New cat and getting sleep

I just got a cat from the humaine society, and in many ways she is a
very well behaved cat. I've been impressed with how easily she has
settled in. The one problem I've had is that she goes from being quiet
in the day to being very vocal at night. She craves attention, and at
night she wakes me up to get it (over and over again). I want to show
her that she has a permanent home and that I love her, but I want to
stop this behaviour from being a regular thing.

Any advice?

First the furball is training you very well. Just like a child you are
enforcing bad behavior is what you are doing. For me I don't mind when they
wake me up to be loved on but when I need my sleep I close the door. Which
they are not happy about but I broke them of the habit.

Try playing with them before you go to bed wear them out

How long has it been it takes awhile for them to get used to your home. In
the shelter animals are very vocal. The furball might be trying to talk to
other cats or is nervous


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I just got a cat from the humaine society, and in many ways she is a
very well behaved cat. I've been impressed with how easily she has
settled in. The one problem I've had is that she goes from being quiet
in the day to being very vocal at night. She craves attention, and at
night she wakes me up to get it (over and over again). I want to show
her that she has a permanent home and that I love her, but I want to
stop this behaviour from being a regular thing.

Any advice?

On Apr 2, 2:19 pm, "Matthew" wrote:
First the furball is training you very well. Just like a child you are
enforcing bad behavior is what you are doing. For me I don't mind when they
wake me up to be loved on but when I need my sleep I close the door. Which
they are not happy about but I broke them of the habit.

Try playing with them before you go to bed wear them out

How long has it been it takes awhile for them to get used to your home. In
the shelter animals are very vocal. The furball might be trying to talk to
other cats or is nervous

Oh, she is training me. She's only been here for a very few days, and
I'm still watching for signs of distress to make sure that everything
is alright. So when she cries outside my (open) door at night I worry
and invite her in. Your advice is good, but I think I'll find it hard.

Well all do that is what makes us perfect cat slaves

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On Apr 2, 2:19 pm, "Matthew" wrote:
First the furball is training you very well. Just like a child you are
enforcing bad behavior is what you are doing. For me I don't mind when
they
wake me up to be loved on but when I need my sleep I close the door.
Which
they are not happy about but I broke them of the habit.

Try playing with them before you go to bed wear them out

How long has it been it takes awhile for them to get used to your home.
In
the shelter animals are very vocal. The furball might be trying to talk
to
other cats or is nervous

Oh, she is training me. She's only been here for a very few days, and
I'm still watching for signs of distress to make sure that everything
is alright. So when she cries outside my (open) door at night I worry
and invite her in. Your advice is good, but I think I'll find it hard.

Matthew has some good advice. A play session before bedtime is a good
idea. My cats have learned that if they bother me before the alarm
clock, they are locked out of the bedroom. Another tip is to NOT feed
her immediately after getting up in the morning. Take a shower or eat
breakfast and then feed her. That way, you aren't rewarding her
behavior with food.

It make take a few weeks of "tough love," but once you have a
schedule, you'll sleep much better.

On Apr 2, 3:21 pm, "Rene S." wrote:
Matthew has some good advice. A play session before bedtime is a good
idea.

She actually doesn't play. I bought a few toys for her, and she just
ignores them all. I tried playing with her and she mostly stares at
me. She was a stray, and I think maybe that need to find food makes
play hunting seem pointless.

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On Apr 2, 3:21 pm, "Rene S." wrote:
Matthew has some good advice. A play session before bedtime is a good
idea.

She actually doesn't play. I bought a few toys for her, and she just
ignores them all. I tried playing with her and she mostly stares at
me. She was a stray, and I think maybe that need to find food makes
play hunting seem pointless.


No, it is just too early. Her personality will emerge over time as she gets
comfortable.

I closed her out of my room for the night and it was so sad. She was
trying to follow me into my room (she follows me most of the time). I
don't think I'm cut out for tough love.

On 3 Apr, 06:30, wrote:
I closed her out of my room for the night and it was so sad. She was
trying to follow me into my room (she follows me most of the time). I
don't think I'm cut out for tough love.

for chirst's sake just put up with sleepless nights like the rest of
us do, it is small price to pay for the company of a beautiful
pussycat who just wants to be loved and be near you. Take it as a
compliment in fact! she will calm, down, let her sleep onyour bed with
you fro a while (if you are not doing so already), she is disturbed
right now and needs reassurance so let her have some.
would you ignore a crying baby at night? probably not, you woudl drag
your arse out of bed in a flash and respond to whatever the screaming
kid wants (probably attention or something) and let it disrupt your
sleep and be cool about it, so what is different about your new cat
who is a bti scraed and confused about her new surroundings right now.

she will calm down in time, just remember that she is frightened and
confused and that she is also a princess who needs your love and
reassuarnce.

as for toys, try some different things like dangly things on string,
fishing rod type stuff, some cats like catnip and go mad for it, some
cats do not respond to it at all, crinky balls which are light can be
good, also ping pong balls which bounce easilty and cats bat them
arund and can find them even more enticing to play with as they cannot
get hold of them and they shoot out of their paws fast. she may like
things which make a noise, or she may be scared of things with bells
on them.

My jasper ran away form toys with bells onthem, so any news toys
(dangly ones only, he was not keen on balls) had to have the bells
removed and hten he would love playing chase with them and pretending
they were prey, particularly things with feathers which could be waved
temptingly in front of him.

try a range of toys and dont' give up, you will find one which she
likes soon enough, even if it is just a cardboard box for her to hide
and and jump out at people from. toy makers all claim theirs is the
'best toy ever!!!' but it does depends onthe cat just liek humans have
different tastes (eg i can't stand computer games, some people love
them)

best fo luck with her, but don't bother with tough love tactics, just
give her love
bookie

Don't lock her out of your room. She is afraid of losing you, right now.
Don't forget, she was probably living in a cage when you found her and now
you've shown her how great life can be for a cat.

Teach her what it means when you need to sleep. Play "dead". Totally
ignore her when she tries to wake you. Just lie there and pretend you're
sleeping. Cat's are smart. She will get the idea. Show her you wake up on
your own time.

Lots of luck!
Barb
Of course I don't look busy,
I did it right the first time.