Cats Jumping On My Head

limestonekid

What can I do to stop one, and sometimes two, of our three cats from jumping on my head at 4:30AM?

The easy answer is to close the bedroom door but our bedroom has a tendency to get very warm due to poor air circulation.

Any suggestions short of chucking them out the window would be greatly appreciated.

whynot_31

If asthetics are not an issue, how about installing a mesh wire door on your bedroom?

Advantages:

Keeps cats out

Let's air circulate

Disadvantages:

Makes potential sexual partners fearful

Landlord unlikely to pay for.

tateinbk

How about keeping a spray bottle of water next to the bed. Which is worse, cats or a damp face?

opossumqueen

Maybe something uncomfortable for them to walk on in the doorway at night (unless you need to walk through it)? I don't know about cats, but for keeping dogs off of furniture, some suggested items are foil, bubble wrap, or those knobby floor mats like this.

The point is that it's a texture that feels weird or bad to them so they won't go where you put it. Maybe they would just learn to jump over but it could be worth a shot.

tateinbk

But if they learn to jump over it you could next train them to jump hurdles, and then you're ready for the circus. Make the freeloaders earn their keep.

alana

We used a spray bottle next to the bed and gave them a quick squirt - not in the face - in their general direction whenever they did it. it didnt' take long for them to stop the behavior and now we only need to pick up the bottle for them to know to scamper and stop.

homeowner

GIve up...the cats are your masters

bohuma

I have the same issue. My feline Lord and Lady, being crepuscular, want breakfast at 4.30 a.m. Over the last 10 years I have gotten into the habit of getting up at 4.30, feeding them, then going back to bed. You could try an automatic feeder, but I find that His Lordship and Her Grace still like me to get up, even though the food is available.

boygabriel

Spray bottle. Depending on the cats it might take a while for them to learn, but they will eventually.

They are stubborn but if you can outlast them, you will win.

whynot_31

Most people outlast their cats; cats only live about 15 or so years.

...but they are the lords of the house for their entire lives.

limestonekid

homeowner said:

GIve up...the cats are your masters

Yeah, I'm afraid this is what has happened.

What's been the one benefit of the recent cold snap? Our bedroom hasn't overheated when we've closed the door and the masters of the house have not reacted as we thought they might.