Keeping them out of the bedroom

Since I have a mild allergy to cats, I keep my kitties out of my bedroom 24-7. Well, at least I try to...let's say the wily kitties have outsmarted the human quite a few times. When outside, they will sit and stare and occassionally paw at the door.

Should I give up and let them in the bedroom sometimes? I'm afraid once they have access, they won't stay away during the night. Right now, at least, they do get the point when I go in, close the door and turn off the lights. I've not had any sleep interruptions...god knows what they're up to. They are at my door at 7am sharp and meowing as my backup alarm clock.

I wonder if you have to be consistent, in whatever you do. I have the feelng once they get in, they'll always want in, loudly and persistently...and it won't just be the polite little alarm clock helpers waiting outside routine either.

I agree... I would stick to what you're doing now. It takes consistance to "train" any animal and to allow them in now will make them think they can be in anytime.

Yup, don't do it!

Yeah, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to keep playing the door game with them. They're tricky though

Last night I went to sleep late and really didn't want to wake up at 7, but Josie, the whiner, kept crying at the door. Starting from about 6:50 to about 7:10 when I finally gave up. In those 20 minutes, I clapped my hands and shook a plastic bottle of beans which had no effect. Her sister, the other day, got the hint after one clap. I'm afraid Josie's behavior will escalate. I really do not want to use the water spray. I haven't used it yet and I'm really ambivalent about physically doing something to the kitties, even if it's only a spritz of water.

And I would be fine with the waiting game but I live in an apartment and I can hear my neighbors' conversations so I'm sure they can hear my cats' crying.

I know how you feel living in an apartment. I do to. I worry every time my cats a re running across the room or wrestling at 2 in the morning. But my neighbors make their fair share of noise, so I have to say this is mine. At least it's not people yelling or loud tv or music. Also, they may not hear the cats...they sound loud to us of course.

The best thing to do is IGNORE them. They will take any attention they can get. Don't give it. Eventually it will stop. I promise.

Originally Posted by fifi1puss

I know how you feel living in an apartment. I do to. I worry every time my cats a re running across the room or wrestling at 2 in the morning.

But my neighbors make their fair share of noise, so I have to say this is mine. At least it's not people yelling or loud tv or music. Also, they may not hear the cats...they sound loud to us of course.

The best thing to do is IGNORE them. They will take any attention they can get. Don't give it. Eventually it will stop. I promise.

Click to expand...

We live in a 2story apartment and I think we just got new neighbors... who's kids(?) spent a good 4 hours (7:30-midnight) this weekend running up and down the stairs. Makes me not feel so bad for the fact that we're about to have a crying baby at home.

They'll deserve what they get!!

More help please? Josie is NOT stopping. And I can hear my neighbors rustling after 20-30 minutes of Josie yowling at my bedroom window. Other than gifting my neighbors ear plugs, chocolate and begging them for their patience, I'm not sure what else I can do...

She will stop as soon as I walk out and then she doesn't even need any attention after that. I went to the sofa and caught up on some sleep. She just wants me out of the bedroom by 7.

I really don't know what else to tell you. We encouraged bedroom sleeping although the 8:30 wake up call now is a pain--I'm pretty good at ignoring or faking them out.

Patience--any other room you could contain her in for the night with toys she doesn't get during the day and perhaps one of those cat dvds that has birds and fish and stuff?

Leslie