To bedroom or not to bedroom?

Ry_01 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 29, 2016 3:55 pm **Posts:** 4

Hi everyone! I'm new around here. My intro post and pictures can be found here: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=24044

My question is regarding access to my bedroom at night. For the first week or so I was allowing her in as she loved sleeping with the breeders. She cuddles up with me nicely when the lights are off and i go to bed but tends to wake me up several times through the night pouncing on my feet, hands, and occasionally, my face lol.

I figure my options are these:

1) Let her stay in the bedroom and put up with her waking me up hoping she'll grow out of it.

2) (my current situation) Lock her out of my bedroom 24/7 and put up with the very small amount of meowing and door scratching.

3) let her in during the day but lock her out at night. I'm worried this sends mixed messages?

I'd love to know what you guys think! Thanks!

brianj12 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 31, 2016 4:22 pm

I think you should do what you think is best for yourself and your cat. Any of those options will work, cats like routine though, so you should settle on one and stick with it. If your decision is to let your cat stay with you in the bedroom, she will definitely grow out of the biting and goofing off. Mine sleep like logs and will wake up when I get up. But it does take time to firmly establish that routine.

n00dle · **Posted:** Thu Mar 31, 2016 4:23 pm

We let our boys in during the day and used to allow them in the bedroom at night. Faust is well behaved and sleeps in the cat bed on the floor all night. Maxwell... Knocks everything off the side tables, disconnects the TV cables, pulls things over, and wreaks general havoc. We used to close the door after kicking both out. He pulls on the door knob. Then I tried putting a loose harness on him at night (it fits like a thundershirt, so there is no worry about him getting stuck or hurt). I just recently bought a second scat mat that is 48" long to put in front of the bedroom door, with the door closed. The old, 24" one is draped over the entertainment center, where he'd climb to reach the doorknob. They get removed around midnight to two a.m. depending on any behavior issues. They sleep on the couch and wait for us to get up. Of note... I had to tape down both scat mats because Maxwell figured out how to pull the battery pack across the floor and move them. *facepalm*

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

CMYKjill · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:38 pm **Posts:** 1838

My allergist would say keep the kitty out of the bedroom. But I spend so much time out of the house during the work week and at night or early morning when I am at home they are playing out on the screened in patio. Bedtime is my favorite time of day with them. Their towers, clouds and wheel are all in the bedroom so it is like a circus when they come in the house at bedtime. Grace flies up and down the towers and clouds and leaps toward the ceiling, sliding down with her nails screeching against the wall. Blondie runs on the cat wheel making noise and jumps on the bed next to my head waiting for belly rubs, kneading the air and licking my fingers until she falls asleep in my arms with her face pressed against the back of my hand. Grace will jump on the bed in the morning demanding belly rubs and attention. I wouldn't want to miss any of that.

brianj12 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 31, 2016 5:52 pm

Ry_01 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 29, 2016 3:55 pm **Posts:** 4

I guess another option is to let her in but kick her out when she starts being a brat? Would this teach her not to or would it just get me out of bed for nothing? haha

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

Oh these kitties!!! Kittens will pounce on anything that moves under the covers. They also take mini naps and wake up more than adult kitties during the night. If you do not want your kitty sleeping in bed with you, you'll have to confine the kitty elsewhere in the house or close your bedroom door! My 9-year old bengal sleeps in our bed, usually at my feet! He sleeps through the night now. I love having the extra company in bed, even though sometimes I can't outstretch my legs.

SpotsnSpice · **Joined:** Wed Mar 30, 2016 8:57 am **Posts:** 16

We have always had a utility room so the animals have usually stopped in there at night time and when we go out during the day.

I think if I let the Bengal have free roam and shut her out of the bedroom she would yowl at my door all night lol! She seems to know the utility means sleep and quiet time, it's the routine I guess.

CMYKjill · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:38 pm **Posts:** 1838

ttl · **Joined:** Sat Jan 09, 2016 10:24 pm **Posts:** 148

Ka3na · **Joined:** Mon Jan 18, 2016 3:47 pm **Posts:** 37

We set up a routine at the start. When we go to sleep, i give them some dry meat and I say " good night". And after that we go to bedroom.
Rocky meowing for two times maybe, but then he understood that we come back in the morning. Now, they waiting behind the door every morning - quietly :)

When we are at home, they have access to all rooms, including bedroom. But when we are out of home, they are only in kitchen and living room.

But sometimes when I am at home alone without husband. Attracts me to take them with me to the bedroom at night :) But we try to be consistent. We know that when we allow something to do them, it will be very hard to forbid again :) And our sleep is important.

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

Raiden understands "lay down and go night night." It's so funny!

wildlifereflections · **Joined:** Wed Oct 23, 2013 2:34 am **Posts:** 350

We have always allowed our cats on the bed at night. Definitely there was playing and toe attacking in the kitten years, but they outgrew that. Play with her right before bed to wear her out a little.

brianj12 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 24, 2016 1:28 am

To bedroom or not to bedroom?

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