Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Cats waking me at 4 am

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 9/3/2008


Question
I'd like to know how to discourage my 4-yr old and 3-mos old cats from licking me at 4 am in bed.  While it is very cute, I need my rest.  I love having them in bed with me, but now with the acquiring of a 3-mos. kitten, I can't have them doing this all the time.

Answer
Carol,

I'm sorry the other expert is no longer here so I answering her questions.

You need to change your routine with the cats and get them used to the new one.

Play with them right before you go to bed. A pet laser light is an excellent interactive toy (you can get them at PetSmart, Petco, etc.)  A good play session before bedtime will tire them out, which is essential for a good nights sleep for you both!  

Give the cats a can of catfood (or their big meal) after you play with them, just before you go to bed. That way they will have a full tummy, be tired from playing, and will sleep longer (hopefully!)

Leaving a bowl of dry food out at night will help too. If they get the munchies, they won't have to try to wake you, and it will tide them over until you get up.

Feeding a cat first thing in the morning will only increase their desire to wake you up earlier and earlier because they will associate your waking up with the reward of being fed.  To discourage this, take a shower, have your breakfast, play with them for a few minutes and THEN feed them.

The way to stop them waking you up is to ignore them...COMPLETELY! It is very difficult and annoying, but you can not acknowledge their actions in ANY way. They will EVENTUALLY stop when they don't get any reaction or attention from you. You have to be consistant though. If you even react once to them, then it won't work and it will be worse because the cats will know if they do it long enough eventually you WILL react, so they will keep it up longer.

DO NOT punish the cats.  They are only trying to get your attention and tell you their needs the only way they know how. If some behavior got your attention before, then that is how they will do it again...and again.

I hope this helps and gives you some ideas how to go about stopping the morning wakeup calls.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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