The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [71]
Paw through this section with an open mind. Find new ways to make your home truly fit for your feline. And if your cat drives you crazy, look for answers to sharing your bed, teaching an old cat new tricks, and traveling with (or without) your pal.
Pillow-Hogging Puss
Q My kitty, Bebe, is adventurous and adoring by day but turns into a pillow pig at night. At bedtime, she starts out at the foot of my bed while I brush my teeth. When I crawl under the covers, she creeps forward and nestles by my side. But by the middle of the night when I am in a deep sleep, she has commandeered my pillow. She walks right over me and wakes me up. I like having her sleep on my bed, but how can I keep her off my pillow so I can get some sleep?
A When it comes to sharing your bed with your cat, you’re not alone. About one-third of today’s cat owners sleep with their felines. Little wonder. Their furry bodies and soothing purrs often help lull people to sleep. A study conducted at the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center, however, found that about half the people who let pets share their bed at night suffer from disrupted sleep that results in their being tired each morning. The researchers also found that many people are so attached to their pets that they are willing to tolerate poor sleep in order to be near them at night.
I have to admit that I’m guilty — my cats stay down at the bottom third of my bed, but I sleep on my back, an ideal position for cats who wish to snooze with their heads propped on ankles or calves. Fortunately, I’m a heavy sleeper and my cats are, too. Once they carve out a spot, they tend to sleep until morning.
In your case, however, Bebe sounds like one bossy cat. She feels entitled to sleep wherever she chooses, regardless of your preferences. Cute as she may be, you need to regain control of your bed and your pillow and retrain Bebe about bed boundaries. Start by making the bottom of your bed more appealing. Provide Bebe with her own plush pillow or soft fleecy blanket. Praise her when she settles down there. Be consistent about moving her to the bottom of your bed before you are asleep. Or compromise by providing Bebe with her own pillow next to yours.
To make your pillow less appealing, consider lightly spraying your pillow with a citrus scent (one you enjoy). Cats are not fond of that aroma. If she wakes you up in the middle of the night, either put her back in her spot or push her on to the floor. After being ousted a few times, most cats get the idea and adjust to the new bedroom rules.
You may sacrifice a few nights of sleep to teach Bebe about the new no-pillow zone, but she will soon realize she has a great spot at the foot of your bed. Sweet dreams!
SLEEPLESS IN SAN DIEGO
On any given night, Bob Walker and Frances Mooney share their double bed with as many as eight cats in their San Diego home. (See page 272 for more on this couple’s extremely cat-friendly accommodations.)
Walker says he usually sleeps on his stomach and a cat always shares his pillow. He has been known to make contortionist movements so as not to disturb sleeping feline on his legs.
When told about the findings of the Mayo Clinic study on how pets can contribute to insomnia, he took it in stride. “What’s a little lost sleep if you can keep your cats happy?” he asks. “I can’t remember the last time that I got eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. To me, you’re not a true cat lover if you can sleep soundly.”
Ahh, the Great Indoors
Q My cat, Bruno, is a big, muscular cat. He is very friendly and easygoing. Since he was a kitten, he has ventured wherever he pleased around the neighborhood. Our property is one acre with some woods. Bruno is now 10 years old and seems to be slowing down a bit. Our winters here are cold and nasty. The addition of a recent housing development