Bad behaviour at night

[zeezeela]

Hi,

Looking for some advice, we rescued our darling cat in July 2016 and he was 2.5 years then. He has obviously had issues as he likes all doors open and if they aren't open he hangs on the door handle to open them unless they are covered with a tea towel or something then he leaves them alone. He also has had limited access to food so opens the fridge and helps himself but if you put a chair against the fridge he leaves it well alone. Anyway during the night he wakes me from about 2.30am onwards to go downstairs with him so he can go to the toilet. He also likes a cuddle and to be played with. However if I pretend to be asleep he runs round house meowing like mad. Has any body got suggestions?

He always has access.to his litter tray, biscuits that he likes, water and toys plus scratching post.

[lljkk]

Could you lock him away for the evening in a room you can't hear?
If he has everything he needs in there & won't protest by crapping everywhere, it's not cruel.

One of my rescues is very agitated at night & really needs a quiet room to himself. He scratches the door in morning to get out, but he's doing that less. Cats can do patience quite well.

[Papergirl1968]

No idea, sorry, but at helping himself from the fridge and needing you to take him to the toilet.

[Damia]

I would put child locks on the fridge and doors and shut him in at night where he has what he needs. When he gets used to the routine you might be able to take them off

[witwootoodleoo]

Could you have an extra litter tray closer to your room at night?

[Wishiwasmoiradingle2017]

Sounds like he wants a good old playtime before you go to bed!! An empty box with holes cut in will amuse him!! Our cat used to open the fridge and her and the dog often had a midnight feast together!!

[zeezeela]

Thanks for your responses.

We have tried a dog cage and room to lock him in with no success, he lost a bit of weight and was anxious about the whole experience.

The child locks don't work as just hangs onto the side of the fridge, the little rubber bit that seals it shut. So that ruins our fridge.

I will try putting a litter tray upstairs see if that helps and I have also been reading that a radio on low may help so going to pop that on quietly downstairs tonight.

We give him a good play time, each night and anytime we are around. He's currently got a big box he jumps in and out of.

I may well go back and try locking him in a room again with radio quietly on and see if that helps if tonight's plan doesn't see any improvement.

Other than that he is lovely to have around, bless him.

[witwootoodleoo]

I really wouldn't crate a cat unless it was postoperative or similar they don't take well to it