Does your cat sleep with you?

[emo]

When I lived in my apt Clyde slept with me now that we live with my bf he would prefer it if he didn't sleep with us. For the past couple of weeks I've been sleeping on the couch with Clyde because he would have accidents when he would sleep with us. Once I got the nighttime accidents under control and was ready to sleep in bed again my bf developed a rash on his face and neck. He thought it might be a reaction to Clyde sleeping with us so he cleaned the bedroom and linens and that's when I continued sleeping with Clyde on the couch.

We don't think that Clyde is the cause of the rash but my bf would prefer it if Clyde didn't sleep with us. Since Clyde has pooping out of the box issues I'm concerned about not sleeping with him. I don't want to mess him up more than I have to...but on the same note I would like to sleep in bed with my bf!

Should I just close the bedroom door and let him have the run of the house or should I just close the door to the downstairs like I do when we are at work? I guess I just feel bad because he gets locked up while I'm at work and I think he might enjoy sleeping next to me.

Help! I need some advice! I don't want to be a bad mom! BTW, he seems to be adjusting more each day although he did have an accident and pooped on the floor 2 ft from the litter box. But he did poop in the box this morning!

Any suggestions would be great!

[GILL]

I have trouble sleeping with out 4-5 on the bed. My MIT"S has to cuddle under my arm and make sure that I go to sleep.

[happylabs]

Buddy sleeps at the bottom of the bed, Mamma cat usually sleeps up by my head and Casey my Lab sleeps beside me. I am glad I have a Queen sized bed! Tinker usually comes in at some point during the night for a belly scratch. I would say ditch the boyfriend and keep the cat - LOL!

I truly do not think I could sleep with a human being in my bed any longer. I was married for 17 years when my husband left. I haven't really found a guy I wanted to spend that much time with yet. :D The dog is definitely happier to see me when I get home from work at night than any man has ever been. :D

[emo]

I do also have a choice of sleeping in the spare room in the bed from my apt. I just feel guilty making Clyde sleep alone. I always enjoyed our snuggle time. I just wish we could all sleep together in one bed like we used to.

Any suggestions on how to ease Clyde into this transition?

[katladyd]

I'm lucky because my boyfriend is not happy if at the cats do not spend the night in the bed! Neither of us would feel complete without them, they are part of our family! If your bf is truly allergic to cats on the bed, I would try to shut the bedroom door and give the cat the run of the house. This would be a tough one for me to handle!

[Medusa]

I've relented and now allow Pidge and Boo to sleep w/me; Pidge because she's old and has a serious illness, so I want to be able to hear her and Boo because Pidge adores him; he's her man. Otherwise, I don't have cats in my bed because they disturb my sleep and I need my rest. They have beds and blankets and afghans and condos and you name it, they have it, so they aren't deprived. The basement is all set up as their own private quarters. There are certain areas of the house where they aren't allowed to trespass but believe me when I say that they're just fine. I think that sometimes the need is ours and not theirs to have them sleep w/us. :)

[happylabs]

I've relented and now allow Pidge and Boo to sleep w/me; Pidge because she's old and has a serious illness, so I want to be able to hear her and Boo because Pidge adores him; he's her man. Otherwise, I don't have cats in my bed because they disturb my sleep and I need my rest. They have beds and blankets and afghans and condos and you name it, they have it, so they aren't deprived. The basement is all set up as their own private quarters. There are certain areas of the house where they aren't allowed to trespass but believe me when I say that they're just fine. I think that sometimes the need is ours and not theirs to have them sleep w/us. :)

Oh yes, my kitties have their own beds, etc. too. I totally understand about you not wanting your sleep disturbed. I cherish my sleep! Lucky for me I am a heavy sleeper. The only place the cats cannot go in my house is my daughter's room because she wants a place to get away from the cat hair. :D

[kb2yjx]

We have NINE cats. There are some nights when we have at least 7 of the 9 sleeping with us. I cannot imagine NOT having a cat on the bed!!! AND those are the nights I get the best night of sleep!!!!

[Don Juan's mom]

When I was living with a boyfriend, Don Juan had to stay out of the bedroom at night. Now, he sleeps with me almost every night. In all, I think it was a pretty good trade. :cool:

Liz

[blue]

Before I got Blue I would just leave my door cracked so Erp could come or go as she wished, mostly she would sleep on my bed.

I keep the door shut now so the dogs dont have the run of the house while Im sleeping. However if Erp is allready in the room when I go to bed its me the dogs and Erp all on the bed.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I usually have 2-3 of my cats sleeping some where on my bed at night. I have a queen sized bed and it's just me and the cats. I also put a door stopper in my bedroom door at night so that they can come and go throughout the night. If I close the door then they cry, scratch the door, or make a knocking sound and then I get no sleep. I hope that Clyde will become more comfortable and his pooping outside of the box will stop. Good luck.:)

[Red 46]

Cyrus is my 17 year old Siamese cross. She has slept in the bed with me and my bf (now husband) since she was a tiny kitten sleeping in the palm of my hand. She is getting old now and has some problems and may not be around much longer, but I cannot imagine this wonderful loving cat NOT sleeping either on the pillow over my head or curled up on my arm!! Being "purrrrred" to sleep every night is wonderful!!!

[K2QC]

My two furry friends sleep together in their own sleepy round. While I AM allergic to cats (I've taken the series of innoculations to build up my resistance) so it is extremely important for me to have a non-pet invaded area to go to for relief (as necessary).

However, when I am home and sitting on the sofa or chair, BOTH Minnie & Sebastian are right there each struggling to get closest to me and my face.

So for me, sleeping alone is important; but enjoying both of my guys during the day/early evening is even more important to me.

Every morning when I awake & open the bedroom door, they both are quietly sitting there just waiting for me to start the day.

[Taz_Zoee]

I go to bed a couple hours before my boyfriend. Usually when I head to bed all four animals come with me. So I have all four of them on the bed with me when I go to sleep. When Bruce comes to bed he puts Paizly in her room and Taggart in his crate. This way we have some room on the bed. Although, on the weekends we usually let everyone stay out (but I get up early in the morning and put them up because they wake up and wake me up, I enjoy getting to sleep in on the weekends, thank you:))

I hope you can find a solution to your issue. :)

[carole]

Only one out of my four cats sleeps upstairs with us , and she is always at the bottom of the bed, her little face perched on her pink heart shaped cushion, our electric blanket going underneath her and i cover her with a blanket to keep her warm, in winter time of course, she never wants in the bed or up close, which is good as i am allergic to cats,luckily the others all have their own beds and a spare one downstairs,they have the run of the place at nights down there and can pick and choose where to sleep.

I hope you can resolve your situation amicably for both kitties sake and your boyfriend. good luck.

[lvpets2002]

:love: Yup I have just that many & add 2 more with me everynight.. My Calitt is under my right arm & my Buttons is always under my left arm & the rest are on the bed around my legs.. Word of advise just dont have to get up & go to the bathroom in a hurry.. :D
I have trouble sleeping with out 4-5 on the bed. My MIT"S has to cuddle under my arm and make sure that I go to sleep.

[emo]

Thanks for all the replies! I really appreciate the advice. I know that I'm totally overthinking everything. My boyfriend is probably right saying that Clyde probably doesn't care if he's sleeping with me or not. The downstairs is Clyde's area and he is certainly not going without anything. His food, water, litter boxes, cat tree, toys & blankets are down there. Not to mention that he has a very comfy couch and 2 windows to look out.

I just can't figure out why I feel so guilty locking him up down there at night!? I mean hey he's got it a lot better than he did being caged up at the Humane Society. So why do I feel bad about it?

Anyhow, he has been doing good about pooping in his box until yesterday he pooped on the speaker by his food bowl. He uses the speaker to jump up on his cat tree to look out the window. Then this morning he decided to poop on the floor in the kitchen by his other water bowl. Fun. I've been keeping a notebook and keeping track of his accidents and successes to see if I can find a pattern.

I just want to say that I really appreciate all the advice and replies I've gotten on this message board. It really means a lot to me to have people that know what I'm going through and offer suggestions!! Thanks so much so all of you!!

[emo]

I've relented and now allow Pidge and Boo to sleep w/me; Pidge because she's old and has a serious illness, so I want to be able to hear her and Boo because Pidge adores him; he's her man. Otherwise, I don't have cats in my bed because they disturb my sleep and I need my rest. They have beds and blankets and afghans and condos and you name it, they have it, so they aren't deprived. The basement is all set up as their own private quarters. There are certain areas of the house where they aren't allowed to trespass but believe me when I say that they're just fine. I think that sometimes the need is ours and not theirs to have them sleep w/us. :)

I think that you are right about the need being ours and not theirs. I have been snuggling with him on the couch and usually fall asleep for awhile then I get up and leave him downstairs and go to bed. I think I just feel bad because he's downstairs all day while I'm at work and I always looked at bedtime as bonding time. Boy Clyde sure has my number huh?!

[treybabe]

Yep, one of ours, the girl, does. She looks over me and seems like a little angel without wings. ;) We have this ritual every night when she comes in to jump on the bed and be petted and hear sweet words from me. Then she settles right down on the bed. She does get up sometimes at night; but when morning comes she is usually back on the bed or else on the climber overlooking the bedroom window where she can see the early birds. :D