Any experiences with a cat who has to prowl at dawn? How do you handle it?

Question

I have two cats, a female who is cool and a tom who is a giant jackass.

One of the big problems with the tom is that he must be outside prowling at dawn. This was OK in the warmer weather, because he would go out before I went to bed, and just stay out all night. However, when it is raining or cold out, he will not go out. He comes to sleep by me, and then ends up waking me up just before dawn, because he can hear the birds or other cats outside. 

He will rush from window to window, howl, climb all over me, and harass the other cat. I then have to wake myself up enough to get him outside, which often involves me trapping him and throwing him out the door because it is toooo cold or rainy for his delicate self, and when HE gets to the door he suddenly decides he would rather not. I then never really get back to sleep.

Anyone out there have any experience with this? Is there a solution to controlling such a cat?

I go through weeks being sleep-deprived  because of this. Also, I do not like just tossing him out (have visions of another big angry tom waiting just around the corner and tearing him to shreds), and worry one of us is going to get hurt in our pre-dawn chases around the house.

All suggestions welcome. A giant jackass of a marmalade tabby is an optional additional prize (JKD).

Michele the Louis Wain cat · Accepted Answer

Have you thought about fitting a cat flap so that he could and go as he pleases?  Some of the more sophisticated ones work with microchips and can be programmed with a timer or set to open at sunrise and close at sunset.

Another option would be to close your bedroom door at night, but that would mean him no longer being able to sleep next to you.  You'd also need to be prepared to grit your teeth and ignore him completely if he tries new methods of waking you like meowing loudly or scratching the door.  Unfortunately, for as long as his early morning antics succeed at getting you out of bed, he'll continue to to do them.

Universal Whisperer · Answer

If he's not yet neutered, get your male neutered.  That will greatly reduce his urge to get outside and wander looking for mates and fighting with other males.  When your cat starts nagging you to let him out, you could shut him in the bathroom with his litter, food, and water for the night.  You could ignore him...eventually he will learn that he's a total indoor kitty now and give up on asking to go out.  You could also spritz him with mist from a spray bottle of water and tell him knock it off when he starts acting up-this discipline will need to be repeated a number of times.

Most important thing to break the behavior is to never let him out when he bugs you to let him out.  As long as you let him at all when he bugs you, he's getting rewarded for bugging you and the behavior will not stop.

He'll be much safer, happier, and live longer being a neutered indoor kitty.  There are so many dangers outside for cats, including animals such as coyotes, foxes, and birds of prey that will eat a cat. cars, dogs, poisons, and many more.

Blueiis · Answer

We had to train our cat to let us sleep!

Since cats are nocturnal- it is natural for him to be ready to go investigate early in the morning. Start waking him up when he sleeps in the late afternoon/early evening. Get some cat toys and play with him. Wear his little butt out before you go to sleep!  No cat naps for him.

If you consistently do this for 2 weeks- he will be on a different sleep schedule. It worked for us. He sleeps in now. Good luck!

ZotsRule · Answer

Nope.  Unlike you I care about my cats and realize they are PETS that should kept indoors where they belong.  Such a BS excuse that it's "impossible" to keep him indoors.  Stop letting BOTH cats out - problem SOLVED.

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Any experiences with a cat who has to prowl at dawn? How do you handle it?

4 Answers