Need sleep - buy a cat cage !!!

[Susan]

My cats Tasha & Sparky used to wake me up in the early hours of each morning and I was becoming exhausted then I found my solution...... a large dog cage with a lockable door.....

The cage has a choice of beds, a cat cube with a Whiskas bed on top and a padded lounger at the front.

Every night the cats are told it's bedtime and get up from wherever they are lounging and walk to their cat cage and choose their bed for the night ...... then I go to bed and sleep !!!

They are always pleased to see me in the morning and will often go in the cage at other times to sleep in peace so I know that feel quite comfortable there.

If you are getting woken up give this a try .

[Roberta]

Dean, I'm with you on that. I just get up and feed them. Luckily, I am the kind that can go right back to sleep... Sometimes it backfires (see my page for the "cats who had 2 breakfasts" but most of the time it works.
We have 2 good hunters and one who just observes severything. When I say "hunters", I mean they did find a water bug (ugh!). Luckily, were not tempted to eat it...
I

[Nuria]

I live in a loft and my bedroom has no door nor any way to place a door. My cats have been sleeping with me since they were little kittens. There are nights when it takes time for them to get the message, but usually when I go to bed at around 10ish they one by one all come up and lay in their spots on my bed. If one doesn't come up, they are usually asleep in the closet on a comforter. They usually start to get up around 4 or 5 am. I get up at 6:00 so it's not that bad. On the weekends they usually stay in bed with me until I get up, which is around 8 ish. They aren't bothersome to me, and I'd rather feel the comfort they bring me than exiling them from my bed. :)

[David]

I read this article yesterday, maybe it will hep.

WAKING UP AT DAWN

Contrary to popular belief, cats are not nocturnal. The term “nocturnal” refers to the lifestyle of being awake at night instead of during the day, and that isn’t what cats do. They sleep at night as we do, just not for quite as long. Cats are “crepuscular,” which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. This is because their ancestors’ prey was most active at these times, so it made sense for them to adjust to that schedule. No creature in his or her right mind ran about during the heat of the day or in the middle of night when it was pitch black. Though cats’ night vision is very good, they can’t see without light. Instead, they sleep.

And herein lies the problem of the chronic “alarm clock” cat. Two things combine to make this phenomenon possible:

1. Nature. Your cat’s internal clock and crepuscular nature tells her that it’s time to get up at around dawn. Depending on the time of sunrise, cats will become active sooner or later. During summer in lands of midnight sun, cats may not be triggered by the dawn. During the long, dark, sunless winters of the Antarctic, a cat would probably sleep till lunchtime everyday.

2. Training. This is where the cat’s owner comes in. Let’s say your cat becomes active first thing in the morning. She quickly becomes bored because there’s nothing going on. If you so much as look at this cat, rewarding her with your attention, you may well get more of the same in days to come. Worse still, if you assume that your cat is pacing around and scratching your furniture because she’s hungry, and you get up and feed her, then you have really made a bed upon which you must lie (awake).

At this stage, pretending to be asleep, yelling at the cat, rolling over, and other forms of stubborn resistance usually do not work. The cat continues her (no doubt) occasionally successful quests. And remember, occasional reward is a more powerful reinforcer than continuous reward (reference: the slot machines in Las Vegas). Some of the things you do may even amuse and entertain the bored cat and serve as reinforcers in their own right. You may, in effect, become a big squeaky toy for your cat.

Here are some suggestions to prevent early awakenings:
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

· Understand your cat and don’t blame her for the way that nature designed her. Have some patience and forbearance as you try to realign her habits.

· Fit thick, lightproof curtains in your bedroom and hallways so that your whole sleeping area is totally dark at night.

· Do not respond (in any way) to your cat’s dawn-time demands ... ever.

· Feed your cat twice daily on a set schedule, but do not feed her first thing in the morning.

· Keep the cat occupied during the day (exercise, games, toys, bring her to your place of work, etc.)
THINGS THAT MIGHT HELP

· Feed your cat her last meal of the day at bedtime, which may help her sleep (“as the blood rushes to her stomach”).

· Get a cat for your cat so that you are no longer her sole source of entertainment.

· Give your cat the internal-clock-resetting-hormone, melatonin at night to induce a lengthier period of sleep. Consult your veterinarian before giving this or any other medication.
The most important things to remember about “early morning syndrome” is that it is a natural tendency for cats to rise and become active at dawn, and that owners can inadvertently feed into this tendency by responding with attention or food. If you are not careful, a cat that you feed at 6 a.m. will start jumping up on your bed at 5:45 a.m., trying to get a jump start on her day. If you respond to your cat’s 5:45 a.m. demands, next you will find yourself being woken up at 5:30 a.m., then 5:15 a.m., and so on, until eventually you’re being woken up in the wee hours.

Because most cats are keen to bend the rules, especially where food is concerned, and are naturally quick studies, it is important to make acceptable house rules and stick to them. If you cave in under pressure, you will get more of whatever behavior you have just rewarded. That is to say, you can inadvertently train a cat to wake you up. The old proverb about “making your own bed and lying in it” really applies here, except that you won’t be doing much lying. If you do have a problem of this nature, you should avoid making any early morning activity rewarding to your cat. It may take weeks to accomplish what you set out to do, but it will finally dawn on the cat that sunrise doesn’t signal anything worth waking you for - and then you’ll be off the hook.

[Donna]

Thanks David for this imformation.My cat likes to wake me up at 4am every morning. I will try these tips and i think it will help.Maybe i will even get to sleep in on the weekends.
Donna

[Maxmillion&Jughead Mommy Genny]

I have a condo cage for my doggy with two doors and my cat always cat naps in it lol

[Nancy Troske]

That's a great idea! I used to have a similar problem. One of my cats would run, jump and heave herself right on the bedroom door! Finally, we came up with the idea of putting a "moat" between the hallway and the door. We took long baking dishes and filled them with water, put them in front of the door at night and she wouldn't try and jump over them!

I loved sleeping with my cat Lucy, but she woke me up too much, worse than my kids!

[Dawn Robuck]

Posting here in a little desperation this morning after reading everyone's posts. Our kitty of 7 years has suddenly gotten horribly vocal the last few months (we've been in this apartment about 9 months). We're terrified the neighbors are going to complain and we're going to get kicked out of our apartment. The loudest and worst is the new "morning alarm clock" she has started. She is healthy and everything is normal otherwise. But she also meows all the time now during the day, insistently and 'at us' for food. And loudly. We leave out dry (always have) and feed her and the dog twice a day (noon and around five pm). As our frustration and anxiety mount - well, lets just say our feelings of love are being tested. We can't use a cage - we tried the dog kennel once - she goes nuts against any closed door, or large dog kennel, etc. Once on a long distance car trip she didn't stop crying for the whole three days...and the whole three days on way back. In other words she is one persistent kitty. She has also stopped playing. She used to love go fish, but now just ignores it. The dog and her have a good relationship - in fact we wish the dog would play with her more! The thing is - except for this, this is a loving sweet cat - she never scratches furniture, bites or anything. The water trick does not seem to work - she doesn't seem to associate it with her meowing. We even tried getting another cat (horrible mistake - that one cried louder). Ignoring her - we tried that but she won because as I said we are very anxious about it - couldn't last it out. We also made sure to set her up a window perch but she's not much interested - sleeps up there but really doesn't look out the window much. So now we are considering getting some birds...finches maybe....will that just make her meowing worse? I have never thought I'd give an animal away but this is destroying our sanity. You can talk to a kid and dogs understand correction, but I'm positive she has no idea what our shushing means! Thanks for listening and any suggestions...

[David]

When we first got our cat we went through this but as she investigated the apartment it eventually ceased however, you said this is a cat of 7 years so the first thing that comes to mind is something has changed. I am assuming she has been spayed but even so, if there is another cat in the area she will know it. You might want to find out if someone in an adjoining apt. recently got a cat. When I went to the fire academy or was in the hospital my wife told me she walked around crying & searching for me. She knew something was different. We feed our cat smaller amounts 3 times a day & leave dry out. Cats are particular about they're food. They will nearly starve themselves before they eat something different or unfamiliar. they will also cry for food out of boredom. A change in routine, food, environment, other pets or any number of things could precipitate the constant crying. Also some breeds are more vocal but you would have noticed this long ago. You know when it started so try to figure out if there were any changes around the same time. Our cat loves the window perch but there is a down side, she has figured out that if she meows long enough I will take her outside. We are in a high traffic area but I walk her without a leash and she is pretty good about staying with me or obeying. She loves to stalk the chipmunks, squirrels & birds out back where it is safe. It tires her, she gets exercise, eats when we come back in and goes to sleep. I don't recommend it for all cats unless you start them young but if you have an enclosed area that she can't get out of. If you have such an area take her out (weather permitting) and let her just be a cat. Our cat loves grasshoppers and will chase them with every jump. It just sounds like something in her routine has changed barring any health problems. I wish I could be more help.

[Dawn Robuck]

Thanks! Just talking it out helps a little. And hearing other's experiences. I am 99% sure she's bored. She started the whole morning yeowling and "scrying" at the water bowl when her mother died 4 years ago - she seemed to take over this "duty" from her mother. But it was never anything out of hand. And usually I could just cluck and tcht from the bed, calling her name when she first started, and she would quiet down. Lately it's after the litter box too - almost like she suddenly discovered that cats make 100 sounds and she's going to practice all of them every day as loudly as she can. Except for this she appears her normal self.

So maybe a cat in an apartment next door? Could be a possibility - although no obvious sign of one. Not sure how to ask as we don't know our neighbors. The only thing I can think changed was winter and shorter days started! And maybe it's like a missile crisis - we get more anxious, she cries a little louder, our anxiety increases another notch, she raises the ante...and so on. Three meals a day might help - but I'm afraid then then there'll never be a break in the action! Up until we got the dog (two years ago now) she only got wet food once a day. Currently we do get a few hours of quiet in the morning and afternoon (and most of the night). Right now she's currently asleep in a chair. Oops...spoke too soon...

Food - pretty much what it has been the last couple of years - organic dry kibbles and then sometimes almost pure fish for wet - other times and organic canned mush with a variety of veggies and such - usually fish as she tends to turn her nose up at chicken or anything "nonfish". Treats of fish, cream cheese - although she's not big on this usually. She used to be fat, but physically has been much healthier since we weaned her off of Fancy Feast.

I wish we could take her outside but this sort of terrifies her. When we had an apartment with a balcony she would go out supervised. We both work from home so she's not left alone much. Maybe that's it - she wants some space!! I know I do - lol!

[Roberta]

Sometimes the behavior center at Tufts U will do fax consultations to help you, also. I know that I was fascinated with his book and learned a lot.
Best of luck - actually sounds like a lovely cat. I'm freelancing at home right now also, and I usually have a couple of hours a day to myself while the 3 of them are sleeping, though after lunch I get some lap time while I'm typing.

[Roberta]

Dawn,
Go to the library and get "The Cat that Cried for Help" by Dr. Nicholas Dodman. He discusses one of his cases that was very much like that. The solution that the owners had to this problem was horrible, but Dr. Dodman had some excellent suggestions. I hope that this helps you!

[Dawn Robuck]

Roberta, thanks as well - I will do that! I just read the book review after reading your post. Looks like a fantastic resource.

We'd watched Cesar Milan to help with our dog - wow, what a difference that made in our family. We keep saying we need a "cat whisperer". This Dr. Dodman might be a step in that direction. This morning I am embarassed to admit (before I posted) I was so upset I dunked Salem's butt in the bathtub. Of course that didn't make a bit of difference, and I'm glad she has already forgiven me. It was a stupid moment of losing my temper. So far today we are "ignoring" and "breathing".....remember to breathe....the "meow of mindfulness" is what I keep telling myself.

Cesar always says that our pets come into our lives to teach us spiritual lessons. I told my boyfriend this morning that maybe this is teaching me to learn to find my "calm place" ;-) Okay - let me see if I can reserve that book now!