Kitten scratching and playing at night?

May 2021 5 159 Report

Kitten scratching and playing at night?

Hi there,

My family and I just got a new kitten about 3 or 4 days ago, He is very sweet, affectionate and extremely playful. For the last couple of days me and my sister have taken turns staying up and sleeping in our family room(where we have a designated area for the kitten). However the kitten likes to get up and mew because he wants to us to play with him, which makes it extremely tiresome to get up and play with him until he tires out. How can I shift his schedule to sleep more at night? Secondly I am worried that if I go to sleep in my own bed that the cat may start scratching furniture as he has tried to the last couple of days. He has really taken a liking to the scratching post and uses it all the time but, he still likes to try clawing at the furniture. Some help would be greatly appreciated!!

PS He is 9 weeks old if that helps any

Thanks and Have a great day :)

Pets / Cats

Carrie

Verified answer

You will need to teach your kitten that the scratching post is the only acceptable place to scratch. A simple no when you catch him clawing furniture followed by taking him right to the post and rubbing his paws on it should work. He will then start using the scratching post on his own and make sure you praise him when done. Eventually, you can say no take him to the post and he will scratch right away without you needing to show him what to do. You can play with him more during the day but it is best if you give your new kitten rules of what is expected of him at night. My cats knew that making noise at night was a big no-no so they played quietly and it encouraged them to play rough only during the day time. You will not be able to completely shift his schedule to sleep at night but you can teach him what is acceptable night behavior. He probably will scratch the furniture at night while you are not there so see if there is a way to contain him while you are asleep for a week or two. You can try spending time with him right before you need to go to bed, play with him, teach him, talk to him, give him lots of affection and then tell him good night and put him in his designated place where he spends the night. I suggest spending a few more days in the family room with him and when he mews answer him softly and tell him everything is alright and he needs to be quiet. He just needs reassurance that he is ok and you can monitor his night time furniture clawing.

poepad

As to sleeping, play him out prior to going to sleep. Why are you sleeping in family room.

Cats need someone to sleep with at nite, if you tire him out, he will not scratch furniture at nite.

Make sure you have a cat pole in the family room, something he can claw and be above everyone else. As a rule you want a pair of cats. Otherwise you are his blanket and playmate. Don't forget to keep the litter box clean out every day. Get him fixed as soon as possible. Good luck.

lane b

Cats are nocturnal, so they like to play at night. As for him scratching the furniture, get a spray bottle with water. When he scratches the furniture, squirt him and tell him to leave it.

cats are usually more active at night that's why your cat is active at night and wants to play. my cat does the same time so I sometimes play with him if I'm awake or pet him and play a soft music which makes my cat sleepy and evenually he would fall asleep ahaha. try this it might work with you as well.