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How do I make my kitten use her bed?

post #1 of 11
8/24/06 at 3:03pm
Thread Starter 
! My new kitten will not be caught dead in her bed! If I put her in it she will get out immediately and she tends to sleep on the floor. I'm quite concerned that she might catch a cold, even though it's summer the kitchen tiles are always cold.
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post #2 of 11
8/24/06 at 3:06pm
You can't make a cat do anything They will sleep and do as they wish!

I got Harley a bed when he was little, and he wouldn't use it - so we returned it. He'd rather sleep on the floor, or the couch/chair.

I don't think its bad for them to sleep on the floor - I would keep the bed out, so she can use it when she wants to - maybe she just has to get used to it

Good luck!
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post #3 of 11
8/24/06 at 3:09pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by babyharley View Post
You can't make a cat do anything They will sleep and do as they wish!

I got Harley a bed when he was little, and he wouldn't use it - so we returned it. He'd rather sleep on the floor, or the couch/chair.

I don't think its bad for them to sleep on the floor - I would keep the bed out, so she can use it when she wants to - maybe she just has to get used to it

Good luck!
Thanks! I beg to differ though, I can make my older cat scratch me whenever I please!
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post #4 of 11
8/24/06 at 4:05pm
"Women and cats will do as they please, men and dogs should sit back and enjoy the ride"

Haha... Oliver has two beds yet has taken over my ladybug beanbag chair isntead.... he will get onto/into his beds occasionally though, but he ALWAYS sleeps with his mama at night and I wouldnt have it any other way
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post #5 of 11
8/24/06 at 4:09pm
maybe spend relaxing time with your kitten while she/he is in the bed. My kitten arrived to me at two weeks old, I would feed him and swaddle him in a baby blanket and when he'd get done Id cuddle him up in a fluffy blanket. He got used to the smell and every time after he'd eat he would make his way to the blanket ( i left it on the floor bunched up) and pass out. every now and then thats where he goes for a nap.
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post #6 of 11
8/24/06 at 5:18pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you for the advice, everyone, it's much appreciated!
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post #7 of 11
8/24/06 at 7:13pm
stoli has a bed positioned right next to a window so he can see everything and get some major rays. he started using it when i first got him as that was the only 'fluffy' thing to sleep on in 'his' room. Now he sleeps with me at night but during the day he'll conk out in the sun.
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post #8 of 11
8/24/06 at 8:50pm
Oh 'making' the cats do what we want...seems impossible.
I just bought Brady a bed and he is finally laying in it! I would suggest just laying it somewhere close to you. For instance, if you're at the computer, but the bed by the desk. Sometimes they like to be close to us. Also Brady's bed came with catnip to enhance their desire to lay on it. I haven't used any of that yet though.
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post #9 of 11
8/24/06 at 10:32pm
I always try and let my cat pick his own stuff at the petstore and when he was a little kitten he picked out a bed at the petstore that he really seemed to like. Then he proceeded to sleep in the the entire time we were at the store. When we got the bed home, he decided sleeping on the floor under the bed was a better solution. He never slept in the bed. Eventually he migrated to sleeping at my feet but he was leaving a nice pile of cat fur all the time and I was getting tired of cleaning it up so I put his cat bed there. After that he'd always sleep in it. Soon the other cat realized what he was doing and they started running to the bed to get their first. So I bought them another identical bed so they both had one. Occasionally a bed would get knocked on the floor and they'd alternate between sleeping in their bed and on the foot of the bed with me. Nermal would even go as far as trying to get his bed back on my bed. Funny to watch but annoying at 4 am when your cat is freaking out jumping up and down trying to drag a cat bed onto your bed.
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post #10 of 11
8/24/06 at 10:56pm
Try some catnip. That's how I got my girls to sleep on their cat tree. I covered it with catnip. Someone makes these fun boogie mats that you can unzip and stash a bunch of catnip in- you can drape one across the bed and hopefully that will attract the kitty. Catnip spray may help too- but buy some catnip.

Edited to say-

Actually, I don't know if your kitten is over 6 months- if she isn't she probably won't be into catnip yet so disregard this advice. Annabelle was an early catnip lover (a few months old), but Isabelle wasn't interested until she was over a year old.
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post #11 of 11
8/25/06 at 3:03am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by esrgirl View Post
Try some catnip. That's how I got my girls to sleep on their cat tree. I covered it with catnip. Someone makes these fun boogie mats that you can unzip and stash a bunch of catnip in- you can drape one across the bed and hopefully that will attract the kitty. Catnip spray may help too- but buy some catnip.

Edited to say-

Actually, I don't know if your kitten is over 6 months- if she isn't she probably won't be into catnip yet so disregard this advice. Annabelle was an early catnip lover (a few months old), but Isabelle wasn't interested until she was over a year old.
She's just over 7 weeks, so I suppose that will be a no I'll just try and see what her favourite place to sleep will be and I'll place the bed there - hope it works!
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