My 9 week old kitten, Simon, seems to be nocturnal. I want him to be able to sleep in my room at night but he walks all over me, nuzzles my face with his face purring very loudly, paws at my face and nips at my fingers and ears. This is all very loving and sweet but at 1:00 am it gets me crazy. So eventually I resort to putting him outside my room and closing my bedroom door. He doesn't cry but I feel terrible. I am exhausted. My friend bought him a beautiful, cozy bed that he wants nothing to do with. Any suggestions on how to get my kitten to sleep when I sleep without having to kick him out of my bedroom. Any suggestions on how to get him to use his bed?
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Purrs
Sleeping at night troubles
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Posted 3 years ago by Lauren5381 #
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Awwww, he's so cute Lauren. He'll probably calm down eventually - he's still a baby and babies like to play at night.
Posted 3 years ago by HuddysMama #
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I'd recommend a good play session (a half hour of active, interactive play) a couple hours before bedtime. I'd also recommend a meal right before bed.
I have absolutely no advice on how to get him to use his bed, other than by putting it on the nightstand next to your bed. Most cats I've had seemed to want to sleep in my bed, more than anywhere else.
Posted 3 years ago by anncetera2 #
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I did try to tire him out with the laser. So cute. I shine it on the floor in front of him and then he chases it while I am spinning in a complete circle, he just runs and runs. I guess I didn't do it for long enough. I sure was tired afterwards LOL. As for the food, he picks all day at his food. And I only use wet food as a treat so I really wouldn't be able to give him a meal before bed. I love him and think he is the sweetest thing in the world but I really hope he grows out of this. There's just something not fun about a 2.5lb kitten walking on your head in the middle of the night..haha. Thanks for your responses!
Posted 3 years ago by Lauren5381 #
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**patience** .. lots of patience ..
Posted 3 years ago by SammyandOliversmama #
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I'd agree with Anncetera about having playtime and dinner before bed. At bedtime I also let my kitten Martha come on the bed and play for 10 minutes to reassure that I love her but as soon as the light goes out she doesn't get played with and she won't get played with until I've woken up and fed her. I admit that for the first few weeks I was exhausted because she jumped all over the bed, but generally she's settled into the routine now and if she still wants to play at bedtime then she goes off to the lounge and comes to my bedroom when she's ready to sleep so it's worth persisting.
I've got no suggestions on how to get Simon to use his bed as Martha has resolutely resisted every effort I've made! she sleeps on my feet or legs or on the pillow next to me (she's never impressed when the boyfriend is there taking up the spare pillow!) or adorably she curls up in the crook of my arm and smothers my face!
Posted 3 years ago by marthasmummy #
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Oh I do, I have lots of patience. He really is a good boy, a really good boy. My boyfriend has his brother and I had them both for about a week and after the first night, they slept when I slept. But his brother was picked up yesterday so it was back to the sleepless nights...
Posted 3 years ago by Lauren5381 #
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Wow Marthasmum, sounds like your little cat is well trained. Makes me feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Okay so I will keep letting him in my bed at night but put a stop to the playing when I want to sleep.. only thing is I do try to do that but then he starts to nip, doesn't hurt but it wakes me up. Hopefully we can get a routine going soon.
The silver lining... even though it is aggrevating to have a broken sleep every night, it feels good to know how much he loves me.
Posted 3 years ago by Lauren5381 #
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I know, I tell him all the time to promise me he won't get any bigger :)
Posted 3 years ago by Lauren5381 #
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Lauren your kitten sounds so cute and loving! Hopefully he will grow out of his nocturnal nuzzling and settle down. My cat Sylvester was pretty crazy as a kitten and I had a lot of sleep interuptions from his playing. Thankfully he grew out of it and is a nice mellow and happy kitty. You can see his photo if you click on my name. I got Mia because I didn't want Sylvester to be alone after my divorce. She has lots of energy but at night will come and fall alseep by my right side between my side and my right arm. Both kitties sleep on the bed leaning against me.
Posted 3 years ago by SylMiaFelixMomma #
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I can't imagine Sylvester being anything other than perfect, Karin. :) ((Sylvester)).
Posted 3 years ago by HuddysMama #
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You are lucky, Sylvester and Mia sound like the perfect cats. I feel very lucky to have Simon in my life. I never had any pets growing up and was never a cat person, but now that I have Simon everything is different.
I really hate kicking him out of my room at night so I am going to really try and work on him sleeping with me instead of walking on my head when I am trying to sleep. I am dragging today at work, have a terrible headache.Posted 3 years ago by Lauren5381 #
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You are right. I really do feel like a mother :) And even with the sleepless nights I still talk about him all day long and think of him fondly throughout the day and can't wait to go home to see him. You guys are great.
Posted 3 years ago by Lauren5381 #
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Lauren, have you tried putting an old shirt or something that has your scent on it, in his kitty bed? Maybe that would help him get used to his bed, just a suggestion. I find cats sleep where ever they want to! lol
Posted 3 years ago by Renee in Arkansas #
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I think alot of cats get a small case of the midnight crazies at some point. My go nuts starting at about 11:30, they eventually settle down and usually sleep with my son. They will kinda go where they please!
Posted 3 years ago by 3Bangin'kitties #
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I call it witching hour! lol
I am going to try that shirt idea! Thanks
Posted 3 years ago by Lauren5381 #
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So Renee I tried that shirt idea with Simon's bed and he didnt sleep in it (as far as I know) BUT... I did get him to lay down in it before bedtime while I pet him and anytime he came up on my bed in the middle of the night I would put him back in his bed and although he didnt stay in it long, he didnt jump right out of it like he has springs in his feet, like he has been doing. Thanks!
Posted 3 years ago by Lauren5381 #
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I have 2 kittens about the same age and the same problem. I try, but around 1 am I have to put them out of my room. I keep trying each night and hopefully they will fall into a "normal" sleep with me pattern! The love to be on top of my head and my husbands chest. Not the greatest sleeping arrangements, but fun!
Stephanie
Mom to "Boots" and "Baby Jaguar" -
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UPDATE:
Hey everyone! So Simon slept with me 3 nights in a row! I think he is finally starting to get my sleep routine! He doesn't sleep the whole night through but when he wakes up and then wakes me up I put him off the bed into his own; he makes a few attempts to come back up but finally gets the hint. So my sleep is broken but way better than before!
Much thanks to everyone and their helpful tips! Hope everyone is doing well!
Posted 3 years ago by Lauren2896 #
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I had one but since they replace our names with the pics you can't click it to get to Simon's page :(
Posted 3 years ago by Lauren2896 #
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weird why would it have disappeared?
Posted 3 years ago by Lauren2896 #
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