Cats want feeding at 5am!

[Janus]

We have 2 indoor cats. The most recent is nearly a year old and a bit of a diva!! About 2 months ago she started scratching at our bedroom door at 5am wanting to be fed. They both have access to dry food at all times but in the morning they get a pouch of wet food. So now they want it early! Our carpet is ruined as they dig and scratch. I’ve bought some plastic liner to put in front of the doorway but I can still hear them. The youngest one starts at 5am the older cat has started to now copy and joins in about 7am! Is there anything I can do? Getting fed up with being woken so damn early to be honest but can’t think how to stop it! I’ve tried locking them in a room such as the lounge but the youngest one has worked out how to open doors so I have to wedge a door underneath the handle and it all seems such hard work!
Any ideas please?!

Mine gets fed about 5 times a day, last one before I go to bed at midnight
4am the little goblin woke me up "my tummy empty"
Yes that's because your feeder opens at 4.30am now GO TO SLEEP

I'd love to see links or examples if anyone was kind enough to send. One of our cats is chipped, old lady isn't. They are indoor cats but have access to a closed in outside area. I wonder can the vets chip next time we do her thyroid test 🤔.

@janus I'm very excited to see how you get on. Sorry again for rambling earlier about my cats. I truly hope you find a solution!

Any cat tax please???? 💕 😻

Ear plugs 😃 worked for me. Plus she has dry down.

We had this and bought a timer which holds an ice pack so he gets access to wet food at about 4am. Doesn't completely stop the fussing, as he likes to have a cuddle and a chat early doors as well, but he's not so insistent and will usually settle again now.

No rambling, you’ve explained it all well and the problems we all face!. I would imagine any visit to the vets and they can do a chip as most have it done as a kitten and aren’t under general anaesthetic etc. I have the cooled feeder arriving tomorrow!
Also just to say there is ALWAYS dried food down so they are in no way starving!
I’m just a bit exhausted by it all! My husband works away so I’m on my own a lot and still have children to look after, 2 dogs, a house to run on my own, other commitments etc and the lack of sleep is just getting to me! Best get to bed!!
thanks for all the help.