Cat driving me mad

gonewithtthewind · 2022-08-19T07:02:15+00:00

So he's a house cat, he has feline flu so cannot go out. He has 3 trees, so so many toys and he doesn't seem bored but he can be so so annoying at time! We're due our first baby in February. Our cat wakes up at 3/4am everyday without fail, we feed him later but that doesn't work, if we lock him out of the bedroom he cries and scratches at the door. We can't have him in the bedroom once the baby is here, he doesn't even sleep in there he tends to sleep in the bath (not sure why he has like 3 beds). I'm exhausted from getting up wit him everyday because if I don't he just plays up. My partner gets up with him occasionally but I've been awake with him since 5am and he's so far broke 3 plant pots from knocking them off the shelves, keeps climbing up all the shelves in our front room, biting me, all sorts. I've been playing with him and we both play with him countless times everyday. I'm just at my wits end and probably extra emotional due to being so exhausted and pregnant! I try everything to keep him happy and on the whole he seems very happy but I can't help but feel like I've done something wrong for him to act like this. I've currently locked him in the kitchen (but he has full access to upstairs from the kitchen) because I'm just so drained and I'm losing my temper which I obviously don't want to do, I've never and would never hurt nor shout at him but I feel myself getting frustrated with him. He's happily playing with his ball in the kitchen; I can hear him. I just need advice on what to do? I love him with everything but sometimes he just tests me!

Dinhop · 19/08/2022 08:11

Ah this is hard! I’ve been there! Try getting Zyklene and feed him before bed it might make him sleep through the night. Also are you playing vigorously enough? And have you thought of getting toys he can play with alone? Catnip sticks, tunnels, toys to wrestle? My house cats also have cat tv on YouTube when I need to focus, it can help keep them occupied!

Original poster

gonewithtthewind · 19/08/2022 08:14

Dinhop · 19/08/2022 08:11

Ah this is hard! I’ve been there! Try getting Zyklene and feed him before bed it might make him sleep through the night. Also are you playing vigorously enough? And have you thought of getting toys he can play with alone? Catnip sticks, tunnels, toys to wrestle? My house cats also have cat tv on YouTube when I need to focus, it can help keep them occupied!

Thank you. I'll get some, can I get it from pets at home?
I think so. He has a number of toys he can play with alone, he has one of those circuit toys with a ball that goes around it, then another one that's like 3 stories he can play with alone, a few of those moving fish and then he has a ball that moves around on it own when touched. I've tried the cat tv on YouTube but he doesn't seem interested by it. X

OP posts:

Springdaisy · 19/08/2022 08:18

Mine go outside, so its not as bad. But one of my cats used to do exactly the same. He has access to outside at all times and still decides to scratch at our bedroom door and miao! He even manages to open the door by jumping up on the handle.
Im locking him out now over night. He is in the kitchen with his bed and the cat flap to outside. I cant hear him so well like this and dont wake up from him.
He has literally everything including a friend who is so chilled and nothing like him at all.
Do you have a room far away from your bedroom where he could spend the night? Might not be ideal if hes all alone, but i wouldnt put up with hos nonsense tbh.

LadyCampanulaTottington · 19/08/2022 08:23

He has you well trained OP.

Close your bedroom door and no matter what he does do not open it. It might take a couple of nights of disturbed sleep but he will learn that his antics don’t get him what he wants.

Good luck!!

Original poster

gonewithtthewind · 19/08/2022 08:24

Springdaisy · 19/08/2022 08:18

Mine go outside, so its not as bad. But one of my cats used to do exactly the same. He has access to outside at all times and still decides to scratch at our bedroom door and miao! He even manages to open the door by jumping up on the handle.
Im locking him out now over night. He is in the kitchen with his bed and the cat flap to outside. I cant hear him so well like this and dont wake up from him.
He has literally everything including a friend who is so chilled and nothing like him at all.
Do you have a room far away from your bedroom where he could spend the night? Might not be ideal if hes all alone, but i wouldnt put up with hos nonsense tbh.

We did make a small area in our garden where he could go out with supervision but he just doesn't seem interested in going out anyway, even if I open our patio doors he just stays indoors. I can't let him out anyway but I think even if he could go outdoors he wouldn't! I can't get him a friend either unfortunately 😭

I did think of putting him in one room but it's difficult as our house is somewhat open plan and the only room we could put him in is the bathroom which is next to our bedroom. 😩 he's just driving me insane and I feel like I've tried everything but nothing works!

OP posts:

Creepymanonagoatfarm · 19/08/2022 08:24

Well would he benefit from having another dcat?
When your dc arrives you will have less time to pander to his neediness!

Original poster

gonewithtthewind · 19/08/2022 08:25

LadyCampanulaTottington · 19/08/2022 08:23

He has you well trained OP.

Close your bedroom door and no matter what he does do not open it. It might take a couple of nights of disturbed sleep but he will learn that his antics don’t get him what he wants.

Good luck!!

I definitely think I've been to soft with him.

I'll try from tonight and just ignore him but he just starts wrecking our door and I start to feel cruel but I know it needs to be done!

OP posts:

Original poster

gonewithtthewind · 19/08/2022 08:26

Creepymanonagoatfarm · 19/08/2022 08:24

Well would he benefit from having another dcat?
When your dc arrives you will have less time to pander to his neediness!

We did consider this but I don't think we can do to him being infectious. I think it's (FIV) that he has and I wouldn't want the other cat to get it

OP posts:

custardbear · 19/08/2022 08:30

Can you afford a catio?
Cars hunt at dusk and dawn, he probably gets pissed at you disturbing his daytime napping. I'd get a catio and a timed feeder system if you have a problem. My kittens have gotten out of the early waking now as they're nearly 1 so go out the bedroom window now lol 😆
My puppy however .... 😵😴

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 19/08/2022 08:32

Is there a room (the kitchen?) he can be shut in at night? We did this with our older boy cat who was a complete pain over night otherwise.

Original poster

gonewithtthewind · 19/08/2022 08:33

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 19/08/2022 08:32

Is there a room (the kitchen?) he can be shut in at night? We did this with our older boy cat who was a complete pain over night otherwise.

Our kitchen has the stairs to upstairs in it. The only room I could put him in is the bathroom 😩

OP posts:

SteakChips · 19/08/2022 08:34

Wow this sounds like my cat. I have two indoor cats and one is extra clingy especially when I was pregnant. Have you looked into her feed?? Is she hungry and what time is her food before you go to bed? I had to put a lock on my door as mine kept opening the door. I found when I fed her at 0630am, and it wasn't touched say in 30min. I would pick it up and then the cats doesn't eat till late afternoon around 2/3pm, I would then feed just before I went to bed 2200. By this time there are extra hungry, which filled there bellies and was content and slept. The cats waking at 3-4am is a normal thing - mine forever bouncing and creating hell. When our baby came the time of feeding before bed changed but she got into a routine.

Original poster

gonewithtthewind · 19/08/2022 08:34

custardbear · 19/08/2022 08:30

Can you afford a catio?
Cars hunt at dusk and dawn, he probably gets pissed at you disturbing his daytime napping. I'd get a catio and a timed feeder system if you have a problem. My kittens have gotten out of the early waking now as they're nearly 1 so go out the bedroom window now lol 😆
My puppy however .... 😵😴

He has an area outside he can go to, a bit like a cardio but he isn't interested in the slightest 😩

OP posts:

Creepymanonagoatfarm · 19/08/2022 08:35

Maybe you could find a dcat via a rescue that has it also?

Original poster

gonewithtthewind · 19/08/2022 08:36

SteakChips · 19/08/2022 08:34

Wow this sounds like my cat. I have two indoor cats and one is extra clingy especially when I was pregnant. Have you looked into her feed?? Is she hungry and what time is her food before you go to bed? I had to put a lock on my door as mine kept opening the door. I found when I fed her at 0630am, and it wasn't touched say in 30min. I would pick it up and then the cats doesn't eat till late afternoon around 2/3pm, I would then feed just before I went to bed 2200. By this time there are extra hungry, which filled there bellies and was content and slept. The cats waking at 3-4am is a normal thing - mine forever bouncing and creating hell. When our baby came the time of feeding before bed changed but she got into a routine.

He has become more clingy since I've been pregnant. We feed him at around 9pm and then at 7am. He has a top up in the middle of the day of dry food so I really don't know. I have been thinking about hiding treats to see if that works but I have no clue! I could maybe try feeding him later. It's just so frustrating

OP posts:

Original poster

gonewithtthewind · 19/08/2022 08:37

Creepymanonagoatfarm · 19/08/2022 08:35

Maybe you could find a dcat via a rescue that has it also?

I might look into this. I've emailed the rescue I got him from to see! I'm assuming I'd have to get a female or are two males okay together?

OP posts:

RNBrie · 19/08/2022 08:39

Automatic feeder!!! Invest in a decent one he can't knock over or break into. Get it to give him biscuits at the time he usually wakes you up. Our cat was a massive pain at 4am but now she gets most of her food from an automatic feeder and we give her wet food in the evening. She doesn't bother us at all in the night now (except when she wants a cuddle and lies on my face purring loudly until i move into the right position and she can flop over under my chin, but that's a whole other story).

Antarcticant · 19/08/2022 08:45

are two males okay together?

Two males are fine as long as they are both castrated.

WonderingWanda · 19/08/2022 09:17

He's definitely attention seeking and because you are getting up with him he is keeping on with it. You need to shut him in another room and ignore him when you want to sleep, if he is damaging stuff by scratching then consider buying a small enclosure like a dog crate or something to keep him in at night. Cats are stubborn and will become convinced that once it has happened once it must happen every time!

SilverLiningPlaybook · 19/08/2022 09:20

Does he not go outside? He sounds bored out of his mind. If he does go outside, shut him in at night wirh water bowl and litter tray. Do you have a utility room? Feed him when you get up. He shouldn’t be roaming the house at night.

Original poster

gonewithtthewind · 19/08/2022 09:23

SilverLiningPlaybook · 19/08/2022 09:20

Does he not go outside? He sounds bored out of his mind. If he does go outside, shut him in at night wirh water bowl and litter tray. Do you have a utility room? Feed him when you get up. He shouldn’t be roaming the house at night.

He can't go out as he has FIV. I don't have a utility room, our house is mainly open plan so it's hard to lock him in anywhere! He has a catnip but he isn't interested in going outside, he has so many toys, trees, tunnels he has all sorts to play with and we get him new toys every month to stop him from getting bored!

OP posts:

Original poster

gonewithtthewind · 19/08/2022 09:23

Catio type thing not catnip!

OP posts:

Original poster

gonewithtthewind · 19/08/2022 09:24

WonderingWanda · 19/08/2022 09:17

He's definitely attention seeking and because you are getting up with him he is keeping on with it. You need to shut him in another room and ignore him when you want to sleep, if he is damaging stuff by scratching then consider buying a small enclosure like a dog crate or something to keep him in at night. Cats are stubborn and will become convinced that once it has happened once it must happen every time!

I definitely think I've been too soft with him and this is what's happening. I'm looking at getting a stair gate and putting something on it so he hopefully can't get through (hopefully not over it either) so I can lock him into the kitchen

OP posts:

Kanojo · 19/08/2022 09:26

FIV cats are often harder to rehome as they can’t go out and can’t live with other cats who don’t have FIV, so a rescue would probably be grateful if you took on another.

Leafy3 · 19/08/2022 09:30

I'm a little confused, if he's a carrier of the cat flu virus (which occasionally flares up), I think its still OK for him to go outside (??) It's FIV which means cats have to stay in...I have a cat who got cat flu as a kitten and it occasionally flares up,the vet is happy that he goes out and I've never been advised or read otherwise.

I'm only raising this in case he is actually OK to go out, which would ease the pressure on you. Some cats take a while to brave the outside but often eventually come and go as they please.