Like clock work, at 1:30 AM every morning I am awakened by Gabriel licking the side of my face. The only way I have been able to stop him is to put the blanket over my head. Then, when I think it is safe to uncover my head, here comes Gabriel licking the side of my face. I understand that this could be Gabriel "grooming" me. He loves to cuddle and I adore that. However, being awakened at this time every morning is getting to be a problem. Sleeping with the bedroom door closed gives me the heebie-jeebies. However, closing Gabriel out of the bedroom is the only solution I can think of. Any suggestions?
titan used to lick and suck my eyes everynight. but seeing as he still has his nose out of joint he hasnt done it since sienna arrived. if u really hate it keep a spray bottle next to ur bed and whenever he does it spray him!
He is waking you up because cats are nocturnal. Another cat is often a fix. However, TOTALLY ignore him, including showing him you are awake by covering yourself. For him, that is success. If you cannot sleep through it, then without ANY interaction beyond what is absolutely needed, calmly pick him up, gently place him out of the room and shut the door. What he wants is attention and he will be most likely to stop if he finds out he will not get it.
You can also play with him in the late evening with wands and da bird to make him ready to sleep longer and you can feed him a wet food meal right before bedtime. That may push the wakeup behavior later.
try rubbing a taste deterrant like bitter apple on your cheeks. He will find it tastes really bad whenever he tries it, then eventually should give up.
Reading your post made me chuckle...pulling the covers over your head...just when you think he is gone....back again!!!
It reminded me of camping and the pesky mosquitos that buzz in your ear when you are trying to sleep - the only way to get rid of them being to pull the covers over your head. But as you said, just as you start to over-heat and think that they are gone the buzzing is back! Hehehe thanks for the memory, my sympathy is with you.
Jan,Gabbie is usually sleeping on the bed as well. I did not even think about cats being nocturnal. Wet food? That is very interesting! The only concern is that my vet said that it would be better if I wait til the kittens are older to introduce wet food. Yet, I will make sure that I have a play session with him in hopes of making him more tired. Thanks!
Danni, he hates water. So, a spray of water might work. Thanks!
Solo, putting some deterrent on my cheek sounds like a good idea. I will have to go by Petco and get some more bitter apple spray. Thanks!
Anna, thinking about it makes me chuckle also when I think about how persistent my little man is.
Deterrents that give attention, like water spray, are much less likely to work because it only shows him he is successful. You are awake. Do not combine efforts of attempts at aversion training and withholding reinforcement by totally ignoring him. Give one or the other a try first and then move to the other as needed.
The wet food was recommended because cats tend to eat that when offered and what you want is a full tummy at the end of the day and him to sleep longer. There is nothing special beyond that and you may be able to take up dry food in the late afternoon or early evening and then put it back down right before bed and he will eat then.
RE:Licking
Hi,
I know just what you are going through. My 17 year old Persian wakes me up usually around 5:00 am by meowing in my ear and pawing at my face. I too throw the covers over my head. When I think she is gone I take the covers off only to see her looking me square in the eyes and tapping my face and licking the top of my head. I KNOW what she wants. She wants to get her treat that I give her in the morning. It got worse with daylight savings time lol.....
Sometimes grabbing her giving her hugs and kisses makes her give up. lol......
Catherine
I gave up having my ragdoll in the bedroom...
She headbutt for cuddle, walk all around including ON my face.
I got a kitty bed that goes in the window sill and Solo is trained now to stay up there during the night. When he was younger and would wake us up we just put him up there, over and over again. Then praise for staying up there. Now he sleeps up there all by himself and stays for the entire night, for the most part! On the nights he was too naughty he got locked out of the room. I don't think he's been locked out for at least the last 4 weeks now.