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Written by Wendy Christensen
Here are a few tips from my latest book, Outwitting Cats (The Lyons Press, 2004)...
"Some cats just don't know when to say "Goodnight!" They wake up ready for action at 12:13AM, and 2AM (and 4AM and 5:16AM) demanding food, play or just attention. It's only natural -- cats are nocturnal hunters with a distinct crepuscular (dawn and dusk) preference. Their wild cousins are most active around dawn and dusk when their preferred prey is out and about. So although he's just being a cat -- you need your sleep! What can you do?
- Lock your cat out of your bedroom.
- If he scratches or wails at your door, ignore him. The best way to outwit him is to outlast him. (It may be tough!) Whatever you do, don't let him in, snuggle or try to console him, or -- worst of all -- feed him! You'll be reinforcing the behavior you don't want.
- Install him overnight in his "safe hideaway" (a room fitted out with everything he needs for comfort and safety) with a radio playing softly. Leave a few toys or treats for him to discover on his own.
- Make sure his hideaway is fully and luxuriously equipped with a comfy bed, scratching post, climbing tree -- and plenty of solo toys.
- Conduct a vigorous interactive play session just before bedtime. Wear him out with plenty of pouncing, running and leaping.
- Conduct an active training session just before bedtime. Try "clicker training," which many cats enjoy.
- Be sure he gets enough activity, play and stimulation throughout the day, every day, so boredom and loneliness don't cause him to seek you out obsessively at night.
If you do choose to share your bedroom with your cat, be tolerant and understanding of his sleep patterns. Your cat will likely come and go -- he'll share your bed for few hours, leave on some urgent kitty business, and return later. Remember, "Cats go where they please and please where they go!" If you'd like to minimize conflicts but still share some furry night-time warmth and purring, try these tips:
- Keep a few cat toys handy on your nightstand. A laser pointer is great for amusing a restless cat in the middle of the night.
- If your cat wakes you up by pouncing on your toes, stop moving your toes! Toss a small toy across the room for him to focus on.
- Set up an irresistible cat bed in your bedroom, but not on your bed -- perhaps on a chair. He may prefer his own bed to your tossing and turning."
Also remember that your cat is still young - not a kitten, but perhaps still a "teenager" - and you know how teenagers like to push the envelope! Remind yourself what good exercise all this activity is for him, and do your best to channel his youthful exuberance into vigorous mock-hunting interactive playtime whenever you can.
Q: We have two cats, and one of them has several issues that we need help with. Stripes is a 5 year old, neutered male DSH who has been with us since he was 8 weeks old. No behavior issues at all, he's pretty shy around all other people except my husband and myself.
Scooter is a 6 month old, spayed female DSH who has been with us since she was 8 weeks old.
1. We leave big bowls full of water and dry food out for the cats and sometimes feed them half a can of wet food in the am. Stripes eats as he pleases, he has never had a weight issue. But Scooter is fat, she looks like a football. She eats way more than he does. She also opens cabinets and chews through packaging to eat whatever she can find; dry cat food, chips, even jalapeno peppers, etc. She will eat Stripes' food if he isn't around, and if anything gets left on the counter or dropped onto the floor, she eats that too. She will even try to get up onto the stove top while we are cooking. I give her a quick squirt with a water bottle to keep her off the counters.
2. Scooter chews things. Mostly paper, such as rolls of toilet paper and newspapers. She pulls the TP off the roll and I come home from work to a snow storm in my bathroom. Since she can get into cabinets, nothing is safe. She pulls towels out of cabinets and I come home to find our linen cabinet emptied. She has not chewed shoes or clothes (yet). She also likes plastic grocery bags and anything that moves or rustles. We've put plenty of toys scattered through the house which she also plays with regularly.
3. Worst of all, she attacks people and Stripes. She does this climb attack thing. For instance, when I am getting ready for work, I'll be standing in front of the mirror putting on makeup and she will all of a sudden jump up and try to climb me, as a result I have scratches on my legs, stomach and back, it hurts like heck. She does this in the bedroom, kitchen, etc. She also lies in wait under the bed and when you walk by, she attacks your feet. Every movement you make is a reason for her to strike. I trim her claws and we have several scratch posts which she uses, she does not scratch furniture because since she was tiny we used a spray bottle full of water to give her a quick squirt and she learned very quickly, but its not possible to carry around a spray bottle everywhere we go and her attacks are a total surprise, she's lying there looking cute one minute, the next second she's in full attack mode. Stripes will lie on our bed and nap, and she will creep her way over to him and then the next minute she is all over him. He will allow it for a few minutes and will even get up to leave, but she follows him and jumps all over him and then he kicks her butt, but she never learns.
Herding Cats At Home - May 2005 1
Herding Cats At Home - May 2005 3
Herding Cats At Home - May 2005 4
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