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Urgent Neck Nuzzler

post #1 of 5
5/31/11 at 3:07pm
Thread Starter 
I recently adopted two female kittens. They are litter mates, and about 11 weeks old. They are quite playful and I am sure to keep them busy during the day so that they sleep at night. One of them (Smudge) is quite good at this, and sleeps through the night. She's also the braver of the two, and runs towards noises, instead of away...My behaviour question concerns her sister (Storm), who is generally more adventurous, but also a bit of a scaredy pants, and I'd say she's more needy (always wants me in the same room). Storm has a habit of waking up once, or a few times at night, coming up to my face with motor-purring away, and trying to nuzzle my neck and face as if her life depended on it. She has food and water. Petting does not calm her down. Ignoring her does not calm her down. She does not try to play fight. But she acts almost frantic and desperate, as if physically joining my face/neck/hair is the only thing that might satisfy her. Since giving her attention and ignoring her neither seem to have worked, I now just put her on the floor repeatedly until she eventually stops. But the next night, or later that night, she'll do it again....I just wish I understood what she was asking for! Any ideas welcome!!
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post #2 of 5
5/31/11 at 4:04pm
She wants attention. Cats are crepuscular, so waiting all night long is usually hard for them. You Have to either ignore her or put her in another room to encourage her to sleep all night, but there is no guarantee she will. Playing/feeding her before bedtime helps.
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post #3 of 5
5/31/11 at 4:08pm
Yep. She wants attention.

On one of your days off, spend your entire day devoted to keeping her up during the day. Play! Play! Play! No napping allowed.

And then during the night when and if she pesters you, simply ignore her. Don't push her away, don't touch her, don't say anything to her, and don't open your eyes. Just pretend that you don't see or feel her. She will get tired of it after awhile and run off to do something else.
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post #4 of 5
6/1/11 at 10:47am
Thread Starter 
I work from home so I'm already around all day and doing everything I can to keep them busy. Yesterday, they didn't sleep at all, and I ran around with them for an hour before going to bed at 10...she still nuzzled me twice - I ignored her both times and eventually she fell asleep across the top of my head/hair...she was up at 6am though...

The funny thing is she doesn't bother my husband, and she doesn't act this frantically during the day.
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post #5 of 5
6/2/11 at 6:05pm
It's funny you described this action as "urgent neck nuzzling" - that's exactly how I would describe what Garfunkel does! Simon has never done it - but sometimes I feel like Funky is trying to burrow into my hair! He also loves licking ears - ew - but I don't let him lick mine because I have piercings which he enjoys biting... ouch! He is very active, rambunctious, mischievous, total type-A, center-of-attention dude. Sounds like your baby is the same
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