Discourage Your Cat From Sleeping In Undesirable Areas
Cats tend to seek out and sleep in restricted spots in your home like the laundry basket, in your shoe rack or inside your bag. Discourage her from pursuing the habit by making these areas undesirable. You can try placing plastic carpet runners or aluminum foil since cats hate it because of the texture.;
You can also spray these spots with vinegar or citrus-infused solution that cats hate due to the smell. Block your cats access from rooms and other restricted areas at home such as the kitchen or laundry room.;
You can also lure your cat with treats to encourage her to sleep in her new bed. Place some on it and reward her with more if she comes and stays in her new bed.;;;;
How To Get Your Cat To Sleep At Night
Fortunately, you can use a variety of methods to encourage your cat to sleep according to a schedule that benefits both you and them.
Once youve established the cause of your cats nocturnal activity, youll want to take steps to help them sleep at night. Your particular approach will depend on your cats unique situation, but the following tips will help to get you on the right track.
How To Encourage Your Cat To Go To Sleep
This article was co-authored by Molly DeVoss. Molly DeVoss is a Certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist , a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant , a Fear Free Certified Trainer , and the Founder of Cat Behavior Solutions. Molly specializes in using positive reinforcement to modify and prevent unwanted behaviors in cats and reduce cat shelter surrender. Molly has sat on the Dallas Animal Advisory committee since 2013 and was voted one of the Top 12 Extraordinary Cat Behaviorists of 2020 by Catpetclub.com. She is certified by both the Animal Behavior Institute and the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She is also the host of the weekly podcast Cat Talk Radio. This article has been viewed 116,737 times.
Most cats will sleep up to 16 hours a day and, contrary to popular belief, are not nocturnal. They are actually crepuscular which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. Unfortunately, if you’re a pet owner, you’re most likely asleep at dawn or getting ready for bed at dusk. Luckily, it’s not impossible to change your cat’s sleeping schedule. Since most cats thrive when a routine is established and maintained, creating a good bedtime routine can help encourage your little furry feline friend to go to sleep at the same time as you.
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Reasons Cats Can Dislike Their Own Beds
There are plenty of reasons your cat may prefer other cozy spots to the plush new bed you just bought for him. When choosing the ideal napping spot, cats look for:
- Comfort
- Warmth
If your fur baby wont sleep in her bed, it could be because:
- The bed isnt high up enough. Kitties like sleeping on couches and table tops because they feel more secure in high places.
- The bed isnt comfortable.
- She prefers cuddle time with you.
- Shes not tired when bedtime hits.
- She simply hasnt been trained to sleep in a cat bed.
Place The Bed In Your Cats Favorite Hangout Or Spot
Check out where your cat usually hangs out and youve got a great clue where to place the new bed. Cats are more likely to sleep in their new bed if it is in a spot that they often sleep or stay on. If your cat\s favorite area is on a bookshelf or a tier of her cat tree you can try to place the bed there or on a sunny spot since most cats like to stay in such areas. You can also place the new bed in a secluded area of the home where she will not be disturbed while sleeping.;
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The Secret To Getting Your Cat To Sleep Through The Night
My love for cats runs deep. Ive been known to try and talk a few into following me home when Im walking in the neighborhood, hoping they want an owner. And I dream of having a hobby farm with a cat barn that holds a dozen of them. Ive taken my passion into cat rescue and I foster orphaned neonatals though Bitty Kitty Brigade, bottle feeding kittens until they can eat on their own and are medically stable.
But it wasnt always that way. I actually had no time for cats most of my life. I had grown up in a hunting family with black labs, and was taught that cats didnt really have a purpose, nor personalities, and strange loners if anything.
Until.Brian and I had been dating for 4 months and he was leaving for Fiji. But he had also committed to watching his sisters cat while she was on vacation, forgetting about his own trip. He announced that Id be watching Fiona, her black cat, for a week, and;I threw a mini fit.;Brian, I hate cats. What would make you think that this a good idea? How is she going to know where to go to the bathroom? Shes going to scratch the furniture.
7 days later I had fallen completely head over heels for Fiona, my new friend, who snuggled with me at night and stood at the edge of my desk and stared at me while I typed. And 10 days later we had Grace, the sweet and sassy diva who fills my heart with more joy than I ever thought possible. And 8 years later, we adopted Bleu. Theyve both been my best friends ever since.
Lightbulb.
How Cats Can Affect Your Sleep
Dr. Steve Weinberg, founder of 911 VETS, said it can feel nice and comfy to have your cat sleep on a bed with you some literally on your head potentially calming anxiety and night terrors.
The downside is that cats are nocturnal animals, he said. The human sleeper may have their sleep interrupted in the wee hours of the night or be woken up at a very early hour.
Because of this, Weinberg says, sleeping with a cat can be counterproductive to a persons typical wake-sleep patterns.
Many cats like to play and will scratch at or even bite at the human feet moving around under the covers, he said. other problems, such as allergy to cat dander or, if fleas are not under control, the human may receive flea bites.
Cats may also want to cozy up to babies and infants taking on their own caregiver roles in the house but experts say cats shouldnt spend the night with the littlest ones in your home.
Dr. Jennifer Maniet, a staff veterinarian at Petplan Pet Insurance, says its not safe for cats to sleep with babies because theres a risk a cat could unintentionally suffocate a baby by sleeping on its chest or face.
If the cat is startled or frightened, the baby can get bitten, scratched, or trampled on as the cat tries to run or jump away, she said. Cat scratches and bites are common ways that the cat can transmit diseases to a baby.
You can consult your veterinarian for ways to keep the cats out of the nursery, Maniet says.
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Cat Articles: Health
Do you hear a flutter of cat paws across the floor, pouncing, scratching and meowing all through the night? If you are a light sleeper, you may notice that your cat’s activity level spikes during the night.
While some cats are more active than others at night, this comes as no surprise because cats are naturally nocturnal animals, meaning they prefer to sleep during the day and hunt at night.
Just because your kitty is domesticated and has easy access to food doesn’t mean that the sleep pattern will shift as soon as you bring her home. Her instincts for night time activity may take over.
It takes some time to gradually change her schedule and shift play time away from late at night, or for you to learn how to live with the behavior of your nocturnal kitty.
Here are some steps to help you both:;
Work with your kitty to re-schedule her instincts by keeping her active in the day time. If you are consistent with the cat’s new routine, she can adjust to a more desirable schedule quickly.
Shifting Play Time to Day Time
Keeping the Bedroom Quiet
Changing the behavior may be your first route of action, but living with your cat requires some compromise. The play schedule shift may take time and patience, so you may need to change some of your habits, too.
We Have Had Our Cat For A Month And She Was Very Nervous When She Came To Us
She is feeling at home now and is happy to accept a fuss from me and will sit on my lap and loves attention. However, when my partner tries to give her a fuss, she runs away. If my partner slowly and gently tries to ‘join in’ when I am making a fuss of her she will still run away. Any thoughts?
Often it can come down to what socialisation to people she received during the kitten socialisation period of two-seven weeks of age. I would suggest that initially your partner ignores her and simply sits quietly on the floor nearby reading a book while you are fussing her. This will help your cat to see your partner as non-threatening from her perspective. Also try getting your partner to feed your cat so she forms positive associations with them. If you have any problems then we’d recommend a referral to a member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors . Best of luck.
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Get A Cat To Kill The Spiders
Getting yourself a cat is one of the best ways to get rid of spiders without the use of insecticides and chemicals in the home.
However, due to allergies and lifestyle, cats arent suited for every home, but if you are a cat enthusiast, then they are excellent hunters.;
When it comes to cats and other domestic pets, its critical to keep their food covered and sealed to prevent flies and insects from attracting spiders.
The How And Whys Of Who Cats Choose To Sleep With
Did any of these reasons make sense to you about your cats sleeping habits? Most cats will sometimes sleep alone in a quiet space because cats love to change where they sleep. One night your cat may sleep with you, while the next, they are on the bunk with one of the kids. The main thing is that this snuggle time enriches both your life and the life of your cat. It creates a closeness that is immeasurable.
We hope this helps explain how cats choose who to sleep with. Would you like more information on this or other cat behaviors? Just give our team a call. Sweet dreams for a restful catnap.;
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Why Is My Cat Scratching The Bed At Night
As a cat parent myself
You and I know that cats are very good at training their owners to do something
Now you see cats are hunters
They are predators
And when do predators hunt?
At night
Your cat is just being a cat
Their sleeping pattern is different to ours
They will wake up instantly in the early hours of the morning to hunt or to just play
So who will they disturb to do this?
You guessed right
And sorry to break it to you
But your cat does not care about your sleep
Not even a tiny bit!
Dont worry
Its not the end of the world
You cant train your cat to sleep at night
But you can manage this
Lets look at the different reasons why your cat is scratching the bed at night
Shes Bored
If your cat is bored at night then for her to get your attention
She will try to wake you up by scratching the bed
Now if youve woken up once to attend to your cats need then your cat will remember this
So shell come back again to wake you up
You need to break this cycle
How?
Get your cat to sleep during the night
Wait, didnt you just say we cant do that?!
Thats right
But you can manage your cat before you go bed
And heres the way to do it
Play with her right before you go bed
That simple!
The trick is to tire her out
Make her feel exhausted by playing
Get her to chase things
My cat loves those strings with a toy at the end of it
Spend some time with them before you go bed
And watch how your cat;will want to sleep!;
Its also a great way to spend some quality time with your cat
Why?
It Doesnt Smell Right
Cats have got twice as many scent receptors in their nose as humans, so the smell of a factory-fresh bed is going to seem very strange to your pet. Theyre used to your scent and they probably find it comforting and familiar so you need to integrate the bed with your home.
Me & My Pets Top Tip: Get the bed smelling like you! Sit with it on your lap when youre on the sofa, place a worn jumper on top of it, even rub your used pillowcase over it before you pop it in the wash!
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Cons Of Cats Sleeping In Bed With You
There are some health risks involved in allowing your cat to sleep in your bed with you. These include the risk of:
Sleep disruption
As earlier stated, cats are vulnerable and remain very active at night. Therefore, you should engage them with either an automatic feeder or having an intense play session before bedtime, which would make your pet more tired and would result in less disturbances. Or, you could also consider buying a second cat for company.
Allergies/Asthma
You dont necessarily need to be allergic or to be asthmatic, but cats suffer a wide range of skin problems such as scratching, excessive licking, hair loss, scabs, bumps and chewing. However, cats are known for hiding their diseases and discomfort.
Exposure to bacteria and parasites
Common cat diseases may include feline immunodeficiency virus , rabies, ringworm, and diabetes. Therefore, it is important to keep your cats clean, healthy, and disease-free.
Conclusively, there are arguments both for and against cats sleeping;in bed with their owners. Basically, its about personal perspective and health conditions. If you feel that sharing your bed with your cat is all right, then yes you should do so, provided the health risks are being handled properly.
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Make The Bed More Appealing
Here are some ways to entice your kitty to sleep in his bed:
- If your kitty likes sleeping with you, try leaving something in his bed that carries your scent.;
- When your cat is near the bed, start arranging it. Adjust the cushion, fluff it up, or pat the bottom to catch your kittys attention. He may get curious and decide to try it out.
- If your cat wont get into the bed on his own, call him over and encourage him to try the bed. When he gets in, praise and pet him.
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Do Cats Prefer To Sleep Alone
Yes, most cats prefer to sleep alone including those that are very affectionate to their owners. They like to sleep in a quiet area and tend to change areas where they. Some cats may prefer to sleep between the legs of their humans or at the foot of the bed but not all cats will do this. It will usually depend on a cats personality and preferences.;;
The Best Spray To Keep Your Cat Off Your Bed
When people ask us how to keep my cat off my bed at night? we always recommend they use a cheap, high-quality, ethical cat deterrent spray. It is a quick, cheap and easy way to deter your cat from trying to sleep on your bed. The spray has over 5000 positive reviews from cat owners raving about how effective it is.
A Product Review From Amazon, Click It To Read More.
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Give A Restless Kitten More Exercise And Comfort
Why Does My Cat Not Want To Sleep In Their Bed
Cats are independent animals that spend about fifteen hours a day sleeping, so it is not strange that they change places to rest and explore new areas where they can sleep comfortably.
However, many cat owners would prefer that they sleep in the beds they have purchased for them. Mainly to prevent them from taking naps on furniture, tables and their own beds!
In principle, you should understand that if your cat does not want to sleep in their own bed this does not mean that they don’t like it. Yet, other surfaces available may have what felines are looking for when they choose a space to rest: warmth, comfort and safety.
That’s why some cats choose their sleeping place on furniture or tables, or even on your bed. In the first two cases, the decision is often related to the comfort of these spaces and even the height they provide, as cats feel more secure when they sleep in high places that protect them from “predators.”
If they want to sleep in your bed, this may indicate deeper reasons:
- The cat feels safe with you, so looks for your protection at bedtime.
- They consider you part of their pack, so sleeping near you is normal, since that’s how they rest.
- They prefer the height of your bed, because it gives superiority to them against possible threats.
- They are looking after your body heat, because the temperature of your body goes down while you sleep.
- They miss you, especially if you spend a lot of time away from home, so they take advantage of this time to be close to you.
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