Can't sleep, cat rules the house

[foxpink]

Please any ideas would b helpful,
My lovely fluffy best friend is a healthy 19year old!
Has been completely spoiled which he deserves to be, however I'm 2 weeks from having a baby and I can't cope with the no sleep! He rules the house, he only wants to sleep next to my head, but then goes on wanders across our heads, cleans himself, jumps of the bed and will cry till I pick him back up, takes up all the space! Pushes me off my pillow, normally I can cope but I'm sooo tired, my husband can't take it, he's still working, I use to be able to put him in the spare room sometimes but that is now a nursery and the rest of the house is open plan, so no where to lock him in, I've spent the last hour taking him back to the sofa , he just keeps running back to the bedroom door and crying and trying to get in! It's awful, I don't want him stressed, but this can't continue and he can't sleep in here when the baby is here he just wants to be so close!!
Help!!

That's a really difficult situation. What a shame it's happening at his stage of life. I can't really make any useful suggestions. Would he sleep in a bed outside your bedroom door with something f yours in it, just so as it has your scentl? If my cat accidentally gets locked out of my bedroom, she creates merry hell, so I know how hard it can be. Maybe post in chat or even AIBU for traffic?

This is a difficult one OP, because of his age. You do have my sympathy and understanding about lack of sleep. We have a crate - the biggest one, suitable for large dogs. A large covered litter tray, cosy bed and bowls fit in, with space to move around and stretch. You can buy the less strong ones quite cheaply. Our boy is used to this and quite likes it, sometimes choosing to go in for a snooze or sit by the bowls waiting to be fed(again). We've used it since he came to us as a rescue in very poor physical and mental condition several years ago. He associates it with a quiet place of safety, being fed, and especially likes it when the heated pad/bed is on. It's left open most of the time so he can come and go as he pleases. He doesn't see it in any way as a prison or punishment, which is essential to us.

I'm reluctant to suggest this as a solution to your problem because of the age of your cat. It's a big change for him. But then change is coming for all of you because of the baby. It could give you some peace at night just for the time you really need it, and it could end up being a sanctuary for your cat from the baby, especially at the crawling/toddler stage. Perhaps you could borrow one to try it, but the food and heated pad seem to be the key to success and cat happiness.

Try taking the pillows from the bed and putting them on the sofa so they smell of you and your dh.

Feliway can help and you might get a total change when baby arrives, cats seem to know when their human's are pregnant.

There are people on here who have had mice brought to them and been monitored on the toilet because their cat knows its human is pregnant.