Friends' Cat Wakes Them, They May Give Him Up

[5Cats]

Friends of mine, a couple, just adopted a cat. They have to keep him out of their bed room as they are light sleepers. Still, the cat's early morning cries are waking them up, disturbing their much-needed sleep. I suggested Rescue Remedy, which worked for awhile. My friend told me that again, the cat woke them up at 5 a.m. today. They live in a one bed room apartment, so there's no other room where the cat can spend the night. They are at their wits end and - though it would be heart-breaking for them - are very seriously considering giving the cat back to the shelter. Any suggestions would be appreciated. (Please don't suggest that I could take their cat, I am full-up and also live very far from them.) Many thanks!!!

[Freedom]

Cats are crespucular - they hunt and EAT at dawn and dusk. My entire crew are up at 5 am this time of year.

And filling the food bowl the night before doesn't work, here. Mine want "fresh kill." :rolleyes:

So, a first guess, this is what is going on with their cat.

Ideas:
- keep a baggie of food in a bedside DRAWER (out of kitty's reach) for easy feeding in the morning (and go back to sleep)

- you can buy a dish w/ a timer on it, and it opens a new compartment at the set time. Worked when I had 1, 2 and 3 cats! After that, thee compartment didn't hold enough. :D
Here is one:
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&q=automatic+pet+feeder&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=11995530526405562314&sa=X&ei=usHTTfPcA-nw0gGF3eDRCw&ved=0CC0Q8wIwAw&biw=1280&bih=591#

[MoonandBean]

My cat Bean always woke me up early morning. I found that he could not be in a big space without crying and chirping all morning...drove me crazy. I started putting him in a small crate at night with a bowl of food and I didn't hear a peep from him until I opened the crate in the morning. When I moved to a house with a basement (PT people know this story all too well, right Sandie? :D), he had to go in the basement at night or he would cry. Again, the smaller space (his space) seemed to work well.

[5Cats]

Great ideas! To tell you the truth, I have the same problem with Cato, my 19-year-old now-blind cat. These suggestions may help me as well. The more suggestions the better - MANY thanks :love:

[Freedom]

When I moved to a house with a basement (PT people know this story all too well, right Sandie? :D), he had to go in the basement at night or he would cry. Again, the smaller space (his space) seemed to work well.

Sure do remember that, Deb! Ha ha haaa.