Comments on: The 3 AM Problem http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-3-am-problem/1776 grow in understanding Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:04:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: lindy http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-3-am-problem/1776/comment-page-1#comment-1826 lindy Sun, 28 Dec 2008 22:56:36 +0000 http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/?p=1776#comment-1826 thank you for addressing the 'pitstop' issue thank you for addressing the ‘pitstop’ issue

]]> By: Bill the Splut http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/the-3-am-problem/1776/comment-page-1#comment-1825 Bill the Splut Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:11:54 +0000 http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/?p=1776#comment-1825 I've trained 2 kittens to let me sleep, and it's easy. When you go to bed, pull the sheets up to your chin. Place a towel over your head (except for your nose and mouth, as breathing is often a good thing). Inevitably, the kitten will try to get you to play. Pretend you are asleep. When they find your face, your only exposed skin, they will bat at you (and kittens take a while to learn that they can keep their claws in when they do this, so--OW!). Cover your face completely but loosely with the towel (c.f. above; breathing, good), and continue to pretend to sleep. With nothing to paw at, eventually the kitten will give up, curl up, and go to sleep. Eventually they'll become less nocturnal, and enjoy sleeping with you for its own sake. With both my cats, it only took about a month for them to learn this. The most important part: When you are awake and they ask for your attention, <i>give it to them</i>, and quickly. This tells them that they're important to you when the lights are on, but lights-out is different. That's when everybody needs to sleep. I’ve trained 2 kittens to let me sleep, and it’s easy.
When you go to bed, pull the sheets up to your chin. Place a towel over your head (except for your nose and mouth, as breathing is often a good thing). Inevitably, the kitten will try to get you to play. Pretend you are asleep. When they find your face, your only exposed skin, they will bat at you (and kittens take a while to learn that they can keep their claws in when they do this, so–OW!). Cover your face completely but loosely with the towel (c.f. above; breathing, good), and continue to pretend to sleep. With nothing to paw at, eventually the kitten will give up, curl up, and go to sleep. Eventually they’ll become less nocturnal, and enjoy sleeping with you for its own sake. With both my cats, it only took about a month for them to learn this.

The most important part: When you are awake and they ask for your attention, give it to them, and quickly. This tells them that they’re important to you when the lights are on, but lights-out is different. That’s when everybody needs to sleep.

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