Cats often nap during the day, leaving plenty of energy for night hours.
Few cat owners enjoy being startled in the middle of the night by a pet pouncing on their exposed feet, claws drawn, or even by a purring cat wrapped around its owner's head. Even fewer people relish the thought of getting out of bed at 3 a.m. to give their cat a snack. Cats by nature are nocturnal animals, reflecting their innate desire to hunt and catch prey, and many breeds don't require much sleep. However, cats can be trained. Through prevention, patience and a system of punishment and reward, owners can discourage unwanted nighttime behaviors and finally get a decent night's sleep.
Instructions
Prevention
1. Play active games with your cat during the day. Stimulate her by pulling a piece of yarn or ribbon and letting her pounce on it. Bind a feather to a stick with string and bob it up and down. Roll a small ball across the floor. According to the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, daily exercise periods keep a cat active and busy, making him more likely to sleep at night.
2. Place a line of wide, double-sided tape on the floor surrounding the bed. Do the same around your pillow and at the edge of the bed. Before going to sleep, gently place your cat on the sticky tape. Cats dislike stepping on sticky surfaces. In time, your pet will learn not to jump on the bed at night and taping will not be necessary.
3. Use the elements of noise and surprise to preempt a nocturnal cat strike. Line the area around the bed with aluminum foil, slightly crushing the foil to make it more dense and crinkly. Line the edges of the bed with foil, anticipating where the cat would land when leaping onto the bed. After a few surprised results, your cat should get the message that jumping on the bed is scary and noisy.
Reward and Punishment
4. Ignore a cat seeking to wake you up in the middle of the night. Bored cats looking for attention will misinterpret any positive attention you give. Avoid talking to the cat or making eye contact. Do not feed, pet or greet him affectionately. Keep the lights off. Stay in bed and continue to act as if you were asleep.
5. Firmly say "No!" in a low voice if the cat persists in trying to wake you. Firmly grasp the cat and set him on the floor.
6. As a last resort, spritz the cat with a mist of water if he persists in waking you up. Most cats detest getting wet and will avoid this negative consequence.
7. Greet your pet warmly in the morning outside of the bedroom environment, making a clear distinction between desired nighttime and daytime behavior. Take care of the pet's needs and reaffirm any desirable daytime behavior.
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