Well, I got the word from the breeder that "Jasper" is ready to come home on Sunday! Now the questions are starting to come and I was wondering...when you brought home your baby did he sleep with you? Did you have him sleep in another room so that you could sleep? Eventually I would expect him to roam the house (once I'm sure he's trained and won't get lost) but should I have him in with me? I'm afraid I may not sleep well (and not sure my hubby will appreciate it if he decides he wants to play at 2am!).
Thoughts?
Personally, if you want him to sleep with you later, then I would think you'd want him to sleep with you now. For the first little bit, how about sleeping in another room with him to see how he does. that way your husband's sleep won't be disturbed.
Here's a hint I learned too late. Whatever you do, don't give them a treat (wet food, etc) when you first get up out of bed in the mornings. Otherwise he will start waking up to get you out of bed so he can get that treat!
My kittens have always slept with me their very first night home... well except for Diwan as he was too afraid of Cyrano he slept with my parents. The second night he came with me showing his brother he belonged in that bed too
As for waking you up it really depends on the kitten. Cyrano is a rather restless sleeper but then he is a birman, a breed which usually more active than ragdolls. With him I got woken up several times a night especially as he felt lonely at nights while I was sleeping. I solved the problem by bringing other cats in the household...
My two ragdolls were from early days on very calm and laid-back at night. Ebony came home when he was 12 weeks old (the other boys were 14/15 weeks) and he has never woken me up to play at night. When he feels like playing he just leaves my side and occupies himself (sure he has two cats to play with and tons of toys scattered everywhere in the apartment).
i personally think have him in your bed.
the first day we got titan he was very sleepy than BOOOOM rush hour or what i call redbull hour. and then crashed LOL.
he always is in the room at bedtime. somtimes he play for a little and then crawls up on the pillow behind us. honestly he will amuse himself in your room, usually not making alot of noise some of his toys are noisy but i die when i hit that pillow so i dont hear it.
good luck
I too would have Jasper in beside you too, just remember this little guy has had his brothers and sisters to sleep beside for the first 13/14 weeks of his life, I'm sure you'll be disdurbed less if he has the comfort of you beside him, just make sure you take his litter tray into the bedroom at night if you do decide to take him to the bedroom.
Good luck whatever you decide and Congratulations.
I put Mittens in his own room when he first came home. The second night we put him in the bed, but he loves to attack our feet... so we got no sleep... SOOOOO.... Mittens has his own room
When Frankie came home first, I wanted to have him sleep on my bed and I tried,but sleeping was the last thing on his mind, he was all over the place , handsprings off the bedhead, leaping up at clothing hanging up on doors! I put up with it for a couple of hours, but I was concerned too that he was after the electric wires to the light and tv and the phone wires, so in the end I put him and his bed back in the kitchen and he was as good as gold, never made a sound! For the last 3 months,( he is now 13 months) he has had the run of the house at night, anywhere except my bedroom! I have tried him several more times in with me, but he just doesn't settle, he seems quite happy prowling around the house and settling where he wants, usually a chair in the dining room or his own bed in the kitchen. it's quite strange really, as he is the most affectionate cat, and spends lots of time on my lap during the evening and loves being stroked and cuddled!
Give him choices including a comfy place on the floor in your beedroom. I move around too much for Fay at night so after trying my bed for a while she moved to the floor and then when I put a chair next to the the bed she chose that.
Lots of comfy choices though I bet he'll stay close rather than get lonely at night.
I like having the kittens in the room with me. They don't bother me at all (at least until morning, or if they're out of food). I would take a good 10-15 min right before bed to do some intense playing to get the energy out before you're ready to sleep. Otherwise your kitten will probably be bothering you.
My breeder said having them sleep with you from day one makes them more attached to you (not sure if this is because they start to see you as their mom or littermate or what..?). I wanted this, but some want a more independent cat. One way or the other, cats are creatures of habit so if you want a kitten that will sleep in bed with you one day, keep the kitten in your room, and if you do choose to keep the kitten out, don't necessarily expect the cat to crawl up into bed with you one night because you're in the mood.
There could definitely be exceptions, as I'm new to this kitten parenting, but I'm certain my kittens would freak out if I locked them out of our room for the night, after having them in for about a month. If they wont run up to our bedroom, all we have to do is close the door and within one minute they're scratching at the door to come in. Imagine that all night....oh boy..
Good luck deciding
Wherever you want the kitten to sleep when he's an adult is where you should have the kitten sleep when you bring him home. Learned this the hard way.
I'm actually allergic to cats and require to have a cat-free-zone in my home.. that being said I have 4 adult cats and the occasional litter of kittens lol. I dont let them sleep with me because my cat-free-zone is in my bedroom. I let George sleep with me the first week he was here. BAD idea.. even now, a year later, he tries to rush in at bed time to sleep with us. Its very annoying and we have to pick him up and "toss" him out. Anytime the bedroom door opens, we have to block him from running in and hiding under the bed.
So yah, if you want the kitten to sleep with you when he's a giant 15-20lb adult then let him sleep with you from day one. If you dont want him to sleep with you, then dont let him from day one.