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I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
They havn't let me sleep and I tried to go to bed an hour ago!
Milosh meows loudly, and doesn't stop. His meows sound like chirps sometimes. I can ignore him for an hour, and he will still meow, scratch at the door, and scratch behind my bed.
I put tape, sticky side out, behind my bed. I hear that might stop the scratching.
Also, the cats want my bedroom door open. They want the option of running in and out. I get night terrors and have to have it closed and locked. So I get whining and scratching, then kitty just wants to hang by the door.
I have earplugs and sleeping pills, but the pills are for emergency. I took a sliver of one tonight and it hasn't even worked. A larger dose keeps me from getting up......
Most of the online sites, and my Cats book say "ignore."
But how do you ignore 3 demanding and persistant cats each night? Fortunately, they aren't ALL bad each night. Except for Milosh, I want to remove his vocal chords..........>:(
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
put them in a kennel at night at the opposite end of your house, preferably behind a door with a blanket over it. Let me know if this trick worked for you.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
I stick him in the garage, downstairs and across the house, but only once he starts to whine and scratch around. Should I just do it before I get to bed? Even with earplugs I can still hear him.
And sometimes his sister wants to be his savior so she will start meowing non-stop until her brother is free. Yes, Nina learned to meow, and it is squeeky and annoying.
I don't want to put him outside at night because he isn't too bright, although he's had a few day trips. Also, this may be paranoia, but he is gorgeous jet black, and I hear about cruel things kids do to black cats.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
I know how you feel my two are exactly the same. get a spray bottle full of water and every time they scratch or whatever spray them. it worked for my girl cat Emily, but my other one is a bit dumb. You have to be consistent and stick to it. Hope it works.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
But are they all in a KENNEL?? Keep them in close quarters together so they can lie down comfortably but not get crazy then cover up all light. If the noise lasts even one night, but not more than two, I would be surprised. You could also consider putting in a cat door. If you have a rental, you can get a cheap bedroom door for $15 at Home Depot (so you don't ruin your landlord's) and the cat door can be installed with a hacksaw and screwdriver in an hour tops... Hope you don't lose it lady lol:O
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
Just read your other post. You could try the putting him in the garage, but would you be able to put them both in? When I lock mine up together though they trash my kitchen either fighting or playing.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
Nina is afraid of the water, but she is less trouble. He likes the water, he takes baths and showers with me. Yup, dirty little pussy he is! He will hang out on the side of the tub, and knock things over. So spray bottle = no good. I will take it to bed with me tonight anyway.
I do fear if I have them in garage together that they may scratch my car, etc.
The kennel idea is good, but I don't have 2 big kennels, just a big one and a tiny one. I've spent so much money on them lately, I can't keep buying them shit.
As far as kitty door, I do own my home, but my nighttime paranoia isn't too keen on a lot of movement in and out of my room. It causes nighterrors, which are horrendous.....
Edit: I don't hear them playing now. Of course,they'll be still until about an hour after I'm finally drifting off!
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
My parents have that problem with one of their cats. He throws fits outside their bedroom door and has also discovered that pushing his paws under the closed door and scraping his claws on the carpet in their room drives my mom nuts.
The solution they came up with is putting him and their other kitty in the laundry room with food, fresh water, their litter box, and their favorite baskets to sleep in. Maybe its sort of like crate training dogs, but they don't make a fuss at all. I know because my sister stays up for hours after my parents and they never make a sound.
If you don't have a laundry room maybe you could try your bathroom.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
My friend had to take her cat for a walk every evening so he wouldn't be hyper during the night. That cat took to a leash okay. Just a thought.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
Yeah, you could try exhausting him before bedtime by playing with him a lot then.
If he could be taught to fetch this would be perfect, you don't want something that is a pain in the ass to you just before bed. But there are some toys that are not so labor intensive for the Kitty Mistress. One of the best is the 'string on a stick' which can be easily manufactured and drives them nuts, they have to chase it!
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
^Laser pointers can be great too! When my aunt was too lazy to walk the dogs, she took them in the back yard and pointed the laser all over the place. Maybe the cats will like it too.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
I haven't done this in sooo long, but I'm gonna break out my inner dog trainer for you, Kat.
Ignore is right. Intermittent reinforcement (which is what happens when you eventually get up and open the door for them) is addictive, like gambling. Actually, it's just like slot machines. You never see people sitting and feeding money into soda machines, where they *know* they're gonna get something. In fact, if they put their dollar in and don't get what they want, they won't put another dollar in. But people feed dollars into slot machines for hours knowing that they'll rarely get what they want, and that's what's happening with your cats. You are a human slot machine that might eventually get up and open the door.
How to ignore? I really like Lily's laundry room suggestion. Toss them all in there together very consistantly every single night (you could make it easier for yourself by having a laundry room treat ritual before bed). No matter what happens, or how much noise they make, don't let them out until morning. It will get worse before it gets better (it's called an extinction burst), so when it does get worse, take it as a sign that it's about to get better and keep ignoring.
As for the water bottles... it sounds like you already know that (a) it's unpleasant and (b) it won't work. Why be pointlessly unpleasant? In dog training circles, if a punishment hasn't worked after 3-5 repititions it ceases to be called punishment and starts to be called abuse.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
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Originally Posted by
Hatshepsut
^Laser pointers can be great too! When my aunt was too lazy to walk the dogs, she took them in the back yard and pointed the laser all over the place. Maybe the cats will like it too.
Oh hell yeah, that's perfect! I saw a video of a cat going berserk chasing one of those, he was literally climbing the walls trying to get it. Fifteen-twenty minutes of that and he'll be catatonic (sorry, lol).
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
My cats are crazy at night and so now I lock them out of my room too. At first they hated and used to claw at the door but they're used to it now and don't even try coming in my room before bed. Lock them away somewhere and be strong. Don't waver if you hear them meawing, they'll get used to it eventually.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
Hmmm. My cat has gotten quieter at night as he has gotten older, but I never get a full nights sleep. He still wants me to pet him at night, kiss his head, lie down next to me two or three times a night, and he is still crazy at dusk (hunting time for cats). I can't get mad at him though. He doesn't mean anything by it, just the way his brain is wired. I think it just goes with being a cat owner. If they are really loud though, yep you may have to put them in another room for a while. Sometimes you just have to get some sleep.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
The mewing, I don't know. The scratching you can try this:
http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product....se=&lang=en-CA
I'd be nervous over a pen because of litterbox issues; when I was fostering and had a cat that became a big problem I shut it in the bathroom over night.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
I don't know what it is about cats and shut doors. They hate it. My cat is beside himself if he's closed out of a room that I'm in. Strangest thing. Give the laser pointer a try, my cat passes out after chasing that around.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
Is it them in the room that gives you the nightmares or just not having the door closed and locked. if it's the latter maybe try putting their box and food and water in your room and then lock all of you in at night.
I do this with my cat when my husband travels on business. My little one will try the door once or twice but settles down pretty quickly afterward. He seems to rather be with me than have free roam of the house on those nights.
maybe this tactic will work for you too.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
My cats FLIP OUT if the bedroom door is closed. Thankfully I dont have terrors so I keep it cracked open so they can come in and out. What about putting a cat door in your bedroom door so they can come in and out even with the door closed? They make them for inside doors.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
^^I like the cat door idea.
I have no advice, just kind of sheepish giggles at Milosh's wackiness. I know it's gotta suck for you but I miss even the highly annoying kitty interaction...hope that something works and they shutthehellup, though.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
Taze him! Hit him with a pillow! Give him vodka! Hahahah Just kidding.
Lena's advice is best.
I am noticing a nurturing streak to Katarine The Great....
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
^^^
I was thinking "Kick him in his little cat face!"
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
madmaxine
I am noticing a nurturing streak to Katarine The Great....
Not really. Anyone want them? SundayM?
My laundry room is tiny, and actually filled with their litter boxes. They wouldn't have any room at all, and be surrounded by their poop. Its too close to have food there.
I need the door shut. Its fine when they sleep with me, but then he wakes me up at 5:30-6am, no matter where he is. I can hear him and he does NOT relent. Its been months and months of this. I lose an hour of very important sleep every night over this shit.
Tonight I am shutting them both in the garage with food. Big kitty stays with me until I wake up, she seldomly bothers me early in the morning.....
I wish I never got them. If it weren't for those kittens, I'd be the fuck out of dodge right now.
Its easier to sell a house than to get rid of 3 cats.....(to a loving home)
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
^ I'd take him but I already live with 3 that wipe their asses on the couch and fight. And puke and shit all over the floor.
I was going to confess I'm not so hip on cats anymore. At least dogs shit in the yard.
//Reminder- scoop the litterboxes on the way out the door...Yay.
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Re: I know that cats are nocturnal, but can anything be done?
I got a special litterbox that tips over, and the poops go into a little drawar, which you open and dump. Its not super great though, still has to be "tilted" a few times, and then scooped a bit.