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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / April 2005Sleep deprivation and my new kitty
Hi, I just got my first cat, my first pet actually, a few weeks ago. She's about 12 weeks old now, and the biggest problem I am having is keeping her entertained and managing my own sleep around that. She's alone at home all day, so I imagine she sleeps a lot. After I come home, I notice she tends to stay in whatever room I'm in. It is quite cute, and I enjoy her company very much, but the problem I have is tiring her out so I can get a good night's rest. I've bought her lots of toys and I've tried playing with her for three or four hours some nights and she is still going like the Energizer bunny - but I don't have the luxury of playing for several hours most nights, though I try to play with her for half an hour to an hour at least. Usually she wakes me up in the middle of the night, or if I'm lucky, at around 5 am or so in the morning. I've resorted to placing her outside my bedroom and closing the door when this happens, but she cries incessantly for the next few hours until I get up. Even when I go to the bathroom, she cries and cries because I have the door closed. I'd like some advice on the best way for me to get some sleep, while allowing my cat to sleep with me when she is sleepy, and secondly how to prevent her from crying when we're not in the same room. A lot of people have suggested a second cat, which I would gladly adopt, but my building has a one cat rule. Thanks for your help. Cheers, Steve > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > Cheers, > Steve She'll grow out of that playful age all too soon. In the meantime you might want to get something like the "Panic Mouse" that is automated (just be sure to only let her play with it when you're supervising so it doesn't get wrapped around her neck): http://www.panicmouseinc.com/. She can play with this while you do something else (again, in the same room). Personally, I wouldn't lock her out of my bedroom, but I love having my kitties sleep with me so that's a personal choice. You might try putting catnipped infused toys in your bedroom and if she bothers you in the middle of the night "hiss" at her (like a mother cat would do a bothersome kitten) to gently discourage her from the behavior you want to discontinue. Other than that, just wait it out until she grows out of the playful stage and starts sleeping all night. Hugs, CatNipped Thanks for the advice - I haven't gotten her an automated toy yet, so that might be a good alternative - I'll check that out. I will also work on my hissing skills. :) > She'll grow out of that playful age all too soon. In the meantime you might > want to get something like the "Panic Mouse" that is automated (just be sure [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > of the night "hiss" at her (like a mother cat would do a bothersome kitten) > to gently discourage her from the behavior you want to discontinue. This is a neat idea! When I hiss at Buddha she acts highly insulted. If I make a sound that is even remotely "hiss-like" Cheeks looks really worried. (Like when I blow on my magnifying glass to clean it!) > > She'll grow out of that playful age all too soon. In the meantime you > might [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > If I make a sound that is even remotely "hiss-like" Cheeks looks > really worried. (Like when I blow on my magnifying glass to clean it!) I tried it last night. Buffy wouldn't go to sleep so I put her outside my room. She started crying for a while but then she settled down. In the meantime, I couldn't get to sleep either... I ended up venturing outside and saw her on the arm of my sofa chilling. So I picked her up and brought her back to bed. She started acting up again, trying to playfight, etc., so I hissed at her and she settled right down. Unfortunately a few hours later, I tried it again and it didn't work. Maybe she is like the Borg... she adapts! Cheers, Steve > > > She'll grow out of that playful age all too soon. In the meantime you > > might [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > outside my room. She started crying for a while but then she settled > down. Well that's a good sign! If you have to (and I understand you don't want to, I love having my kitties curl up with me at night) you can just put her out there when you go to bed and you know she will eventually settle down. >In the meantime, I couldn't get to sleep either... I ended up > venturing outside and saw her on the arm of my sofa chilling. So I > picked her up and brought her back to bed. <G> You are an old softie. >She started acting up > again, trying to playfight, etc., so I hissed at her and she settled > right down. This is really funny. I will have to try it more often when Buddha gets radical on me. > Unfortunately a few hours later, I tried it again and it didn't work. > Maybe she is like the Borg... she adapts! > > Cheers, > Steve Awww, what a cutie. I know being deprived of sleep is annoying to say the least, but the kitten phase is over before you know it. >> > She'll grow out of that playful age all too soon. In the meantime you >> might [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > Unfortunately a few hours later, I tried it again and it didn't work. > Maybe she is like the Borg... she adapts! Ah, you've learned the only rule about cats that doesn't have an exception - *nothing* works with all cats, and *nothing* works on one cat all of the time! ;> Hugs, CatNipped > Cheers, > Steve > I tried it last night. Buffy wouldn't go to sleep so I put her > outside my room. She started crying for a while but then she settled [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Unfortunately a few hours later, I tried it again and it didn't work. > Maybe she is like the Borg... she adapts! > > Cheers, > Steve FWIW, she will eventually grow out of wanting to play at night. One thing you can do is tire her out before bedtime. Buy a Cat Dancer toy and play for about 30-45 minutes - she will become exhausted. Then she'll sleep like a dream. :) Or, get her a companion cat. They can play chase all night, but then you have to put up with the thumpity-thump-thump sound of galloping paws. ;) -L. > > I tried it last night. Buffy wouldn't go to sleep so I put her > > outside my room. She started crying for a while but then she settled [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > you have to put up with the thumpity-thump-thump sound of galloping > paws. ;) Why not read the gd thread before making stupid comments like this? Steve lives in a place with a one-cat rule--which he stated early on. <SNIP> > I'd like some advice on the best way for me to get some sleep, while > allowing my cat to sleep with me when she is sleepy, and secondly how [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Cheers, > Steve Gee Steve, I'm afraid you have a perfectly normal kitten on your hands. Proper sleep is going to be a precious commodity for a while. Your kitten will grow out of this... I know this does'nt get you any more sleep NOW.... Ypu're doing all the right things... My only thought would be to adjust the kittens feeding scedule to encourage sleeping at night. Eventually your kitten will adjust more to your scedule, but instinctively they are nocturnal creatures. Hope you get some sleep soon.  SignatureMathew Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat En Vino Veritas Hi Mathew, It's good to know she is entirely normal. :) What do you recommend in terms of a feeding schedule? She never eats what I lay down for her in one sitting. I'm feeding her dry kibbles (Natural Choice), and I leave treats around the house for her to find (Science Diet). Cheers, Steve > Hi Mathew, > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Cheers, > Steve First, I'd stop with the treats, this might be encouraging the continual running around. If she's only 12 weeks old & you're using high quality kibble (I've seen Natural Choice, looks like pretty good stuff) She should only need 1/4 cup per day. I'd try to get her to eat about 2 hours before you're ready to go down, followed by high energy play time. When you want to go to sleep, try calming her with a petting/brushing session.... Of course, NONE of this may work.... But she will grow out of the all night zoomie faze... Eventually. Have fun, please post some pics if you can. SignatureMathew Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat En Vino Veritas Jeez. ONE cat rule? So ridiculous. Is it at ALL possible to talk to management? Sometimes, if you just formally request it, or offer a deposit, they will write something into your lease. It has worked twice for me both on limit (2 cat limit but I had 3) and on declawing (I will NOT declaw. Would just go somewhere else, but they saw the light and also I showed them my cat furniture and how cats can be trained and claws trimmed.) It is really the best possible solution. I will say, that as she gets older she WILL adjust to your schedule, but remember she is a baby and they just are not "up to" that level of understanding yet. Nor is their body on the same schedule as an adult cat. I did find that even with two youngsters sleep could be a problem. I played with them as late as possible and then fed them. IT seemed to hold them off longer. In general, I had no trouble through the night, just with early awakenings. > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > Cheers, > Steve Alas, it is a condominium corporation and I am on the board of directors. I brought the issue up in one of the meetings but I was defeated. :( They did mention that enforcing the 1 pet rule for cats is usually not done, but one of the problems is that I am a director, so I am looked up on to set an example. Maybe I won't be running for relection. :) Thanks for your advice. Cheers, Steve > Alas, it is a condominium corporation and I am on the board of > directors. I brought the issue up in one of the meetings but I was [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Cheers, > Steve Wow. That is really sad. I can never figure out a 1 pet rule anyway since all pets, cats and dogs, generally behave much better if they have a companion. > > Alas, it is a condominium corporation and I am on the board of > > directors. I brought the issue up in one of the meetings but I was [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > all pets, cats and dogs, generally behave much better if they have a > companion. I agree. I am almost inclined to get a second cat, but my concern is that if they do enforce the rule, I'd ahve to give up one of my kitties, and that wouldn't be very nice at all. Oh well, time to plan for a house. :) Steve > > > Alas, it is a condominium corporation and I am on the board of > > > directors. I brought the issue up in one of the meetings but I was [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Steve Yes! That's the spirit. Plus paying that mortgage every month amounts to putting money in the bank. Big difference from rent. Most of what you pay the first few years is interest, and that is tax deductible. > > > Alas, it is a condominium corporation and I am on the board of > > > directors. I brought the issue up in one of the meetings but I was [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Steve There you go! > Alas, it is a condominium corporation and I am on the board of > directors. I brought the issue up in one of the meetings but I was [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Thanks for your advice. I live in a condo with a one pet rule too. Luckily, we a fairly private people and hardly ever do our neighbors come in. The only ones who know we have more than one pet also have a couple pets too, so we're keeping each other's secret :) I also have the cover of working at an animal shelter, so I often say "oh, they aren't all mine" even if they are. It's too bad you can't have one more. Watching two kittens play together is so much fun! About your sleep issue. Try feeding her regular meals instead of free-feeding. Give the last one close to bedtime. When I had two kittens, unfortunately, I did have to lock them out of the bedroom. I felt like such a meanie, but they had each other and didn't seem to mind. I only had one other adult cat, and she acted like she was going to die if she couldn't come in the bedroom. So, I put food, water, and litterbox in the bedroom and she had to stay in. We did this until the kittens were about 6 months old and able to stay sort-of calm during the night. Signature-Kelly kelly at farringtons dot net "Wake up, and smell the cat food" -TMBG > It's too bad you can't have one more. Watching two kittens play together is > so much fun! Isn't this the truth! My sister adopted two sister kittens, and they were a riot growing up. I have never raised a kitten, having always adopted grown strays. > Jeez. ONE cat rule? So ridiculous. Is it at ALL possible to talk to > management? Sometimes, if you just formally request it, or offer a deposit, [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > them. IT seemed to hold them off longer. In general, I had no trouble > through the night, just with early awakenings. Whining is not going to help. He lives in a place with a one-cat rule. I think I might have to move! > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > Cheers, > Steve Get a large Hepa filter--or a big noisy fan--you want "white noise" that both soothes and masks other sounds--and earplugs. Let kitty sleep with you until she gets rambunctious, then put her out as far away from your bedroom you can put her with her box and food and toys. Insert earplugs, turn on filter or fan and go to sleep. She will learn that if she is rambunctious she will be put out of the room. >Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] >Cheers, >Steve If you find something that works, please let us know! I have been deprived of sleep for the last 2 months. (My cat likes to do 3:30 a.m wake up calls) Justin Steve, Not to freak you out or anything, but I am having exactly the same problems... and my cat is over a year old. Sleep has become a serious problem for me. Besides getting a hotel, I suggest music and earplugs. Earplugs alone won't drown all the crying out, so the music caps it off. It's really incredible how he can just go for 10 hours straight without getting tired?? But my "Crying" problem is because I am beginning to let him outside, not because he is a playful little kitten... So as your growing up would solve your dilemma, mine getting his own schedule would solve mine... In the meantime, just know you're not alone on these sleepless nights... I should be sleeping right now. > Steve, > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > getting tired?? But my "Crying" problem is because I am beginning to let > him outside, not because he is a playful little kitten... Here you admit that had you kept him in where he is safe he would never have begun crying to go out where his is NOT safe. Excellent. You're making progress. So as your > growing up would solve your dilemma, mine getting his own schedule would > solve mine... > > In the meantime, just know you're not alone on these sleepless nights... I > should be sleeping right now. Steve will do the right thing and keep his kitten in where she is safe, so once she gets past the kitten phase she will just sit in the window at night then come and snuggle with him, not howl to go outside. Steve is not an idiot. > Steve, > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > In the meantime, just know you're not alone on these sleepless nights... I > should be sleeping right now. I'm a bit confused - do you mean that your kitten/cat is crying because you put him outside your house? From what I've seen with other cats, they will definitely scream if they want back inside the house. There are varying degrees of safety I think - in terms of their psychology. In the house, their home turf, they're the only cat. They feel safe. Outside the house, the yard may still be their territory, but they may have to defend it, so there are issues of safety there and I think cats tend to get scared especially when they're young. You're probably in a different position for me. I have a one bedroom condo, so I think it's less a question of pure safety for her and more one to just be around me. I notice that she follows me around everywhere, whatever room I'm in, she tries to go in. This has made it a bit challenging, because she also starts crying when I go to the bathroom, the only other place where I close the door! Steve > > Steve, > > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > I'm a bit confused - do you mean that your kitten/cat is crying > because you put him outside your house? No, he means that he adopted a stray, had him accustomed to staying in, then began letting him out. So now he cries every night wanting to go out. >> Steve, >> [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > Steve You close the door??!!! She let's you close a door???!!!!!! Your owner is certainly more lenient than my four are! I haven't been able to close a door in my house since, well ever since I've had cats (I just learned to live without modesty)! ;> Hugs, CatNipped > > Steve, > > [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > Steve You don't let her in! Oh my. ;) Well, that will probably change someday......They luuuuuuv to have your undivede attention in the bathroom, as well as try to figure out what the heck we are doing. > You don't let her in! Oh my. ;) Well, that will probably change > someday......They luuuuuuv to have your undivede attention in the > bathroom, > as well as try to figure out what the heck we are doing. When I foster kittens, I keep them in the master bathroom since it's the easiest decent sized room to clean. There's nothing like trying to do your business with 4-6 little bitty kittens climbing in your pants, up your legs, on your shoulder! Signature-Kelly kelly at farringtons dot net "Wake up, and smell the cat food" -TMBG > When I foster kittens, I keep them in the master bathroom since it's the > easiest decent sized room to clean. There's nothing like trying to do your > business with 4-6 little bitty kittens climbing in your pants, up your legs, > on your shoulder! Awwww . . . Signaturehttp://www.slywy.com/ > > You don't let her in! Oh my. ;) Well, that will probably change > > someday......They luuuuuuv to have your undivede attention in the [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > kelly at farringtons dot net > "Wake up, and smell the cat food" -TMBG LOL..not kidding! I used to have a *huge* walk-in shower - and that's where I kept the bitties when I was potty training them. It was nice bceause it was easy to clean, and kept them contained. :) I miss my bitty days. Sigh. -L. > LOL..not kidding! I used to have a *huge* walk-in shower - and that's > where I kept the bitties when I was potty training them. It was nice > bceause it was easy to clean, and kept them contained. :) > > I miss my bitty days. Sigh. I already miss it :( Kitten season is starting to bloom around here and I would love to foster another litter. I have 4 months left before babies arrive, so I could squeeze in one more litter. But kittens make such a huge mess and DH would have to clean up the poop, so that's just not going to fly :( I'll have to be satisfied with playing with the kittens at the shelter. Signature-Kelly kelly at farringtons dot net "Wake up, and smell the cat food" -TMBG |
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