[tf1265]

I recently adopted a 5 year old cat from a shelter. She doesn't have any real behavior issues, she's very sweet and loving and playful. I live alone and work full time, so she is by herself all day. I live in a very small apartment. The kitchen and living room are open and she definitely has space to run around. Her litter box is in the living room because the bathroom is too small and I don't want it in my bedroom or in the kitchen.

At night she goes CRAZY. I can deal with her playing and running around, but she "plays" in her litterbox to wake me up and get my attention. I don't repond or get up in hopes she'll figure out it's not a good plan, but it's been 3 months of nightly attention-seeking and me not sleeping through the night. She's so loud, and it's starting to make me really wish I could live with myself if I gave her back!

I'm tempted to lock her in the bathroom at night. She loves the bathroom, by the way. She won't drink from her water bowl, only the toilet and the bathtub. She sits on the edge of the tub while i'm showering. The problem is her food and her litter box are both outside of the bathroom.

Is this too cruel? I'd be willing to move her food into the bathroom overnight, but not her litter box. Am I better off leaving both out (so she's less likely to eat and have to use the bathroom)? She does most of her eating overnight. Is 8 hours too long to keep her locked in a bathroom with no food or litter box?

I've tried tiring her out before bed. It will work for about 5 hours, but between 4 and 5am she's going crazy again and trying to wake me up.

[acerlt]

A cat should never be deprived of access to the litter boxes, this will cause expensive health problems, and/or inappropriate elimination.

It will take time for her to learn your routine. Three months is not a very long time, when it comes to cats adjusting. Do you know her history? How long was she at the shelter? Why was she there? (rescued stray? owner surrender?) Cats thrive on routine, so the trick is to develop a routine that centers around keeping her active as much as possible during non sleeping hours, even when you are not home.

Does she have a cat tree or other furniture for climbing, jumping and perching? Even if you don't have room for one of the big cat trees there are ways to arrange a small living space to give a cat the climbing and jumping areas she needs.

Diet is important too. What are you feeding her? A cat eating a high carbohydrate grain heavy species inappropriate kibble is going to feel whacko a lot of the time. This will translate into undesirable behaviors.

Schedule feed a good quality canned diet. Schedule feeding develops routines (which cats love) and promotes bonding.

What is your morning before you leave for work like? Does she get any of your attention then? I know mornings are tough, but if you can squeeze in ten or fifteen minutes of interactive play time with her, right before you leave the house, she is more likely to stay active on her own for a while.

How long are you gone during the day? Would it be possible to leave a radio playing softly?

Put a bird feeder outside a window, or put some seed on an outside windowsill for Cat TV.

Install a feliway plug in diffuser to help her feel settled and reduce stress.

What is your routine like when you come home at night? For a cat her age, breaking up the play times will probably be more effective. Give her some special one on one attention when you first get home. Some cuddling/conversation, maybe a quick game. Then give her a meal (as part of her scheduled feeding) before you eat your own supper. A little more play time before you get on the computer, talk on the phone, or read or watch tv. Then another play time/cuddle time right before the bedtime meal.

If you give her the same attentions at the same times every day, soon she will come to expect these routines. Cats love routine. If she knows what is coming when, every day, it will help her settle and be more likely to sleep when you sleep.

Does she sleep with you? Giving her a special bed on your bed may encourage that. If you don't have room on your bed, set up a small table or chair at the level of your bed and put a bed on that for her, so she can sleep near you.

[acerlt]

PS Hurray for you for adopting an adult cat! PLEASE don't give up on her. This is a solvable problem!

[kskat]

Any update?

[cinderflower]

i suggest sleeping pills. for you, not the cat.

three months is not very long at all. if i can put up with a cat peeing in my bed for about two years, you can do this (although, he was almost on his way out.)
i agree with acerit: never deprive a cat access to the litterbox. it will cause more problems than it will solve.

i'm sort of against the locking her in the bathroom idea as well. it seems like it would make her anxious, but i'm no expert.

my cats are on my schedule, the only time they wake me up is if they're ultra-hungry (trust me, none of my cats are missing any meals ) but they also have a turbo-scratcher. this is a great toy for playing alone, the noise might wake you up though so i'd put it in the living room maybe.

she'll adapt. don't give up. good luck.

[jjj3]

Hi there! I'm new but I've had some similar experiences. What time do you feed your cat? When I used to give my cats dinner too late they stay awake too late because they have so much energy, so just give them dinner a little earlier so they'll burn off the extra energy before bedtime. Also maybe play with them during the day or let them out for some exercise so that they'll just rest at the end of the day. Hope this helps.