My Cat Is A Cry Baby!

[bradyram]

So I have two 2 yr. old cats - both boys - and I'll admit, they are spoiled. I found them as 6 week old strays and have babied them since they day I brought them in. But the one rule has always been "they don't get to sleep in my room" (my boyfriend is very allergic).

Lately, just one of them (Max) has been standing outside my door every morning beginning around 5:45am and crying like mad until I get up around 7am. It's the most heart-breaking cry too - as if he's trapped somewhere!

Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to break him out of this habit? I have tried using a spray bottle and sternly saying "Max, NO!" which works for about 10 minutes, and then he comes back and does it again. He even does this on the weekends when I want to sleep in!

If anyone can help, my roommates and I would be so thankful. We just don't want to wake up so early anymore!!! :(

*Thanks*

[burnthalo]

maybe put him in another room away from your bedroom doors. (with his box and food)
that might keep the noise down. I know my cats do that too, and i think it's when the sun comes up and it's light inside the house they think it's time to wake up (at 5:30 am.... uh no way!) so what i did was get some really dark curtains, and close them before bed, and that keeps them asleep for a couple more hours.

[bradyram]

Hi again,

I know it's been a while since I first posted this thread, but this situation has gotten worse!

Now Max starts crying at between 3-4am and it ruins my whole night's sleep. It's not even light out until 6am nowadays!

Is there anything else I can do other than putting up dark curtains? I have even tried distracting him with catnip, but that only lasts a few minutes.

Any other advice would be much appreciated!!! Thanks!

[TiaMaria]

It sounds like he wants some love and attention..he is being a sucky baby lol..so cute..why dont u try buying a whole bunch more toys and throwing them in different parts of the house..even hiding them with some catnip...that will draw his attention to finding them instead of waking you guys up..and instead of them being on the floor..they are hidden, which takes a whole lot longer to find, and play with..which lets u sleep in :) Works for my baby's :)

[bradyram]

Thanks!!! I am definitely going to try buying some more toys, and also maybe put a special cat bed out for him, with an old t-shirt of mine or something in it, so he feels like he's sleeping with me.

The only thing that I am especially curious about is why Max has adopted this behavior and my other boy (Tyler - his brother) has not. They were both rescued at the same time and received the same amount of spoilage... interesting!

[Edith]

I find that kitties are like kids. They'll do these annoying things to get attention. My cat used to do it for a while but I just ignored her and turned my fan on to cover up the meowing, she stopped a few days ago. I think your cat knows that if he does that he is guaranteed attention and will just continue doing it until he gets it. He probably will get the point if you keep ignoring him all the time.

[Jiffykat]

My cat usually does this to my 'rents and if they won't open the door she comes and bangs on my door and cries her pitiful, "Woe is me, I am the only one up at this godawful hour" cries. I usually just let her in to sleep with me. If she is really annoying me, later in the day when she is napping, I go up to her and starting "pawing" at her and mimicking her cries to wake her up. She usually opens one eye to stare at me and be like leave me alone. I figure if she is awake more during the day, she will sleep more at night, I also find that she usually skips my door the next morning. Or waits until my 'rents leave for work to come to my door.

[daistarya]

One of my male cats does this too sometimes. It is a behavioral issue and the best thing to do is ignore it. By opening the door and giving him treats and toys you are enforcing and encouraging the behavior. If you ignore him over time he will realize that his songs arent getting him the attention he wants. In the mentime, keep a radio or tv on low while you sleep. The sound will comfort him, as most cats do this when they are lonely.

[Jiffykat]

I actually don't mind when she comes crying to my door in the middle of the night usually. So I am not so concerned with encouraging it except it pisses my mom off.

[bradyram]

I agree that if I ignore him he'll stop. But, to be honest, I don't really mind that he cries outside my door. I just feel bad because I have two roommates, who I'm sure he keeps up also. So, if I just let him in, they can sleep in peace. When I move to my own place next year, it'll be a different story!!

[bradyram]

Okay so the situation is getting worse again :(

Sometimes I let him come in and sleep with me, but he just crawls around on top of my head and also starts to chew on my lamp cord and knock things off my bedstand - pretty much he's being a baby and very annoying.

I just started him on a new diet because he's 3 lbs overweight. Anyways I have tried everything to get him to stop...let him come in the bedroom, give him toys, lock him outside, keep the door open so that he can come and go, etc. but it does not seem to be helping. My boyfriend thinks that I should spray him everytime he starts to cry...but wouldn't this just be giving him attention, even negative attention??

HELP!! I can't get a good night's sleep!

[creativz]

Did you try giving him an old jumper ? Something soft, warm and cosy - he obviously wants to snuggle up ! See if you can get him used to sleeping with it and then gradually move it further away from bed. Is it a waterspray you have ? Skitzy wet cat ? Jealous cat or jealous boyfriend ? Tried spraying boyfriend ?!