Transitioning cat to new bedroom for overnight/sleeping... need advice

Our Maine coon named Regent prefers to be around humans 24/7. When he first came home, our master suite was his safe room, so that just became the default that he slept with us every night. He refuses to spend the night downstairs. He is very well behaved, but he is still a cat, so that means phantom mouse hunts when he's bored, litter box scratching in the potty, and excitedly meowing to wake up DH 20 minutes before alarm. DH loves him, but he works about 60 hours a week, and the lack of sleep is hurting him.

His mother lives with us. She's retired from work so spends all day home with Regent. She has agreed to let Regent stay in her room at night. She also has a large suite with a bathroom and huge closet, so he would still have room to play. We plan to move his food/water/litter/toys all in there.

We want to transition him as soon as possible, but we know this might involve some confusion and meowing from Regent. Any tips to ease the stress level?

wow. its so difficult to get a kitty to sleep any where else once he/she is already comfortable sleeping with you!

I think moving all his things to your MIL bedroom would be a good start. You should also leave articles of your and your husband's worn clothing in his cat bed (if he has one) or in a box in your MIL's room, so that he can still smell you guys and be near your scent..

I've never had to train my cats to sleep in another room aside from the bedroom, but I did have to train them to like other rooms in the new apartment. When they see me with food they run to the bedroom (which is where i used to feed them) because they know food time is in the bedroom, potty time is in the bedroom everything is in the bedroom. After a while i started to feed them in other rooms in the apartment...living room, Hallway,  kitchen, dining room. They're getting used to the rest of the apartment better this way, and I find them napping in rooms other than the bedroom now, and not all my cats sleep with me in the bedroom anymore. Maybe you could feed Regent in your MIL's room...all his meals...and soon he will associate that room with good things.

You could also buy a self heating cat/pet bed and place it in your MIL room, and leave it there. Most cats love this, and often times prefer to sleep and lounge on that as opposed to a human bed/furtniture..just a though.

The most important thing is, that your cat gets used to your MIL and they form a tight bond. 

Hope others chime in with more advice! Good luck!

Self Heating Cat Bed: