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At my wits end with this cat.

  • 25-06-2013 4:34pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 915 ✭✭✭


    I posted recently about how quickly my cat eats (bowl of food in ~5 mins).

    This is in a similar vein. He usually sleeps in my room at night, which is grand, until about 6am (it's actually getting earlier each morning) when he begins sitting on my and pawing at my face and walking back and forth over me until I can take it no more and I get up and feed him. If I leave him outside my room he wakes me up whining outside the door. And even if I close the door going back to bed he starts whining.

    I'm actually starting to feel the effects of poor sleep over this because I find it difficult to get back to sleep once I've gotten up. Is there a way to stop this behaviour?

    I plan on getting an automatic feeder which may help, but I still think once he's awake he'll be determined to wake me up.


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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 566 ✭✭✭Taxburden carrier


    judgefudge wrote: »
    I posted recently about how quickly my cat eats (bowl of food in ~5 mins).

    This is in a similar vein. He usually sleeps in my room at night, which is grand, until about 6am (it's actually getting earlier each morning) when he begins sitting on my and pawing at my face and walking back and forth over me until I can take it no more and I get up and feed him. If I leave him outside my room he wakes me up whining outside the door. And even if I close the door going back to bed he starts whining.

    I'm actually starting to feel the effects of poor sleep over this because I find it difficult to get back to sleep once I've gotten up. Is there a way to stop this behaviour?

    I plan on getting an automatic feeder which may help, but I still think once he's awake he'll be determined to wake me up.

    Nothing wrong with your cat...by the way I've got his brother!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 915 ✭✭✭judgefudge


    Nothing wrong with your cat...by the way I've got his brother!

    I know there's nothing wrong with him! Just how do I change the behaviour or cope with it? How do you do it


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 566 ✭✭✭Taxburden carrier


    You won't change him...he's going to train you:)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,040 ✭✭✭threebeards


    judgefudge wrote: »
    I posted recently about how quickly my cat eats (bowl of food in ~5 mins).

    This is in a similar vein. He usually sleeps in my room at night, which is grand, until about 6am (it's actually getting earlier each morning) when he begins sitting on my and pawing at my face and walking back and forth over me until I can take it no more and I get up and feed him. If I leave him outside my room he wakes me up whining outside the door. And even if I close the door going back to bed he starts whining.

    I'm actually starting to feel the effects of poor sleep over this because I find it difficult to get back to sleep once I've gotten up. Is there a way to stop this behaviour?

    I plan on getting an automatic feeder which may help, but I still think once he's awake he'll be determined to wake me up.

    Completely off topic, and not even remotely helpful but your post reminded me of this :)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0ffwDYo00Q


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,484 ✭✭✭username123


    Can you not leave him more than a door away from your room and wear ear plugs the first few nights til he gets used to it?

    Or submit to your training ;)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 566 ✭✭✭Taxburden carrier


    Completely off topic, and not even remotely helpful but your post reminded me of this :)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0ffwDYo00Q

    Yep. That's him.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,411 ✭✭✭ABajaninCork


    Don't you know cats have staff?? :D I think I owned his great grandfather. Cat would tell ME when to get up - No need for an alarm clock with him around.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 915 ✭✭✭judgefudge


    Can you not leave him more than a door away from your room and wear ear plugs the first few nights til he gets used to it?

    Or submit to your training ;)

    Unfortunately no, the only option would be to lock him in the room with his litter tray all night and I just couldn't do that to the fella.

    Training? Is this it then... This is my life? We're talking 4.30 or 5am the last few days.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,635 ✭✭✭Pumpkinseeds


    Yeah it's a familliar story in our house too. What's helped a lot for us is to open the curtains in the house when we feed them. Mostly they are happy to sit and watch out of the windows once they've had breakfast. This time of year the birds are making a racket from about 5am and its getting light by 4.30am. Dawn and dusk tend to be the most active time for cats.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,083 ✭✭✭sambuka41


    judgefudge wrote: »
    I posted recently about how quickly my cat eats (bowl of food in ~5 mins).

    This is in a similar vein. He usually sleeps in my room at night, which is grand, until about 6am (it's actually getting earlier each morning) when he begins sitting on my and pawing at my face and walking back and forth over me until I can take it no more and I get up and feed him. If I leave him outside my room he wakes me up whining outside the door. And even if I close the door going back to bed he starts whining.

    There is your problem, you are inadvertently rewarding him by getting up, then the next day when you plan to not feed him he knows he just needs up the ante to get you to cave and get up. ;)

    My guy is the same, it happens every time the mornings get brighter, I have about 2-3 weeks of him waking me BUT NEVER, EVER feed him (think of the gremlins)!!! He'll get the point eventually. My guy is the most stubborn cat known to man, and he gets it, so I'd have hope for your guy!!

    They love routine so keep to feeding him at the same time everyday (even weekends) and he should settle.

    I should say that I feed him every morning at 7.30am so it's not like he is waiting for hours after he wakes up.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 769 ✭✭✭Twoandahalfmen


    You can't change him.
    It's his nature my 3 always so do it and always have.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,130 ✭✭✭mel.b


    As others have said, your cat owns you, not the other way around! Depending on the time of year my cat wakes me anywhere between 4am and 7am to go outside. Normally i'd let him sleep outside at this time of year so i'm not women at 4am, but i have a new puppy in the house so i'm giving the cat some leeway and letting him sleep inside.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,088 ✭✭✭SpaceTime


    Cats learn very very quickly how to illicit food from someone.

    You have to stick to a feeding schedule and completely ignore that kind of pestering. if you give in, the cat knows it works and tries again.

    Cats are remarkably good at training people :)
    Unfortunately, you've been trained by the cat to feed on demand.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,627 ✭✭✭Lawrence1895


    6am? That late? My two Toms do the same, but much earlier. 4:30 it was this morning ;)

    And how was it? You don't own a cat, the cat owns you? :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,206 ✭✭✭artvanderlay


    Cats may be good at training people but I once trained my old cat Bucky to rub against the syringe when I used to have to give him insulin shots, so anything is possible! He was also the biggest ass hole of a cat you could imagine but I loved the dearly departed git eventually. Don't give up!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,264 ✭✭✭✭Alicat


    My 7kg fella sits on my chest until I can feel my lungs being crushed :P He tried another tactic the other morning though; he started licking my lips with his big wet slobbery tongue! :( (he's a dribbler)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,411 ✭✭✭ABajaninCork


    So you had an exfoliation done for free! :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,635 ✭✭✭Pumpkinseeds


    My Husband has to try to get a cushion on his lap before our heavy cat jumps up on his lap. He gets a good tenderising otherwise. Felix is a heavy chap and he loves to reverse up Mr P's chest kneading as he goes. It's a new thing that started months ago when my Husband had a chest infection and was coughing a lot.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,402 CMod ✭✭✭✭Nody


    Yea one of our fosters does the same (no amount of bringing her into a seperate room has helped); only advice I can give you is to get a food bowl with a timer. That way he can be fed with out you or leave a ball of kibble or similar to occupy hm.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 915 ✭✭✭judgefudge


    I'm gettin an automatic feeder when I get paid so that will hopefully help a bit with keeping it regular. It's good to hear they are all the same. I think he's just chancing his arm because he knows if he annoys me enough I'll give in.

    Would leaving him outside the room all night help?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,264 ✭✭✭✭Alicat


    So you had an exfoliation done for free! :D

    Oh yeah, just like a proper salon! :p
    judgefudge wrote: »
    I'm gettin an automatic feeder when I get paid so that will hopefully help a bit with keeping it regular. It's good to hear they are all the same. I think he's just chancing his arm because he knows if he annoys me enough I'll give in.

    Would leaving him outside the room all night help?

    If he's anything like my two, no. They are so persistent. We just ignore them, however difficult it is, until it's a respectable hour. I think they've sort of copped on to it? They'll wait til about 8 now, but that's when the pawing starts.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,003 ✭✭✭SillyMangoX


    My guys are the same when I let them have a sleep over in my bedroom when the parents aren't around, normally they are in the cat room! Which is the utility, but has been kitted out with a big dog bed, a blanket, a vet bed, scratching post, litter tray, missions of toys, food and water bowls, water fountain, and they can see out the window! They love it there, Peach actually spends all evening in there, she doesn't bother coming into the house at all most nights she just stays in the utility room. And Dude is crate trained, so he has his crate upstairs with all the same gear as the others minus the scratching post! Again, he loves it and I often panic that he's gone missing but he's really concked out in his igloo bed in the crate and has closed the door behind him after getting in!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 915 ✭✭✭judgefudge


    My guys are the same when I let them have a sleep over in my bedroom when the parents aren't around, normally they are in the cat room! Which is the utility, but has been kitted out with a big dog bed, a blanket, a vet bed, scratching post, litter tray, missions of toys, food and water bowls, water fountain, and they can see out the window! They love it there, Peach actually spends all evening in there, she doesn't bother coming into the house at all most nights she just stays in the utility room. And Dude is crate trained, so he has his crate upstairs with all the same gear as the others minus the scratching post! Again, he loves it and I often panic that he's gone missing but he's really concked out in his igloo bed in the crate and has closed the door behind him after getting in!

    Peach and dude! That's great :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,003 ✭✭✭SillyMangoX


    My other cat is Cream :P Peach and Cream are in the cat room and Dude has his crate :P


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 603 ✭✭✭BeatNikDub


    Check out this guy and then watch a few episodes on Youtube of My Cat From Hell.

    I PROMISE you it will help!!

    http://jacksongalaxy.com/category/cat-behavior-and-care/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,124 ✭✭✭wolfpawnat


    My cat is up at 5ish these days. Wooden blinds and bright mornings means no sleep ins. At 9 months pregnant, it is annoying, but no matter what 8am and 8pm are feeding times. He doesn't even bother asking, he just decides that he is awake so he demands rubs. :rolleyes:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,403 ✭✭✭passive


    Used to have this problem with our cat, he'd wake us up every night without fail and scratch the door if we try kept him out. Have switched now to keeping him in a room with food, couch and litter from about 12-7, depending on when we go to bed or he comes inside.

    He doesn't mind at all. At first I thought I was tricking him downstairs with the prospect of feeding or something, but he comes down with me very happily every night, eats away then settles happily. We have a Foscam which we plan to use as a baby monitor, so I tested it to check up on him and make sure he wasn't going crazy. He eats, sleeps, and sits on the windowsill and watches the world go by. He walks up to the door to meet me in the morning, then runs back into the room for his breakfast before going about his day (usually started by some strenuous sleeping on my bed to rest after a long night's rest.)

    I've been doing this over a year and would never dream of going back. The cat is perfectly content with the arrangement, and no amount of encouragement or "training" would compel him to refrain from attacking our feet at 4am if we tried leaving him with 7 rooms and a stairs to play with.

    For yourself, even putting him away from 6 until morning would probably save you a lot of grief, and not really be too long if you feel guilty about it? (Edit: Although I just read you can't go back asleep. So back to plan A) Your bedtime until morning, a room with everything he needs, a window, something to climb and food. He'll be grand!)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,658 ✭✭✭✭The Sweeper


    Yup, cats are crepuscular so he just wants you up at dawn, whether or not you feed him. Set him up with a cozy den somewhere that you can have two doors between him and you, feed him before bed and leave him in there. In our house, Sunday morning is 'everyone on the bed' as a treat and it's great (six cats, one 30kg bully mix dog), but then we all get up, the bed is changed and its no more pets in the bedroom until next Sunday. Makes for better sleeps for everyone.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 401 ✭✭iora_rua


    I love my cats, but I love my sleep even more! Can't understand why folk allow their animals to share the bedroom and dictate their lives :). Never mind the extra dusting, vacuuming - and possible allergies - the cat's favourite hunting times are dawn and dusk, when the birds etc, are most active, and you're trying to knock out the zzzs.

    Put the cats/dogs in a utility/spare room with a selection of comfortable beds, water and a few treats and (hopefully) a window to act as a cat 'television'. It will take about three nights for them to get the idea, just put your ear plugs in and ignore the yowls and scratching!

    Would agree with the suggestion to watch the `My Cat From Hell' series. I've just finished recording the current series and will enjoy picking up on any new ideas to keep one step ahead of my furry miscreants.

    Just think, if you had children and they were waking you up at around 5.00am every morning - you'd soon do something about it, especially if you had a full working day ahead of you ...

    Hope you eventually come to an amicable arrangement with your lodger!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,705 ✭✭✭Mountainsandh


    If I was you I'd go for the automatic feeder. That or like has been suggested, 2 closed doors between you.

    Does he go to sleep before you or with you ? in that case, I would top up a bowl with dry nuts somewhere for him to find it in the morning, you never know it might work ?

    My cat does the paw thing on my cheek, gently first, then claws if I don't react. Then he gently nudges my nose with his wet nose, and if that doesn't work ... he "gently" bites the bridge of my nose ... I kid you not.

    That usually does it, take it from me, no one on this earth can have the bridge of their nose gently bitten/squeezed in a cat's teeth and continue sleeping.

    I'm lucky he's indoor/outdoor as we're in the countryside, so I get up but don't feed him and let him outside. At least it means he doesn't wake me
    every day (he's quick to spot the rainy days and is happy enough to stay in then).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,050 ✭✭✭gazzer


    I live out in the countryside and a lot of the time my 3 cats will go out at night when I am going to bed and will stay out for the night hunting and doing other cat things. During the winter they tend to appear back at the back door when I open it in the morning, however, with these bright mornings they are sitting on the window sill from around 4.30am meowing to beat the band so that they can be let in.

    Initially I used to get up and let them into the utility room and then I would go back to bed but now I just ignore them :D and let them in when I get up at 7am


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 108 ✭✭diegroblers


    It's not about the food at all. Our cat has enough dry food in his bowl not to be concerned about waking us for food at all, but he still does it. You just have to learn to go back to sleep in spite of it. Eventually you won't wake up fully when he does it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 304 ✭✭Bubs99


    Our cat is the exact same!!!
    One the sun has risen, or around 5am every single morning, our cat who also sleeps on his bed in our room, climbs on top of us and nudges us in the face, licks us, miaows and paws us. EVERY single morning!
    He wants us to get up and let him out and feed him. It's getting very stressful for my boyfriend because he works full time fro mrning to evening and needs his sleep. Once he's woken, that's it, he cant get back to sleep. it's getting too much at this stage and if we leave him out of the room, we know he'll just whine at the door otherwise which will wake our dog who will begin barking then wake the estate. We feel your pain and dont know what to do either. It's like having kids at this stage!!! LOL!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,124 ✭✭✭wolfpawnat


    Bubs99 wrote: »
    It's like having kids at this stage!!! LOL!

    Nope, if my 4 year old wakes he gets some water and goes back to sleep. The cat is not as good!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 915 ✭✭✭judgefudge


    I think it's a combination of attention and food he wants. It would be great if I could just let him outside in the morning but he is very nervous about the outside world and won't stray far from the door. :(


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,484 ✭✭✭username123


    judgefudge wrote: »
    I think it's a combination of attention and food he wants. It would be great if I could just let him outside in the morning but he is very nervous about the outside world and won't stray far from the door. :(

    Dont worry, he will get braver. When they first moved in my neighbour dumped his cat on the doorstep and she screamed (not joking) at his door for hours. This is actually how I befriended her, I felt so sorry for her, she was traumatised by the outside world. Now she likes to lie out in the sun, stalk about inspecting her territory, chase off other cats that try to wander through and generally make the place her own.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,635 ✭✭✭Pumpkinseeds


    We met a couple of neighbours cats in different parts of the UK that way. A couple of times Santa wrapped and delivered cat flaps on the doorstep on Christmas eve. Amazingly enough the message got through and everyone was happy, especially the cats.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,484 ✭✭✭username123


    Awww!!! Santa is so nice!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 915 ✭✭✭judgefudge


    I only have the front door and a glass patio door in my house and therefore can't get a cat flap, which is a real shame.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,635 ✭✭✭Pumpkinseeds


    judgefudge wrote: »
    I only have the front door and a glass patio door in my house and therefore can't get a cat flap, which is a real shame.
    Oops, I hope you didn't think I was having a go at you. I know it isn't always easy. My parents had that problem when they moved with their cats a few months ago. Thankfully they were able to get someone to fit one in a glass panel. Their cats were used to a cat flap so it would have been a nightmare for them without one. It isn't cheap to have them fitted in glass though.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 915 ✭✭✭judgefudge


    Oops, I hope you didn't think I was having a go at you. I know it isn't always easy. My parents had that problem when they moved with their cats a few months ago. Thankfully they were able to get someone to fit one in a glass panel. Their cats were used to a cat flap so it would have been a nightmare for them without one. It isn't cheap to have them fitted in glass though.

    Oh no don't worry bout it! I'm just saying its a shame because he's so nervous and he likes being outside but he'll just sit outside the open door and dart back in if anyone moves or make a noise. So it would be handy not to have to leave the door wide open for him to be outside. Can't see the landlord going for a cat flap somehow!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,635 ✭✭✭Pumpkinseeds


    judgefudge wrote: »
    Oh no don't worry bout it! I'm just saying its a shame because he's so nervous and he likes being outside but he'll just sit outside the open door and dart back in if anyone moves or make a noise. So it would be handy not to have to leave the door wide open for him to be outside. Can't see the landlord going for a cat flap somehow!
    No, it's a pain when you're renting. At least he's getting some fresh air and his confidence will grow with time. I think a bit of wariness in a cat is a good thing. Not every hand is a friendly hand.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,003 ✭✭✭SillyMangoX


    We have a glass door so we couldn't fit a flap so my dad drilled a hole into the wall for it instead! Good thing we're not renting though :P Though the cats never use it anymore as we've had to sellotape it shut, Peach managed to use her fat head to break the thing off the wall!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,124 ✭✭✭wolfpawnat


    We have a glass door so we couldn't fit a flap so my dad drilled a hole into the wall for it instead! Good thing we're not renting though :P Though the cats never use it anymore as we've had to sellotape it shut, Peach managed to use her fat head to break the thing off the wall!!

    You have no idea how much I would LOVE to see a pic of that!!!! :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,003 ✭✭✭SillyMangoX


    wolfpawnat wrote: »
    You have no idea how much I would LOVE to see a pic of that!!!! :D

    I got a pic just after it happened :P

    018.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,124 ✭✭✭wolfpawnat


    I got a pic just after it happened :P

    Kitty got back!!! :D:pac: Sorry, I am in a funny mood tonight.

    I love it. My fuzzball wouldn't fit through most cat doors, even if we could put one up. :(


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,635 ✭✭✭Pumpkinseeds


    Before I head off to bed I'll just suggest getting some large plant pots if you have room on the patio for them. Our garden was concreted long before we lived here so I grow a lot of things in containers. My cats love it as they can hide behind things and they feel invisible. I've just been watching Jazzy weave in and out amongst some of them on his way from the garden wall to the front door.

    Your cat might feel more secure if he's got somethings to peep out from behind. The plants attract bees and insects for them to hunt too.


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,402 CMod ✭✭✭✭Nody


    judgefudge wrote: »
    I only have the front door and a glass patio door in my house and therefore can't get a cat flap, which is a real shame.
    Well it's possible to put one in either door; we have one in a double glass door at the moment (they cut the glass first back at the shop, then vacuum cleaned it out and sealed it; took two weeks from order to installation). If you keep the original glass you can get it fully restored for when you leave as well.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 915 ✭✭✭judgefudge


    Nody wrote: »
    Well it's possible to put one in either door; we have one in a double glass door at the moment (they cut the glass first back at the shop, then vacuum cleaned it out and sealed it; took two weeks from order to installation). If you keep the original glass you can get it fully restored for when you leave as well.

    Hmm... How much we talkin?


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,402 CMod ✭✭✭✭Nody


    judgefudge wrote: »
    Hmm... How much we talkin?
    I'd guess it depends on the exact design of your door; in our case we have two glass frames (top/bottom) with wood in the middle. Because they got delayed we got a discount (they cracked the first attempt at vacuum out the glasses which caused a delay to order in more glass) and ended up at about 80 EUR but this was a while ago (and in combination with some other work) so I'd check around the local companies and see what they say. The door can only go in the corners as well (or so we were told) so make sure you think on how the door opens before picking the corner and pick a big enough door (with future growth in mind!) as well. I'd say bigger is better (and safer) if you're debating which size to go for.

    I've attached two pictures from our door (it goes out on the balcony which is glassed in).


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