Bed time routine.

[RubbishMantra]

MCat prefers to sleep at the end of the bed, facing the window in case of burglars/assassins. On his baby blanket of course.

When Little M gets into bed, he likes to (very gently) beat up my knees or the duvet, then settle down for a wash, then kitty coma. If he gets out of bed for a wee or a snack, he doesn't do the beating up ritual on his return, just stands on me or picks at the duvet until I lift it up, so he can snuggle back under it. I've also learned when I roll over, he must be rolled over with me, so we're facing each other. Otherwise I get the duvet plucking scenario.

Anyone else's cats have bed time rituals?

Ollie sleeps on my hip or back or stomach. He must be touching me at all times

Yes. She has her supper pouch and her water is changed. She is sent outside for a last wee. comes back in, has a few dreamies in her dreamies mouse dispenser . I say goodnight, close the kitchen door. She gets onto her cosy chair.

Seniorboy has to go down twice to his stations. The first time, I have to lift him down but the second time he jumps himself. He won't sleep unless he has both trips - in that order.

It's interesting to watch rituals change and develop. Siamese have taken ritual behaviour to an art-form, I know but even so..........

Oh and Ollie has to guard me by sitting nearest the door. When he thinks I'm asleep he clambers on my hip
Also if I'm late into bed he sneezes at me and takes himself off to sleep

His little pretend maulings of me and the duvet are like a tired toddler, getting rid of that last bit of energy, and trying to fight the tiredness.

Up early today, (he likes a lie-in) and is now wuffling contentedly next to me, head and front paws on pillow. Thing is, I want to make myself something for dinner, and don't want to disturb my little gremlin, and he's making little squeaky noises in his sleep...

Another one with a bodyguard cat hollinghurst ! His bed time routine is to leap up from wherever he's sitting (OH is OK to lean on, but I must be in sight at all times and followed when I leave the room), rush up stairs in front of me, guard bathroom door, then escorted to bedroom. He gets in bed on my side, head on pillow. If I turn over, he turns over. Periodically he places his paw on my mouth then shoves his face in mine to check I'm still breathing. If I get up in the night, he gets up and escorts me to the loo.

In some cultures hollinhurst, it's considered lucky to have a cat sneeze on you. Think of the good snot luck Ollie's bestowed upon you!

Thanks to the removal of the offending tooth
He now only sneezes in anger. Which is still weird. But then I shouted at him to sit the other day and the little oddball looked at me and sat his fluffy butt down

Troy used to come downstairs at 9.55pm and sit looking at me. As soon as News at Ten came on he would jump on my lap. I would say "is it time for bed?" and he would meow.

We would go upstairs, he would sit on the toilet seat whilst I cleaned my teeth then would have a snack. As soon as I was in bed and the lights out he would jump on the bed and throw himself against me. He sometimes sat on the pillow above my head and I would hold his paw as we drifted off to sleep.

I miss him and don't go to bed so early these days.

When I go upstairs Snorgmaiden marches around the bed meowing at me and demanding fuss. Fatty will then usually come and sit on my lap while I check mumsnet. Both will put an appearance in while on face time and talk to their cousins. Snorg likes to snuggle on my right side and fatty will come and go and sits on my head. Frequently get sneezed on by Snorgmaiden

its like having toddlers..in fact I think it's worse..but much more fun...

Too right. I never resent being woken by them several times a night!

I have more duties than I can count for bed prep.

Mr C goes to bed at 10 sharp, giving me a nasty look if I am disobedient enough to still be watching telly. I tell him I am 48 not 7 and allowed to do this.

10: 01 I feel terrible, poor tiny neglected kitten, all cold and lonely
10: 02 get undressed in a mad rush, clean teeth
10:03 neglected kitten, all 7kg, appears in kitchen screaming; extra meal issued against veterinary advice
10: 04 undignified scramble to get empty corner of duvet cover
10:05 Treat time! Slapped hard by helpless tiny kitty. Treats grabbed from hand, come back asking for more treats before I have even finished shaking them out, etc etc etc. Purrs like tornado.

1015. Peace. Get the evils if I finish watching film on pc. The Kindle gets the stinkeye too, as does any hardback. He hates The Romanovs with a passion as it's 6cm thick. Had to give up after Catherine the Great.

1016 Hurled out of bed by force of The Wash. Whole bed shakes.

1030 The Cuddle, belly massage and paw tickle optional extra. Purring drowns out telly.

1101 Lie back very, very carefully in order not to disturb helpless tiny sleeping kitten

1102 The Tail is placed in my open palm, where it stays all night.

0800 am Wake up fter badly broken night of snoring, grunting, spinning, midnight toilette visit and subsequent yowl, head sniffed and inspected at 4am without fail. Covered in scratches with bleeding nose, helpless kitten snoring like drain, treat packet emptied next to bed.

I cart ours off to bed 21:30 to 22:30. Little sod has worked out that if he pushes my wrist away with his left back leg I can't pick him up if he's lying on his side.

It's fiendishly simple.

He got banished we realised he can't sleep in last 4am. Dh thinks this is ok because he never gets 4:30 paw in mouth.

Love this thread.

My adorable tortie follows me around, whatever room I'm in she's never far behind.

She sometimes makes it known if I've stayed up too late but generally she waits till lights are out, I'm snuggled into bed then she thuds up the stairs and makes herself comfortable either at foot of my bed or by my side. Of course if I'm uncomfortable or need to move I can't move too far at risk of disturbing her I know my place.

On occasional mornings I wake up & she's not in the bed, I miss her.

I've woken in middle of night before to find her lying on my tummy facing me & staring intently at me. A bit disconcerting. She is a big cat too so it's not exactly comfortable!

Mine have a routine....we are currently in the run around chasing each other as fast as we can while sounding like elephants phase....it is normally followed by one of them squeezing a stinky poo out ( even though all three have already done one each this evening) forcing me to get back out of my cosy bed to bin it.....the joys