Q–Our cat’s ritual is to walk on us and over our pillows two or three hours before our alarm every morning. If we shut him out of the bedroom, his whining wakes us up. Can you help?
–Indianapolis
A–You’re not the only people with a feline alarm clock. Gary Sampson, an Indianapolis vet whose practice is limited to behavior problems, had a problem of his own. His Burmese was waking the family at 4 a.m. They relegated the cat to the garage, where its moaning couldn’t be heard. The cat quickly got the message: To stay indoors, stay quiet.
Sampson’s warm garage was safe for a cat, but most garages are not. In any case, the main idea is that when kitty sounds early morning reveille, give him a “time out.”
Put him in the basement, a spare room or the bathroom. Most cats will complain about this, and if the whining keeps you awake, or if you’re concerned about neighbors, here’s a back-up plan: Keep a plant mister or a bicycle or air horn next to the bed and give him a spritz or sound the horn.
Be sure your cat’s toys are readily available so he can play in the early a.m. hours. The number of toys isn’t as important as their quality. Rotate toys so they become more interesting.
Q–Ever since my husband and I separated, my 4-year-old cat insists on sleeping on my legs. When I push her off, she goes right back. When my husband and I were together, the cat wanted nothing to do with him, so she stayed off the bed. Any suggestions?
–Pompano Beach, Fla.
A–Unlike the feline in the previous question, at least your cat sleeps! In fact, her behavior may be motivated by your absent spouse for a reason you never thought about.
“In its own way, the cat may be trying to comfort you. The behavior is a compliment–an offering of affection,” says Pam Johnson, a feline behavior specialist from Nashville.
Johnson loves “purr-pads,” fluffy beds for kitties, available at pet stores. But you also can use an ordinary pillow. During the day, place the purr-pad in the kitty’s regular napping place and encourage her to snooze there.
Play with the cat before you turn in and offer a bedtime snack. Now place the purr-pad at the foot of your bed, away from your legs. Gently place the cat there, stroke her and tell her a bedtime tale. When she begins to doze off, you can do the same. For the first few nights–maybe even weeks–she’ll get up and wind up on your legs again. If you wake up, gently return her to the purr-pad.
If you prefer that the cat stay off the bed completely, try the same scenario, except place the purr-pad beside the bed.
Q–We’re moving to Alabama. Can you offer advice on how to make the transition easier for our wonderful 5-year-old border collie? Should we be cautious about giving her the run of the new house?
–Payneville, Ky.
A–In general, dogs do better than cats in this situation. Naturally, any pooch that’s used to visiting new places will do better than a dog that has led a sheltered life within the confines of its own home.
Jennifer Sobie, an animal behavior consultant from Grand Rapids, Mich., and a border collie owner says, “The first thing you should unpack is a `doggy bed’ which has familiar smells. If your dog doesn’t have its own place, provide one before the move; you can even use a beach towel.”
Unless you’re moving to a mansion, there’s no reason to worry about giving your pooch the run of the house. If you’re concerned, you may want to take her on an on-leash house tour first.
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If the problem is urgent, consult a veterinarian immediately.
