Rescue cat mewing/scratching outside our bedroom door

[CurrerBell]

We adopted our gorgeous ginger tom from the RSPCA three weeks ago - he is our first cat.

He seems very happy by day (although we haven't let him out yet and he's looking wistfully at the garden...). He plays with his toys, comes up and rubs against our legs and lets us stroke him.

At night the kids leave their doors open so he can go and sleep at the bottom of one of their beds. However he seems to want to be with us - he mews loudly outside our door in the early hours and demands attention! We have got up a few times to see if he's ok, and he's quite 'bitey' with our legs/ankles (which he isn't by day).

He has dried food out all the time although prefers wet, so perhaps he's just impatient for us to get up and feed him? It's affecting my sleep though (even with ear plugs in) and I'm also worried that he's unhappy or bored.

Is this normal? I wonder if it might improve once we start letting him out?

Also, we're meant to be going away for a week on 9th August (trip was booked ages ago...). I'm not sure whether putting him in a cattery at this point is really going to really stress him out?

I think it is normal. Mine purred really loudly as soon as the sun is up. We have to lock her in the conservatory so she can't disturb our sleep.

That's good to know it's normal. But he's so loud - and sounds human at times like he's saying "Mama? Mama?" Very cute, but not when I'm trying to sleep... Makes me feel like the parent of a baby/toddler again!

We could shut him in the living room but would have to move his litter tray and food in there...

He's missing you. Have you considered letting him sleep in your room - either in/on your bed or in a comfy place within the room? (There would be war in our house if any of my Siamese boys were excluded at night: they would see it as a punishment and be constantly trying to work out what they'd done wrong.)

What time? Mine gets up at first light which is about 4am at the moment.

He sleeps in the utility room.

I think it is around 4am and it seems to go on and on... He suddenly gets very awake just at the time we're going to bed as well...

I feel so guilty for shutting him out... I might leave the door open tonight and see if it helps.

He doesn't sit on our laps but he likes to sleep in the chair beside us while we watch TV. We're considering getting him a kitty companion at some point as I don't want him to be lonely!

I'm feeling so guilty that he's stuck inside all the time but I'm terrified of letting him out...

Ours is the same 430-5am he's miaowing & biting toes. It's like having a new baby I have to get up in the early hours to let him out as he will not be ignored. He doesn't do it in winter though you'll be pleased to know. He sleeps through then

Is he being kept indoors while settling in? Mine was from blue cross and I can't remember how long we were told to keep her in. Also we were advice she has to stay indoors over night as well. I think definitely try sleeping with the door ajar. Didn't work with mine though. She hates closed doors and will scratch if closed. But with the door open, she would come in at first light and started purring. She purrs so loud it will wake us up. She's also a very loud cat. Even my neighbour commented on how loud she is. Have you read Julia Donaldson's tabby mctat. That's my tabby. She's also grey too!

Yes it improves in winter like icerocket says. Mine is only locked out in the conservatory when it is warm enough to go without heating. It is ok in winter months as it doesn't get light till quite late.