tired enough to sleep and that will give you a good nights rest. I have found that a laser light is excellent for this. Before bedtime play with the cat for at least 15 minutes, let him chase the light all over and that will tire him out.
Keep up this practice every night and before too long the cat will be used to sleeping at night with you instead of wanting to play.
2007-02-12 04:35:00 · answer #3 · answered by kathyk214 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Try wearing a fruit based perfume or use a citric base air freshner on the bed. Cats hate the scent of citrus and will move to another spot. But the cat loves you a lot to bother you when you are sleeping mine sleep at the foot at the bed with no problem.
2007-02-12 04:22:29 · answer #4 · answered by Tapestry6 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you give the cat attention when he begs? Maybe you should try it if you dont. The cat wants attention; its not going to kill you to give up a couple of minutes when you go to bed. Those couple of minutes could save you a lot of time during the night when he will leave you alone. If you get into a pattern he will get used to it.
2007-02-13 06:18:15 · answer #5 · answered by Tonya 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the reason why is because most cats do that is because they are nocturnal and they are not used to your night sleeping routine. try to keep him in a little room at night while you sleep. the bathroom will do. put a little litter box there and water and food.
confine him with a toy.then when you wake up open the bathroom door. he will be glad to see you for sure! keep doing that until he doesnt come running to you and purring.
then you can let him in your bedroom and he wont ask for attention because he allreadywas without attention for almost every night so he would get used to it.
i understand if your cat gets upset at first , so when he knows what to do like i said above he should be fine.
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-02-12 04:29:12 · answer #6 · answered by Tanja V 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have 3 cats (mother, son and daughter). The daughter sounds like your cat. She is very neurotic and requires a lot of attention. She demands it and is one pain in the butt at times. I found if I spend a little time with her every night talking to her and patting her, she calms down and finally goes to sleep.
2007-02-12 04:46:47 · answer #7 · answered by Me, Myself & I 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put him in a separate room, with his litter, food, water, and a comfy place to rest. (Animal bed or something.) Make sure the room is a comfortable temperature.
You can't "make" a cat do anything. (That's why I like them. Independent creatures.)
2007-02-12 04:45:44 · answer #8 · answered by kiwi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lock the door and put him in a separate room before you go to sleep or get a cage so it can't get out.
2007-02-12 04:18:32 · answer #9 · answered by ihateidiots 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
well, not too sound like a cow, if you werent willing and able to provide the adequite amount of attention to him, you shouldnt have gotten a cat in the first place.
but i suggest you try and teach him too cuddle with you. this way you get too sleep, and he gets too be with you and be loved
2007-02-15 23:10:28 · answer #10 · answered by african_woman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋