Hi. Each morning our cat gets up around 6:30 to 7:30 and sits at our bedroom door meowing. Sometimes we get up and feed him, but immediately after eating a bit, he is back at our door crying again. We were told by the vet that the way to stop this is to ignore it so the cat will not learn that he is rewarded for making noise at our door. We tried this for a while, even putting enough food in his bowl the night before so he'd still have some in the morning, but it didn't work. Are there any other ways to stop this? By the way, we have another cat, a female, that sleeps through the morning.
Thanks.
Answers:
Ignoring is one of the best ways to eliminate unwanted behavior and if you give in even one time you ruin the whole plan. Giving in once in a while is called "intermittant reinforcement". It is the most powerful kind.
Cats are masters at outlasting humans in this type of "battle".
Maybe he thinks that since he is up at this time of morning, then you should be up too. He probably just wants some attention.
If a lack of positive reinforcement doesn't work, try using negative reinforcement. Spray the cat with a water bottle and hiss at it when it wakes you up. It should cease and desist quickly.
I agree that ignoring the behavior is best. For awhile, mine used to jump on the bed and cry early in the morning. By placing her on the floor and ignoring her, she quickly learned that her efforts were to go unrewarded.
On more than one occasion though, she's been an awesome alarm clock when mine hasn't gone off.
Good luck!
If a cat learns the behavior as a kitten, he won;t unlearn it. Associate something unpleasant with getting his way, he'll think twice. You could have him declawed and muted, but that's a little extreme. There's a spray cats are supposed to find very unpleasant but is still safe. Or crouch at the door and jump at him soon as you crack open the door.
My cat knocks things down at 5 a.m. everyday. He wants food apparently, but I leave food out for him but noooo he needs to have his cranky father to open a fresh can of cat food. aargh I've been wondering how to stop this too.
The cat OWNS you, quit giving into its demands. Personally, I take a heavy boot and throw it against the door when I hear them scratching it. I think it scares the pee out of them at first but I doubt it will be effective for long.
I have to agree; ignore or spray with water. Once they realize that their behavior doesn't get the response they want (or a negative one) they lose interest in performing those actions.
Good luck!
lucky me!mine jumps on my bed meowin around 11:30 but its a kind of alarm clock,i have to wake up at this time,i think he will stop doing this after a while
he wants to be with you.let him in the bedroom with you he will just find a spot and curl up.another hint keep a food feeder so that they have food at all times (dry food)
you should just stop it don't feel bad and eventually the cat will go somewhere else to eat
Ignore, or use the water spray.. What harm is it to let the cat in the bedroom to sleep with you?
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