four in the morning wake up calls

[garith1977]

Does anyone have an idea on how we can change our cat's eating habits. We own 2 adult females and 1 male Kitten. All three are horders when it comes to food so leaving large quanties in their dishes is not a option. When the food goes down its eaten withing 3 minutes. Their diet calls for 1 cup a day and we give them 4 feedings of 1/4 cup each time. Usually its 6:30am, noon, 6:00pm, and 10:00pm. Lately the cats will demand food at 4:30am-5:30am. Its getting to be to much for my wife and we are not sure what to do. They all wake up and start knocking over lamps, chewing books, and play fighting with each other until they are fed. They then all go back to sleep until about 10am.

They eat from different dishs as if they were together one cat would eat all the food before the other two finish.

Garith

[vene]

Wow, you won the jackpot with 3 food horders. Assuming they don't have worms, and are not just winter season food hording, I'd tire them out with an evening routine of playing with their favorite toys and also add canned food to their night time diet if you haven't already done so. Whatever you do, do not let them train you into getting up at 4:30 or 5:30AM to feed them. It will be a very bad habit. You can always purchase a timed food dispenser to dispense cat treats at 4:30 or 5:30 AM at a different part of the house, not in your bedroom, so the cats will leave you alone for a little while longer before you get up.

http://www.catsinternational.org/articles/misc_behavior_problems/alarm_clock_kitties.html

[garith1977]

Thanks for the info. No they don't have worms and yes they hord the whole year round. Do you have expereince with the automatic cat feeders? Could you recomend a brand or type?


Garith

[Cassie]

Good advice there. I was going to recommend not giving in to their early morning demands. They will eventually realise that their antics get them no where.

Cats are really good at training us to do their bidding.

[garith1977]

If I Lock them out of our room when they bug us at 4:30 they go and chew books or knock things over in the living room and kitchen. How long will it take them to come around?

Garith

[Cassie]

I'd say that depends on the cat. They're as individual as people are.

[vene]

No experience with the cat feeder but this listing looks interesting:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Automatic-Pet-Feeder-CAT-DOG-MEDIUM-SMALL-LARGE-TIMER_W0QQitemZ7732695617QQcategoryZ20747QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Unfortunately, I don't think it'll work on 3 at the same time and it's costly.

Maybe pet treat dispensers like this one will buy you some extra sleeping time. Just toss them into another room and they just might leave you alone.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BRAND-NEW-Pet-ball-treat-dispenser-toy-dog-cat-purple_W0QQitemZ7740699096QQcategoryZ20753QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

On the second thought, they might be conditioned to want treats every early AM.

[garith1977]

Cleo hates treats. She won't touch them with a ten foot pole. Cassius ans Amaretto enjoy them but I think your correct about the early am treats just causing them to want more. Sadly I think we will have to put locks on our door and usher them out each time they are up at 4:30, although this might cause the rest of the house to become the ground of revenge. Cleo once ate 3 whole books when we locked her out.

Garith

[i_love_my_ollie]

i had this problem with my cat not long ago as i get up week days at 6.30am and then weekend my cat wanted me up at that time to!! he cryed at first then started to chew blankets,paper anything he could to get my attention in the end i stuck it out and ignored him even if i was awake id stay in bed till i was ready and now he dont bother me at all he waits till im ready coz he nos no matter wot he does i wont budge!! its hard at first to ignore them but im afraid its the only way in thr end they will cum round well i hope so for your sake