Oof, that's a toughie.  Oscar will do something similar; she'll
purposely do noisy things to wake me up, then come for pettings!  The
unfortunate part is that I'm often half-asleep, so I don't realize the
clever stratagem and do it anyway =/

If I just close her out of the room, she puts her paws under the door
and makes the door bounce against the windowframe all night.  I do
mean all night.

The only solution I've found (if I can manage it while half-asleep) is
to deposit her in the basement.  That way, even if she is meowing, I
can't hear it.  If you don't have that option ...

Well, good luck.  I hope someone has a useful suggestion for you.

Maybe Susan M can advise you?  Her Otis is similar.  When you say you cannot
shut him downstairs, what exactly do you mean?  Do you have a open staircase
going up from your downstairs living space or what?
My cats are only allowed upstairs during the day - they like to sleep on the
bed in the spare bedroom now and again.
When I go to bed, they have to stay downstairs.  There are two cat beds and
lots of furniture to sleep on and they can get outside for toilet duties
should the need arise.  Neither of them do litter trays.
They never make a noise to come upstairs at night.  It would be futile
anyway!   I'm a poor sleeper at the best of times and having cats galloping
all over me in the night is a no-no.
I don't think it occurs to them that it's even possible to come upstairs at
night ;-) they are quite happy downstairs.

Tweed

Ohhhh, Sandra, be very very careful. That revenge could easily backfire
and you'll get no sleep at all.

Julie