| Author |
Message |
    
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1348
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 9:27 am: | 
|
So, we have two cats who seem to have gotten used to so much attention from us, that they now demand it... It's kind of endearing most of the time, so we continue to spoil them with affection -- why not -- they're adorable.
EXCEPT...on Saturday and Sunday mornings when one of them decides that it's time for us to get up -- at 5 AM...
She meows incessantly outside our bedroom door -- she'll do it for hours if we let her. She's decided it's time for us to get up and pay attention to her. I don't think she does it because she's hungry because when we feed her when we get up, she eats a little and walks away - she doesn't seem starved (she's a little garbage pail actually). I do think that they're used to us getting up around that time during the week (usually get up around 5/5:30).
How do we get her to stop meowing outstide our door that early??? Help....must...get....sleep  |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4218
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 9:56 am: |
|
Once you 'spoil' them you're stuck. If they wake you up on the weekend, put them in the basement. That way you won't hear them!
I have the opposite problem. My cat likes my sister better then me. When my sister gets up at 4:30am the cat is right there waiting for her. She follows my sister into the bathroom and sits there while she takes a shower. She follows my sister around until she leaves for work about 5:45am.
After my sister leaves she runs upstairs and jumps on my dresser waiting for me to get up and give her some treats. Then she either junps on my windo legde or goes to the dining room window to watch the birds. She doesn't meow much. Sometimes for now reason she'll jump on my bed and try to pull the covers off with her teeth. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6850
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 10:00 am: |
|
Cats are creatures of habit. It annoys me to no end that mine wake me every day between 6 & 6:30a.
I've tried to make them wait, but I think about the fact that they get hungry the same time every day and are dependent on us. So, I feed them & go back to bed.
We used to leave out crunchies all the time & never had a problem. But, my Monster needs special food and will inhale the whole bowl at once, so everyone went to controlled 2x day feedings.
I don't know that I would consider wanting to eat on schedule "spoiled". Now, The Monster standing on top of TS in bed at 10am (on the rare occassions she sleeps that late), demanding that she move, because that's where he sleeps from 10a-2p is spoiled... |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 4219
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 10:07 am: |
|
Greenie
I didn't think of the eating on a schedule possibility. I guess because we leave a bowl of food for our cat all the time. She refuses to eat wet or moist food - I am VERY grateful for that. We're lucky because she never over eats.
But you're right. If the kitty is use to eating at a certain time, they expect to be fed. I When I think about it, it's the same with a baby that's on a schedule. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1144
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 10:12 am: |
|
We had that problem for a while. The cure was to tire our early riser out before bed. We'd run him around seemingly for hours and he'd sleep through the night.
Also, would you consider not closing your door? If they get in would they just be happy to be near you and rest comfortably until Mama Lil said it was time to get up? |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1349
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 10:46 am: |
|
Yeah, we've gotten them on a 2x/day feeding schedule also because, like the Monster, this one's a little garbage pail, so we're trying to control her intake. I'm sure it's just habit, like you said. The one that meows is the "chatty" one of the two of them, so she generally just meows all the time for whatever reason.
Las - we thought about trying to keep them up longer at night before bed - that it might help. Maybe we'll try that, thanks.
We would love to not close our door and let them sleep in there if they wanted to, but they really are demanding when it comes to attention - they want what they want when they want it. If they were kids, we'd be the parents everyone would remark about what terrible creatures we'd raised... We're concerned they would constantly be waking us up all night. I can see it now - they'd be knocking things off the dresser, batting their paws on the blinds (these are things they do when we're awake to get attention- I'm sure they'd do them while we're asleep). |
Eats Shoots & Leaves
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 3089
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 12:58 pm: |
|
Las is on the right track, but it really depends on the cat. I've also used the "tire them out" tactic and it sometimes worked, but also sometimes didn't--varied with the cat, with their age, with when the sun rose, and with lord knows what else (they are inscrutable, after all).
My solution was to either invite them into bed, or play with them and forget the sleep, which can be a lot of fun when it is just you and the beast and everyone else is asleep. But I guess if all else fails, you could go the old plant-squirter route--a few shots in the morning and they get the message fast.
(Before I get lynched, I am just kidding about the plant-squirter).
|
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1351
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 2:04 pm: |
|
No lynching ESL - the plant squirter has worked on other occasions. May have to bring it out to deter the other one from her newest habit - jumping into the freezer. She never did this before, but she's the one who loves high places. I had the freezer door open as I was refilling an ice cube tray and I turn around and she's half way into the freezer! I almost dropped the ice cube tray along with my jaw... Before anyone freaks out and sends kitty social services to my house - I always check freezer, dryer, dishwasher, etc. before closing the door. |
Eats Shoots & Leaves
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 3090
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 2:09 pm: |
|
Lil--close the door once, let her out, and she will not jump in again, I bet. Sometimes a cat simply needs to learn how things work.
I would NOT recommend this if she likes jumping into microwaves or trash compactors, however.
To the plant squirter, the reason I would hesitate to use it in this circumstance is that you are teaching her to avoid your bedroom door and she may never come back in--and, after all, as Las has said, why else have cats if not to curl up in bed with them (when they actually sleep)? Plant squirters may be okay for keeping cats off plants or your china hutch, but I am not sure it is the message you want to send about your bedroom door. |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1353
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 2:17 pm: |
|
Yes, I think you're right - I wouldn't squirt her at our door... We use it to get her off the table or counters. We love letting them in to hang out with us - it's so adorable how excited they get.
Well, I guess we'll try keeping them awake longer at night and will let you know if it works. Thanks all for the input! |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1151
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 2:58 pm: |
|
Lil, would it shock you to learn I have a freezer jumper, too? It's always my fault for leaving the door open too long (but I live alone, and he likes to lick the frost off things, so who's to care?). I only closed him in the fridge once, about six years ago, but that was the first time he'd gone exploring and I had no idea. Now of course, I check everything (dishwasher, too) regardless. Please don't close the door on him - he won't learn a lesson. |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1355
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 3:17 pm: |
|
My cats don't seem to learn any lessons no matter how many times I try to teach them.
I know there are people out there who say you can train cats, but I'm clearly not one of those people... The only cat I've ever trained was when I was around 10 years old - I taught my cat to put his paw out when I put my hand out and said "shake", but that's the last time I ever trained a cat to do anything and clearly I didn't train him to do anything useful. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6859
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 4:04 pm: |
|
Some cats can be trained to not do the bad behavior when you are watching, but that's about it.
My biggest regret is letting The Monster sleep on my head as a kitten. He was so cute and only four pounds! He would knead my temples and drool in my hair (that part, not cute so much). Now he is 15 pounds and I have a perpetual neck ache.
|
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1356
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 5:08 pm: |
|
Greentree, you just made me laugh out loud. Thanks. |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 76
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 6:33 pm: |
|
These precious creatures are ours to spoil and enjoy. Could you imagine life without them? |
JonSel
Citizen
Username: Jonsel
Post Number: 57
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 7:21 pm: |
|
You all seem to be operating under the premise that there is such a thing as an "unspoiled" cat. I've never known such a creature. They're in charge here. Accept it and enjoy it. |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 78
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 7:27 pm: |
|
http://www.area51newmexico.com/cats.php |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1154
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 9:42 pm: |
|
LilLB! Time to break out the catnip and start waving the cat dancer. It's playtime!
Play well and sweet dreams.
Looking forward to the a.m. report. |
AntoninaKC
Citizen
Username: Antoninakc
Post Number: 189
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 11:59 am: |
|
"Now he is 15 pounds and I have a perpetual neck ache."
greentree-how funny! 
|
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7096
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 7:54 pm: |
|
Cats can learn from experience. We once had a cat who liked to sit on the toilet seat cover while I was taking a bath. One day, she heard the bathtub water running and took a flying leap onto the toilet only to discover that thelid was up. She always looked before she leapt after that.
|
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7097
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 7:57 pm: |
|
Cats are creatures of habit and lovers of routine. Unfortunately, they aren't always able to distinguish work days from weekends/holidays/vacation. The helpful feline cum alarm clock just wants to make sure you don't oversleep and would rather err on the side of caution. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 1164
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 7, 2006 - 8:03 pm: |
|
Joan, too funny! There's nothing more demoralizing for a cat than having to climb out of a toilet bowl!
By the way, how's the cat on your lap? |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1363
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 - 10:12 am: |
|
Well, I bought a new cat toy yesterday -- from Hallmark. (Their favorite thing to play with is a satin ribbon, which we discovered at Christmas this year -- they didn't care about the fuzzy mice - just wanted the ribbon). So, we tuckered them out last night and no meowing this morning (I've been waking up a little later this week). True test will be on the weekend though.
Joan - that's hysterical. |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page