How to stop a cat from sleeping in its owners' bed

There are many reasons why pet owners don't want cats on their bed. This may be because you have children and you don't want a cat sleeping in bed with your child. You may want to keep your cat from snuggling up to unsuspecting guests in your guest room, or you may not like having your cat snuggle up to the bed and keep you in the same position all night. There are many reasons to keep your cat away from your bed, but it can be quite a challenge. So how do you keep your cat off the bed?

You can keep your cat away from the bed by providing her with a separate bed and sleeping area. Providing interesting places to relax can help keep your cat in bed. You can also work to make the bed less attractive. Closing the door and keeping the cat out of the room is the only reliable way.

Remember that keeping your cat away from the bed usually requires trial and error. Unless you prevent your cat from coming into your room when you don't want him on the bed, you may have to try different methods to keep your cat away.

What draws a cat to bed?

There are several reasons why a cat wants to sleep next to its owner. They are explained by both physiology and psychology.

Firstly, cats strive for warmth, because the bed is warm and cozy. This is explained by the increased sensitivity of feline temperature receptors. It's never too warm for a cat.
Secondly, the cat remembers the warmth of its mother’s body, especially if it is small. The animal perceives the owner as a mother cat and seeks a safe refuge in the owner's bed. The cat is confident in its safety next to a person.
Thirdly, the cat approves of a person’s choice of bed as the best and most comfortable place to rest. After all, the owner feels good in bed.

Sleeping together can bring pleasant emotions to cat owners. But there are situations when it is absolutely necessary to wean a cat from sleeping in bed - you should not come to a pregnant woman, a child or an elderly person, an allergy sufferer or an asthma sufferer.

How do I get my cat to stop sleeping in my bed?

The most common way to get a cat to stop sleeping in a bed is to give the cat another bed. Cats like comfortable space and are attracted to beds because they are soft, warm and offer great support if your cat curls up on blankets or pillows. Depending on the blankets you use, your cat may also be reminded of her mom's fur or her cuddling with her littermates when they were kittens.

These are all powerful motivators to stay asleep in bed. If you want to keep your cats from sleeping in your bed, you need to provide them with another place where your cats can enjoy just as much.

Insulating a cat's bed with soft fabric can often be a good option, or even soft cat trees and other cat furniture can help them.

Towels or blankets that smell like your cat can also work as an alternative to a cat bed, drawing them away from your mattress and into their own space.

However, getting a cat that is used to sleeping in your bed to stop can be more challenging, so you may not be able to use this method successfully.

Try locking your cat in your room for a few days, and then try again by placing a cat bed in your room as an alternative. Your cat may go to her bed instead of yours.

If this doesn't work, there are special cat repellent sprays that will keep your cat away from certain areas. This may work in the short term, but you will still need to provide an alternative bed and other areas if you want a long-term solution, as your cat will simply return to your bed if you stop using the repellent.

It can also help to train your cat to like a new cat litter, but this method takes time, so it's not the best option for people who want immediate results.

How to arrange a place for a cat to sleep

Perhaps the cat does not have a cozy sleeping place for a comfortable night's rest. To prevent your pet from freezing, place it near a radiator or in another warm and not accessible place. A special basket from a pet store, a mattress, or an old warm sweater are suitable as a bed. If a cat likes to hide in secluded places, then an enclosed cozy house is suitable. If the animal prefers to be more in the company of people and observe, then an open basket is better. Buy a basket for a cat who can't stand closed spaces.

The bed should be cozy, soft and dry, of a suitable size. Your pet will enjoy relaxing on the bed if you sprinkle it with mint and put your favorite toys on it. If the cat appreciates the furnished corner for relaxation, he will stop visiting the owner’s bed.

When you take a kitten into your home, let him determine his own place to sleep. Felines intuitively find the most suitable corner - perhaps on a hill - to observe what is happening. The main thing is that the cat is allowed to be in this place. If there is no battery nearby, use a heating pad.

How to stop your cat from sleeping on your bed

So how do we get cats to stop sleeping on the bed? Here are some useful tips to help you solve this problem.

Start right now . If you want to keep your cat away from the bed, it's important to start as soon as possible. Yes, this means training your kitten not to go to bed at a young age. If you adopt an adult cat, start with a no-bed rule the first day they come home.
Be consistent . Consistency is vital for cats. They can be identified and usually do not listen to rules that are not consistently followed. Don't make exceptions for a cat who goes to bed during the day or when you're upset. Instead, go somewhere else to comfort your cat and spend time with her so she associates the other space with you.
Get a cat bed . Comfort and warmth are important to your cat, so she will likely choose your bed for these reasons if there are no suitable alternatives. A cat bed that distracts your cat from your bed is a great way to teach her not to sleep on her owner's bed.
Close the bedroom door . Closing the door before bed will also help your cat understand that the bed is not for her. However, this should be a permanent rule; most cats don't respond to the door being closed for a day or two unless other changes are made to keep them out of bed.
Seal the bed with double-sided tape . Cats don't like strange sensations, especially sticky ones. Using double-sided tape on your cat's favorite part of the bed can convince her that the bed is uncomfortable and help her find comfort elsewhere.
Create a bedtime routine . A standard daily routine can also help your cat learn where they can and cannot sleep. Try a pre-bed ritual, such as a treat, food, or grooming, that tells your cat it's time to sleep. This pattern will help keep them from jumping on your bed on a whim.
Tell your cat “no” every time . Cats can understand many human words, and "no" is usually one of them. Tell your cat “no” every time she sleeps on the bed and kick her off the bed. Eventually they will understand that they shouldn't lie in bed, but the problem is that not all cats will care.

How to wean a kitten

It is easier to wean a kitten from sleeping together in the first days in a new place. Immediately show a corner for relaxation, and for warmth, put something fur or a non-hot heating pad. The baby will feel like his mother is lying next to him and this will ensure a restful sleep.

If the method does not help, you will have to spend time weaning and tolerate the presence of an animal in the bedroom. Place the kitten's sleeping place next to the bed and fall asleep, gently stroking it and calming it down. Gradually move the bed closer to the door and take it outside the bedroom. Wait until your pet gets used to the new place to sleep, and strictly do not let him on the bed.

Is it okay if the cat sleeps in my bed?

Yes! If a cat sleeping in your bed doesn't bother you, you can let it sleep in the bed with you. Cats and kittens will move around if you toss and turn too much for them to be comfortable, and the risks to your cat in bed are relatively minimal, especially if they are on your blanket rather than under it.

The only exception is a cat allergy. Owners of cats with allergies often benefit from an allergen break at night, which means it's best to keep the cat out of bed. Unfortunately, most cats don't know the difference between staying in bed when you're sleeping and staying in bed all the time, so your cat shouldn't go to bed during the day.

Do cats become less affectionate as they age?

Some cats become less affectionate as they age, but not all. It depends on the individual characteristics of your cat. Some prefer to be around their owners more often and become more needy as they age. Others develop a withdrawn, aloof character that frustrates their owners.

Kittens usually become less affectionate as they transition into adulthood because they are more interested in hunting outside. It is at this time that their predatory instincts manifest themselves.

Likewise, some older cats become distant from their owners due to changes in their bodies. When their feelings begin to deteriorate and their bodies begin to hurt, they often withdraw from their owners, becoming less affectionate.

Unfortunately, this is a natural part of the aging process. As long as you provide a comfortable environment for your cat, she should remain happy.

The head is a favorite place

If a cat sleeps in its head, on a pillow, this may be a sign that the owner spends too much time on mental work. Perhaps this is a job that requires special attention and concentration. The pet feels that it is necessary to give its brain a rest, so it lies down on its head. Headaches also include negative thoughts that occupy almost all the space in the head, spreading poison throughout the body. Migraines and any other medical illnesses in this area attract the animal.

To stop your cat sleeping near your head, you need to control your thoughts. Block negativity, think about work only at work. If the cat no longer sleeps in this area, it means that the person has gotten rid of some problems in his head. When two people share a bed, the animal may be jealous of one of them. In order for the cat to calm down and understand that a person he doesn’t like will not replace him, you need to say: “Between husband and wife, my protector sleeps. But don’t be afraid, this is a friend, the chosen one of my love. I don’t need help, go, cat, sleep alone. Amen".

Cat, nocturnal animal

By nature, a cat is a nocturnal animal that prefers to go out hunting, feed and carry out its daily chores on dark nights. Due to the fact that this species has evolved to survive in the wild, it has excellent night vision, which allows it to see much better in dim light conditions than in fully illuminated or daylight conditions. This is due to the anatomy of the eye, adapted for hunting at night, consisting of eye tissue called tapetum lucidum. It has the ability to absorb light before it reaches the retina. Once absorbed, this tissue reflects it and gives the animal better vision in the dark.

Although some domestic cats have managed to slightly adapt their sleep hours to that of their human companions, many others still maintain their natural behavior and are more active at night. This, in addition to a number of factors that we'll go into detail below, can cause your cat to not sleep at night, and yes, she sleeps during the day.

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Health status

Your cat's strange behavior may have nothing to do with you. This could be a sign that she is unwell. Although the symptoms of the disease depend on the cat's health, the most common signs of the disease include:

hide and not eat
Weight loss
Excessive vocalization
Frequent hiding
Visible pain

Unfortunately, cats are good at hiding their discomfort. Illness and injury make them vulnerable to predators, so they try to appear as healthy as possible without other animals noticing.

Sick cats will interact less with their owners. Before you realize that something is wrong, it may seem like your cat is deliberately avoiding your attention. Take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible to get the necessary treatment.

Pregnant

According to VCA Hospitals, some cats become more affectionate and needy during pregnancy. Others become angry and aggressive. This is due to fluctuations in hormone levels.

Additionally, pregnant cats tend to feel more tired than usual, especially in the later stages of pregnancy, so they may appear to be avoiding you. You are likely to perceive this behavior more negatively if you do not know that your cat is expecting kittens. Signs of a pregnant cat include:

Termination of estrus.
Nipples look swollen and engorged
The cat becomes hungrier than usual
Frequent vomiting
Looks for quiet places to hide in
Bloated belly

If your cat begins to show unexplained aggression towards you or runs away from you more than usual, take her to the vet to check whether she is pregnant or not.

Lack of mental stimulation

Bored cats often become angry and aggressive. This happens because they have no other ways to release their pent-up energy. Although cats spend most of their time sleeping, they love to play with toys and roam outside when they are awake. If they cannot do this, they become destructive. They may even harm you.

To prevent this behavior, start playing with your cat using her favorite games and toys. In some cases, this is all your cat needs to be happy with you again. However, don't be surprised if it takes you more time and effort to regain his trust.

Inappropriate environment

Cats become unhappy if their environment is not comfortable enough. To be happy and healthy, cats need:

warm place to sleep
comfortable bed
access to a clean toilet
Constant access to fresh water
Eating at regular, scheduled times
Lots of secluded places
Lots of toys and a scratching post
Ability to run, jump and climb
Safe environment free from dangers

Cats are territorial and become attached to their surroundings. If the conditions are not right, they become stressed and anxious, exhibiting behavior that makes it seem like they are angry with their owners.

Tips from Jackson Galaxy

To figure it out, let's follow the advice of the famous cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, whom you may have seen in the My cat from hell program on the Animal Planet channel.

Tip #1: Don't act rashly

To begin with, what NOT to do under any circumstances:

Scold, chase, splash water. Even if your nerves are at their limit, this is prohibited. You should never beat an animal under any circumstances - I hope you understand this.
Feed in the middle of the night.
Lock the animal in another room. Cats are territorial animals and do not tolerate confined spaces. Systematically locking an animal in a small space such as a bathroom and leaving the animal alone will deprive it of self-confidence, frighten it, and may provoke behavioral problems: the animal may become aggressive or begin to mark its territory. So no cat jail!

Tip #2: Adjust your diet

Jackson advises feeding your cat 3 times a day, spacing meals no more than 6-8 hours apart. This is easy to do for those who are constantly at home, but for those who are at work all day, certain difficulties arise. If you leave your cat dry food for the day, then do not fill the bowl with half the daily amount or less, so that when you arrive the animal is slightly hungry and is waiting for food.

In order for your cat to go to bed with you, the last meal should be an hour and a half before bedtime. For example, if you go to bed at 11 pm, your cat should eat at 9:30. But there is another very important point, more details in the next tip.

Tip #3: Hunt, catch, kill, eat

Track, catch, kill and eat - this is the sequence in which hunting occurs. That is why it is very important to force the cat to spend a lot of energy before eating - through active games.

Never play with the animal with your hands, so that it does not begin to perceive your flesh as a toy. Modern pet stores have a huge assortment of toys - fishing rods and swings, various balls and mice, or you can not spend money and make toys yourself.

Indeed, there is a kind of “sublimation” - the replacement of hunting with game. My cat, after active body movements, tightly grabs the toy, carries it to the place where the bowl is, puts it next to it and starts dinner. It's pretty funny.

Well, after eating, the cat starts grooming - it washes itself thoroughly and finally goes to rest.

The importance of a suitable bed

It's no secret that cats are much more sophisticated animals than dogs, and the lack of a comfortable and safe bed may be the reason why your cat is not sleeping at night. But still, choosing the perfect cat bed may not be so easy because first we have to get to know our furry companion and know their tastes in terms of shape, size and structure.

Today we have a variety of pet beds and mattresses, and to choose the perfect product, it is very important to observe the animal and pay attention to its preferences. In general, cats prefer beds that provide warmth and security and are the right size to walk in, as larger ones are not as comfortable for them. So, if you notice that your cat has a certain affinity for your bed or sofa and never lies down on it, it's probably because she doesn't like it and you should change that.