How do you get a cat to leave a room when you want to sleep?

terestrife

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 23, 2012
Messages
2,412
Purraise
2,586
I have two cats, i usually let them roam my room during the day, but around 8pm i close my bedroom door. But some nights they manage to sneak in when i go out to use the bathroom. or if someone comes to visit me and doesnt bother to knock.

The other night i was so tired and sleepy and i had to deal with getting them out of my room. when i finally got one cat to leave the other one sneak in. I got that one to leave... and the other one sneaked in!

I love my cats, but i like to sleep alone, plus their hairs on my bed give me allergies.

I get so angry because they both hide under my bed so i cant get them to leave, which frustrates me. This is one of the few times i get angry with them, is when i cant get them to leave. I dont like being angry with them as that doesnt solve anything, they wont understand why i am angry. How can i get a cat to get out from under my bed? Ive had my cat for 4 years and i can never figure that out. Im sometimes lucky and manage to trick her into leaving, but not always.
 

MoochNNoodles

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 30, 2005
Messages
36,646
Purraise
23,468
Location
Where my cats are
From the beginning; we didn't allow our cats in the bedroom because of DH's allergies.  They get to come in for a little bit now; but not on the bed.  I mostly let them in so they can go sleep in the closet and get a break from my (young) kids.  They are pretty good about getting out but sometimes DH has to make a "gobble" noise at them (which they understand) or I have to pick them up. That's harder with under the bed of course.  Treats work sometimes too.  

You could try to create a positive routine for them in the evening; something outside your bedroom.  Even ending the evening with a meal might be a good solution because they'd likely be distracted with eating.  Otherwise; I think you should restrict them from your room all of the time.  It's probably confusing to them why they can't stay in the space they like and are allowed in during the day. 
 

fhicat

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Sep 21, 2013
Messages
3,261
Purraise
635
Location
Orange party
If they have other hiding places, you could also block off the bottom of your bed with amazon boxes, or if high enough, some spare luggages (you can usually find those for next to nothing at thrift stores). They should have places they can go to hide when they're stressed though.

Aside from that, positive routines outside your bedroom should gradually get them off your bedroom. While you're training them, if they get into your room at night, just calmly pick them up and put them outside. If they like attention, try to minimize interaction while you carry them out. You don't want them to think "oh, cool, if I go into the bedroom, I get pets!" This training may take some time, because they don't necessarily understand immediately that day time = okay, night time = not okay. Create a distinct routine for night time, like closing your door at the same time every day, so that they're more likely to get that "when door closed = not okay".
 

dream

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
May 24, 2015
Messages
31
Purraise
2
Location
Ontario, Canada
YOU DON'T SLEEP.

Just kidding, my boyfriend and I close the bedroom door, but Loki sits outside and scratched and meows like he is being murdered until either he gives up and gets tired (which can take a while!) or until someone comes out, he likes being with his people, lol! He's only 8 weeks though, I'm turning him into a spoiled little monster.

Lure them out with treats perhaps? Do they come when you shake kitty treats? My mom has persians and when she gets the treats out, they swarm, so maybe try that! :)
 

2bcat

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
Feb 8, 2015
Messages
363
Purraise
103
Location
Southwestern PA, USA, Earth
I kept one of my earlier cats out of my bedroom entirely for a several years.  Would get woken up every once in a while, but typically only if I was really late for morning feeding or similar.  Later in her life she got a little more insistent and scratching at door, so we eventually gave in.  She never really took to sleeping a lot with us though, just a little, mostly not the whole night.

What I continued to do and still do with other cats, though, is keep them out of the room the rest of the day.  When we're not home or even just when we're not actively in the bedroom, we don't let them in there.  In the morning when we get up, we close the door around the time of their morning feeding and apart from a a stray weekend day here and there they are not in the bedroom all day.  But all night we allow them in.

Anyway, if you want them out at night I would start making it out of there all the time.  I think it would be easier for them to tolerate that in the long run vs only being shut out of the room when you are in there.  When you are in there is when they are most going to want to be in there!
 

handsome kitty

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Aug 10, 2014
Messages
6,193
Purraise
1,062
Location
Newark CA
Do your cats actually go on your bed?  My cats sleep in the closet, on the dresser, sometimes on the window perch.  When they do join us it's just for maybe half an hour and near my feet while waiting for breakfast.  Although, once when my husband went to the bathroom the cat claimed the warm space.  Had a little trouble getting him to give it up!  They may just want to see you once in a while.
 
Top