Cat scratching at closed door and waking baby

[Dillybear]

Hello everyone, I was hoping for some advice.

We’ve had our cat since he was a kitten. He’s now nine. He’s used to being the centre of our world and has recently had to adapt to playing second fiddle to our first child.

Our cat does not like a closed door. He will scratch and scratch and shout until it is opened for him. He is a determined little chap and even if you chase him off invariably he will be back. We just leave our bedroom door open so he can come and go as he likes and he often curls up at the bottom of our bed. But we have to close our DD’s door because I wouldn’t want the cat to be in her room while she’s sleeping (or to be alone with the baby full stop but that’s not an issue as long as it’s daytime).

Baby and I are currently staying away from the house and we’re due to go back home fairly soon. She will be in her own room when we go back and I know that the cat will wake her up every morning if we don’t try and teach him not to scratch at her door. Has anyone got any ideas how DH can do this before me and baby return home?

He has to walk past her room to get to ours, they’re right next door to each other, if that’s relevant.

Really appreciate any help guys.

Can you put something in front of the door which is easily moveable like a chunky draught excluder or door stop do they don't have direct access to the bottom part of the door.

Ours do they same sometimes but are easily chased away.
At a certain time of night we lock ours down stairs as they start racing up and down the stairs and making lots of noise (the inconsiderate little toads)

I shut my cat downstairs at night. She would definitely scratch at our doors all night otherwise.

We got double sided sticky tape to put on carpets of doors that we shut. It's working so far.

I've got a spray called 'get off' for when the cat does this, just got it in the pet shop. Spray it on the bottom of the door. It's stinky! It works.

Mine is shut in the kitchen overnight. She would definitely scratch at doors if closed, and would bed hop if they were open.

We lock the cat downstairs for the same reason. He also bites our toes a lot!

I taped tin foil to the carpet for a few weeks, unsightly yes but they don't like the feel of it

Was also going to suggest double sided tape. I got a pet brand on Amazon and it was great and worked, but I'm sure it's just the same as any low tack tape

I recently read that the most effective way to redirect your cat is to do exactly that. Redirect rather than just chase off. So off each thing you are trying to stop it doing you need to give them something to do. A yes for each no. So think about creating a few new spots for your cat that aren't in the room. Window sills, shelves or lower places if they aren't that mobile. Each time they scratch the door, gently move them away and then place a treat in the new area.

When I was a teenager our cat used to come in my bedroom and perform at night huffing and puffing because he could see things in the garden. I put a cheap sun lounger by the door so he couldn't get in. That was another reason why that cat hated me, the feeling was mutual.

Thanks for all the messages these are great suggestions. I know don’t think that my DH will agree to keeping the cat downstairs overnight so some of the deterrent ideas might be best. I had never heard of the sticky tape idea, I will look at that as I’m sure my cat wouldn’t like that. I’ll also look at the spray.

Definitely tin foil. Cats hate it. Tape it to the bottom of the door and he shouldn’t go near it.