Does your cat?
By jdeforge
@jdeforge (224)
United States
April 24, 2008 9:49am CST
I have two cats, one that is very quiet, just quietly meows every now and then. My other cat has always been vocal, answers you when you talk and just meows about.
But lately, the vocal cat has made it a regular thing that EVERY morning between 5:30 and 6am that he jumps up on the bed, walks across my chest, walks across my face, walks across my pillow pulling my hair, knocks my glasses off the end table and whatever else he can find, and just meows. He'll do this for about 10 minutes, then go sleep in the corner until I wake up at 7. EVERY morning for the last month he's done this. I figured maybe he was hungry, so I'd fill his bowl before bed, and he'd go through these shananogans, I'd check his bowl and it was full...so not hungry. I make sure to ignore him, so I'm not rewarding him in any way for this behavior.
What is going on here? If he does this every morning, but gets nothing out of it, why won't he stop??
4 people like this
10 responses
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
24 Apr 08
Is he an inside/outside cat? With the time change and it being spring he might want to go out. If he's totally inside he might be activated by the birds singing and he might be wanting to watch the birds. If you close the drapes every night, you might want to leave one open so that the cat can sit and watch the birds...in fact, you could even put a little seed or something out to attract the birds so the cat can watch "kitty T.V.". With all the birds outside the window he will be busy watching them rather than waking you up. The time between 5:30 and 6 a.m. is just about the time that the birds start waking up and chirping. So having something to attract the birds to keep him busy might be the ticket.
My cats do the same thing, but I have a screened patio and have a window that opens onto the patio that they can go through...it sure helps my sleep.
@jdeforge (224)
• United States
24 Apr 08
I have a desk in the living room that I keep the blinds open all day and night (i'm on the third floor) and I have a bird feeder out there. He doesn't seem AT ALL interested in the bireds, he seems to care less haha. The quiet one sits there all day long...figures.
He's strictly an indoor cat, I'm sure he's just bored and wants attention, I just don't know how to get him to wait just 45 minutes more when I'm supposed to wake up.
@Ailina (180)
• United States
25 Apr 08
Several things can contribute:
Health issues. Is there other unusual behavior signs he could be hurting or ill?
Attention needs: Do you give equal time to each animal? Some are a bit more aggressive at asking. Are you away from home more? Dating someone new?
@jdeforge (224)
• United States
25 Apr 08
I honestly think I give him a bit more attention because he's such a loud mouth haha. I try very much to be equal.
He deifnitely doesn't seem to be hurting or ill, he seems very happy and healthy all the time.
I don't travel, but my boyfriend does a lot, he's been gone for 3 weeks. Don't tell me he misses daddy!
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
1 May 08
Sounds as if he's just trying to get attention. I have four and they all have access to the outside so I have no trouble with them waking me up in order to go out - they are usually up and about by the time that I get up and they leave me to snooze in peace 
@SassyKittyKat (2135)
• Australia
25 Apr 08
My cat does something like this in the mornings too but he's actually not as bad. I think they just want attention and they don't get it all night while we are asleep. You could always lock him outside the room while you sleep but then he would probably meow and drive you crazy. There's really not much you can do because you need to sleep. Maybe it's just a phase and he will quit soon...
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
1 May 08
Our cat has taken a liking to come in here and jump in the chair where I sit while I use the laptop, and butt at my hand, if I pet her she will climb on the laptop and I have to tell her to get down.
She'll sometimes go visit my fiance first at the computer, but then makes her way over here to get her pettings and step on the laptop before I tell her to get down and she either leaves or sits on the ottoman for a few minutes.
@natgil (33)
• United States
25 Apr 08
My cat has been acting very "weird" the last few weeks. Not like normal for her. It only seems to happen at night though. Normally, she just hops up on the bed and lays next to me all night. Lately, she'll come and want to lay right on my chest, rub her FAT body into my face, and just is acting strange. She's an inside cat, but usually she's fat and lazy.. When she's on my chest or stomach, she does the kneeding thing with her paws and it hurts, especially on the chest. She was just into the vet for a check-up last month and everything was fine. What could be making her act so goofy???
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
24 Apr 08
You said this was recent behavior, could it have started after changing the clocks? If so it could be he's used to the "old time" and figures you have over slept. He's trying to wake you up because normally you were up at that time. I know my mother had a devil of a time with one dog we had who got her up every morning at the same time, including hr days off. She was a school teacher so she had the summers off. If this is the case try when he first walks over you telling him "It's ok. It's still sleep time," give him a pet or two and then ignore him. He will get the hint soon enough.
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
24 Apr 08
Cats will be cats LOL. My mad cat Moomin does somethign very similar in the mornings, having slept all night curled up at the end of the bed he will wake with the alarm and make his way up to the bedside tables and either knock my glasses off or hit the clock. He is demanding attention and usually it means he wants to go out. He is very vocal too.
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
24 Apr 08
one of mine does this when he's bored and wants me to wake up.
he'd gotten used to my previous work schedule,and still thinks i should get up at that particular time.if all else fails,he slams his 18 pound bulk directly into my stomach.
sometimes opening a window for him to peep out at the birds in the morning keeps him occupied long enough for me to sleep.
@athinapie (1150)
• Philippines
25 Apr 08
i had a cat when i was younger. and just like your cat, he meows for no reason at all. we thought he was hungry but when we give him food, he doesn't eat and meows a bit more. turns out, he was looking for a mate, that's what the vet said. hmmm...
