Help getting bengal to sleep in bed

eric1337 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2014 6:52 pm

I was wondering if anyone has any tips/suggestions on getting my Bengal to sleep in my bed with me? Perhaps there is some kind of herb or other tricks that could encourage him to do so?

My Bengal, Bennie, is almost 3 now and has only slept in a bed when he was a young kitten. I am not sure if this is because something tragic happened (maybe i rolled over on him?), or if he just has some mentality that he isn't allowed, or some other logic. He is affectionate with me, albeit on his own time. Sometimes he will jump up in bed in the middle of the night purring, but only for a short time before jumping back down.

The main reason I prefer him to sleep in bed is so he can be more comfortable and warm. Sometimes, particularly in winter, he looks very cold and appears to be shivering. He will sit on the floor like a loaf to keep warm. He also has a cat tree which he likes to sleep on, but again looks very cold at times. I have tried putting different types of blankets on the ground for him but he will not even lay near them. I would prefer that he sleep in bed and be partially insulated by blankets etc. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Picture of Bennie

Eggman · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:22 pm **Posts:** 730

Apart from wanting to keep him warm I can see why you would want him to sleep with you as he's absolutely gorgeous!

I have similar with my Bengal kitten. He is quite timid and like you say affectionate but on his own terms so I haven't yet been able to coax him into the bed for a cuddle for more than a few seconds. He'll purr and then like yours jump off.

Will be interested to hear what others say :)

Kyenta1 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2014 10:03 pm

When Quasar was very small, he used to sleep in bed with me or, in fact, wherever I was lying or sitting. He would get as close as he could to me including lying on my chest under my chin and then, as he grew, he moved to my armpits and now is most likely to lie behind the crook of my knees.

Most recently, he sometimes lies with me but, just as frequently, he will find his own place to sleep, alone, away from the dog, hubby, and myself.

I don't take it personally. I don't know how to make him sleep with me. If I pick him up and move him to bed with me, he is more likely not to sleep there.

I must say, he got very cozy in our sleeping bags when were at Yellowstone NP camping 2 weekends ago. The nighttime temps dropped below freezing.

I enjoy it when he does choose to sleep with me but I don't think there is any way to make a cat sleep in any particular spot.

Quasar is 2 1/2 years old now.

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

Bennie is so handsome! I've had cats that would not sleep in bed with me. My bengal Raiden, does, however. He may start somewhere else (cat tree, on an ottoman, couch, etc., but before morning, he's always at my feet. Cats tend to sleep where they want to sleep. I have kicked Raiden off the bed before not knowing he was laying at the bottom of the bed. I purchased some baby blankets (very soft) for Raiden and fold them up and lay them on the bed and he loves to sleep on them. You might want to try that.

brianj12 · **Posted:** Tue Sep 23, 2014 12:07 am

A few tips:

1. Bribes. Every night, before lights out, my cats get treats on the bed. Bed = treats.
2. Warmth. In the winter I keep a heated pad in the corner of the bed for the cats, it draws them like magnets.. Bed = warmth.
3. Play. Frequently I'll pull out the "squigglers" (little wool strands with a knot at the end) and we have a quick play on the bed. Bed = fun

The worst thing you can do is pick them up and put them on the bed. "get up here...now stay!". If you do... Bed = punishment.

Even with all this though, it's about 50/50 each night as to whether they will choose to spend the night on the bed or not. And when I wake up there is almost certain to be a different arrangement of cats on the bed then there was when I fell asleep. They are fickle that way. In the winter though it's almost 100% (that they spend the night on the bed). Either on the heated pad or burrowed under the blankets. It's the summer when they are the most fickle.

If your cat is determined not to sleep on the bed, but you want him to be warm and comfortable, probably try a hooded bed or a portable heater, or a heated pad, and put it in a place where he enjoys sleeping.

Eggman · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:22 pm **Posts:** 730

The worst thing you can do is pick them up and put them on the bed. "get up here...now stay!". If you do... Bed = punishment.[/quote]

That's what I do lol! No wonder he pretty much immediately jumps off.

Tabitha · **Joined:** Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:11 pm **Posts:** 1196

I actively discourage my boys from sleeping on the bed...

If we go to bed early to watch tv or are having a lie in, they come in and lay with us for a while, but you only have to move your foot and they are attacking it and with the summer duvet on you get the full benefit of their teeth biting you! Or they love to go under the duvet and they can be sweetness and light for half hour and suddenly, even if you've been careful not to move an inch, you will get a nip or they start to wrestle your leg. If they are both under there, they can also end up fighting which isn't something you want to be in the middle of!

Plus (and more importantly!) they both stretch out instead of curling up and it seems to be me that gets pushed out of bed lol

They seem quite happy sleeping in the kitchen or conservatory, in fact Hendrix puts himself to bed most evenings. Last winter, the cat flap they use between the two rooms was taped open as Hendrix wouldn't use it after injuring his paw in it, and there is no heating in there and the conservatory is always freezing in the winter. They didn't seem bothered, curled up in a basket together most nights, so I'm sure Bennie is fine. I'm told Bengals are supposed to be quite hardy!

Eggman · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:22 pm **Posts:** 730

Tabitha, yes didn't think of that lol and can just imagine Dexter doing exactly the same thing!

Like you say he's all sweetness and light one minute and then a raving nutcase the next. He also tends to stretch out and not curl up in a ball.

Help getting bengal to sleep in bed

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