How to beat the 3am wake-up paw?!

[ThanksMateThanksMate]

Meaow...
Meaow?
Me-aaoww

..
Paw on face
Paw on face
Etc

We had to close up the cat flap due to a million reasons.

Do you get up?
Do you successfully ignore?
It's every bloody night .....

Mine are all shut downstairs at night.

They have access to their litter trays, dry food and water. It's been like they since they all came to us and it's never been an issue.

I don't get these threads - why would you tolerate being woken up at 3am for years on end?! 🙈

I give one quick tickle then hide my hands under the duvet and cover my head so she can't get at my cheek. She usually settles down then (or turns her attentions to DH)

TBH our cat came to us as a terrified traumatised thing. The first six weeks she hid in the spare bedroom with her litter tray and food - she used to creep into the bedroom at night and sit if we moved she'd run.
I love the fact that now she is bold as anything and comes in and is happy to smack me around the chops!

My Madam goes out murdering at night, but comes back in at some point as I usually wake up and find her curled up asleep at my feet. She is not a proper cat though, as she never demands breakfast before 8am!