My cat is 13 years old and has been very well behaved. She is an indoor/outdoor cat and has gone through her phases of wanting to go outside in the middle of the night. I have been able to ignore her in the past and as a result, she would stop trying to wake me. She is now waking me up each night at 4AM to go out. The problem is, my son's crib is outside my room and as soon as he hears the cat, he's awake. Then, I spend the next 20 minutes getting him back to sleep. I have tried letting her out all night, but that only lasts a couple of nights before she wants in at night. There's a possibility of moving my son's crib, but he would be downstairs, which leads to other issues other than the cat. We have also tried to barricade the stairs. She gets very anxious and breaks through the barricade and meows louder than ever. Does anyone have any suggestions for what I can do? I just hate thinking that after all the time I spent with my son awake at night, now I need to be awake for the cat.
Is a cat-door a possibility?
My cat could let himself out via the sliding glass doors no problemo. Easy to teach him how to open them, but man oh man, 18 years later and he never shut ONE of them. Sigh.
They have the kind, too, that have the little "chip" in them that responds to a chip in the collar, so it stays locked unless the chipped collar is going in/out.
I had a similar issue with my older cat. And it wasn't only because he wanted to go out - he was mostly an indoor cat and would wake me in the middle of the night and beg for attention or food or sometimes to go out! And, boy was he a howler if I locked him in another room. Here is what worked....the trusty bedside WATER SPRAY BOTTLE! A miracle worker. Cat would come to wake me, he'd get sprayed. One night he tried to wake me more than once since he got sprayed the first time and decided to be persistent, and so I sprayed him the next time he came in too. Let me tell you, he learned fast. It took two nights and he stopped coming in at night to wake me!
PS - the cat door is a viable option, although I wouldn't go that route unless it is your only choice. Cats are more than capable of either staying in or out all night. Staying out has it's risks depending on where you live (aka coyotes). And depending on where you would put the cat door, keep in mind that makes noise as well each time it opens/shuts. My parents have one for their cat and it is very audible if you are anywhere within 20-30 feet. Also, you need to get the kind that doesn't let other cats or animals in. They have the locking kind with the magnet release (which is on the cat's collar). Lastly, it is a cost to incur and if you plan on selling your home later, its not really a desirable feature.
Put the cat out when you go to bed. Sounds tough but the cat is a cat and it will do just fine. Both you and your son need uninterrupted sleep. The cat knows very well that she is waking both you and your son up--it is called a power struggle. Cats usually win those things.
I truly understand what you are going through. I have two bengal indoor/outdoor cats. I had to wake up 8times/night to let them in and out. They were not happy with the garage so I cut my front door and put a cat door so they could get in and out, but then they started to bring mice and rats inside, LIVE ONES!!!!! as their play toy and trophy for me. So I end up just living them outside during the night. They are fine and now around 10pm they come and ask to be left out, they sleep in all day though.
If the cat is an outdoor cat also, I think that the night would be the time he is outdoors if it was my cat.
I mean..... get him a little cat house and put a blanket in it and put it up next to the house or in the garage or somewhere he would feel safe. You may have meow problems for a few nights but eventually he would realize he is going to be outside at night and he will get use to it.
Wa-la... everyone gets to sleep peacefully.
To me... my kid would be more important than the cat. The cat would just have to deal with it.
How about installing a cat door. They arent that expensive, they are easy to install. They even have 'inserts' that you can put in a slider door and remove it when you want.
You might look into a scat mat--an electrified mat that gives animals a little shock when they walk across it. I used one for my couch for many years to keep my sheppard off when I was gone. Available at Drs. Foster & Smith.com.
We also cut a cat-sized hole in one of our baby gates so that we didn't have to deal with the meowing. The cat could totally have jumped the gate, but noooooo, he was too stubborn. Dang cats! Love em even though they're so annoying!
Good advice so far; a pet door or a littler box. I always had a pet door for my pets until a couple of years ago and they were great. We had the slider insert, the pet door installed in a wall, and the ones installed in a door and all worked just fine. My cat is 15 now and most of the time doesn't want to go out unless it is warm and even then will go out but come back in to go potty, I think the litter is easier to dig in. Anyway make your life easier and the cats and get either one.
We have a cat barricade across the stair landing that keeps our cats downstairs and out of the upstairs bedrooms. It's about 5' tall, made of plywood with self-closing hinges which are available at home depot. It only swings out, so when our cats push against it, they are pushing it against the bottom stair. But because it has no knob or latch, it is easy for people to just flip the door back to get past it.
Also, our cats made so much noise at night that we now put them in the utility room before we go to bed. A bathroom would work, too. They'd rather be out running around the house but they are safe in there with their food, water and litter box.
I would suggest putting in a cat door. they are inexpensive and easy to install. we have a very determined cat also and if he wants something or wants to get in or out somewhere he will keep it up until he gets his way. the cat door will eliminate all your problems and he will be able to come and go as he wishes.
Cats are unique and determined creatures. I have used a water gun with my cat in the past. The gun shoots farther and has a more precise stream, so you can squirt her as soon as she reaches the threshold instead of waiting for her to get closer.
Trying to change the indoor cat to an outdoor cat at this age seems unfair to me, I would use it only as a last resort. Pet doors are a convenience feature, but it isn't for everyone. Unless you get the kind with the sensor, you run the risk of other critters discovering it as an entry (remember "Over the Hedge"?). Also, she may not really want to go out.
Are there any other changes in your life? Maybe your cat is jealous now that you're home because you're spending more time with your son, but not so much with her? It sounds a little kooky, but it's possible. As independent as they seem, cats can be very dependent. Maybe just spending a little time with just her (and a new toy) will do the trick, along with some behavior
modification (water therapy) of course!
Best of luck to you. And happy dreams for your son!
Our meowing cat often finds himself locked in the office at 5:00 a.m. for the same reason. I won't put him out until it's light b/c we've had a coyote in the area recently, but sometimes I'm tempted when he wakes my 2-year-old at that hour! Could you use a cozy kennel on the other side or your stair barricade and also white noise either in your son's room or the the hallway outside his door?
Our cats wake us up at 4-5am every night, so they sleep in the garage. They have plenty of space and we can't hear them if they meow.
My cat does that also. I haven't read the other suggestions but, I let my cat out all day or at least the last half of the day and don't let her in until we are ready to go to bed. she has learned that if she doesnt come in at that time then she is out all night. works most of the time.
Since ignoring the cat has worked before I'd try doing that again. It sounds like your son will continue to wake up as the cat tries but once the cat learns you're not going to let her out your son will once more sleep thru the night.
I'd also try using the techniques that are used to help babies learn to get back to sleep. Leave him in his crib, let him fuss a little, going to him to reassure him but leave him in the crib. If the cat yowls and is scary you may want to do more of course.
How long did it take the cat to learn when you've ignored him in the past? Another idea is that perhaps the cat has a urinary tract infection which has caused her to do this again.
Cats, just as people, age and need to urinate more often. Does he have a litter box? If not, using one might help. It says something good for the cat if he's wanting out and not urinating in the house without a litter box.
I also suggest that you could consult with a vet. Now we also have vets who specialize in animal emotional issues. My daughter works for Banfield, The Pet Hospital in administration. She has praised Banfield's many services.
My brother takes his dogs to Companion Vetenarians because their rates are lower than some and he receives good service.
When I call for an appointment I'd specify the reason and ask if they have someone on staff who addresses this sort of issue.
I think Petco also has vets on staff. Many Petsmart stores have a Banfield office in their building.
