That's IT! I've HAD it! (Cat help needed, long)

[clutter]

Help, sleep deprivation is killing me!

First, she's an indoor/outdoor cat (who's at risk of being kicked outside permanently). EVERY morning, she's waking me up so I'll let her out. Correction... she's smart. She's waking up the DOG, so the dog makes noise and wakes me. Then she says... well, as long as you're up, how about letting me out??? She does this about an hour before my alarm weekdays, and about 6:30 on weekends.

I could throw her outside before I go to bed, but one problem is that in the morning, she'll wait at the back door to come in, which is under my window. The birds congretate in the tree there and screech out warnings when the cat's there. You cannot believe the racket. Better than an alarm....

The water bottle only works for a minute. She runs, then comes back (Hey, you're awake! As long as you're up....)

Closing my door doesn't work for ventilation reasons.

I could lock her into another room, but it's a room where she USED to have a litter box, and I don't want one in there again (the playroom). If I put her there, she'll make sure she gets one. Can't confine her anywhere else...

She goes out because I had a dog door at the old house. I had one here for a while, but when I replaced the sliding glass door, it no longer fit, so that's not an option.

Any other ideas??

thanks in advance for any advice. I gotta head in to work, so I can't post, but I'll be lurking!

 

[Sharby]

Here's what I think: (I should leave the rest of the post blank here)

If she's an indoor/outdoor cat - don't let her back indoors at night until you (or the last person up in the house) goes to bed.

I'd immediately stop letting her out of the house - even if she gets you up. (I don't think spritzing her with water will help as I don't think she's connecting it with the behaviour). I'd let her see you are up - then get back into bed. When she (and she will) jumps up on the bed to get you to let her out - I'd just push her - gently - away (or even off the bed) and put the pillow over your head. Don't give in - you'll just reinforce the behavior if you let her out.

I think she wants to go out early because she can hear the birds out there.

Hope others have some suggestions for you as well - but for sure, I'd stop letting her out in the morning.

 

[Claire L]

Being as she was used to going in and out by herself with the old door, and that appears to be the problem, is there no where you can put a small cat door in your exterior doors?? Other than that good luck.
Claire

 

[goofy4tink]

I've seen in some of the pet supply catalogues a unit you can put in a sliding glass door that has a pet door in the bottom. Maybe that would help. I feel your pain here. My orange tabby just 'had' to be out at night. Then he would screech and yowl with the other cats in the area. So, kept him in. He would rattle door knobs until I got up and let him out. They are very clever animals. Maybe even smarter than we are!!!

 

[peg2001]

I've heard, but do not know for a fact, that cats become active an hour or two before they are fed. If you feed in the morning, maybe change to feeding her in the early evening.

I sympathesize. I have 4 cats, including one that likes to perch on my chest in the middle of the night and lick my nose.

Peggy

 

[Poohbear123]

Poor kitty.....

 

[MinnieMe2]

Go here: http://ubb.greatpets.com/6/ubb.x?a=frm&s=942604578&f=348609939

You'll have to register to post your question, but I'm sure you'll get some good answers....

 

[clutter]

Thanks all!!! The *%^$# cat is (semi) forgiven, she really is pretty cute, and my dd loves her to death!

My dd, almost 6, yelled out to the cat this evening "stop waking mommy up!!!" What a great kid.

I've been waking an hour before my alarm the last few weeks, and not going back to sleep, so the sleep deprivation was really getting to me. Today, I woke at 4:30, and the cat came in JUST as I was actually falling back to sleep. (Good thing they have nine lives. ) She just now came in after being out since then, so I decided against tossing her out tonight, and hope she'll sleep in. Can you spell optimist??

I have to admit, the cat knows not to wake me, but she doesn't get that you have to WAIT to hear from me, not check it out yourself.... Fortunately, the dog gets it.

Goofy4tink -- I've got one of those doors on my deck, it was great, but it didn't fit, and couldn't be jury-rigged, after I got my new slider. I MISS IT!!

Thanks again all.