THANK YOU! Love, Bean

Bean has always been an anxious cat. When I first got him at 6 months old, he used to "chirp" all night...not really a cry, would just walk around the house and chirp. It made ME anxious so I eventually started putting him in a crate at night and that seemed to work. No peep out of him until I let him out...even if I got up in the night once, he would stay asleep. Then, he and I moved in with my SO and Moon. We had a nice finished basement that we made "his" as he got to know Moon and then eventually to put him in as soon as he "chirped". Not a problem!

Then...we got Sunny (puppy). She took over the basement with her crate so we couldn't put Bean down there with her. We have no extra rooms other than the bathroom but he cried in there. He is allowed outdoors so basically he cries to come in, eats and then immediately cries to go back out. OK...but he's doing this 6 times throughout the night. He won't stay in and sleep and he won't stay out and play. It's like he just keeps checking back in...of course, waking us up each time. I have tried the crate again but he cries and can actually open it with his paw. We have thought of moving Sunny into a crate upstairs in the bedroom but things have gone so smoothly with her, we don't want to risk changing it. Once she sleeps upstairs, there will be no easy transition back down. We are planning on getting a bigger/better locking :) crate today for Bean and trying it again. Maybe putting him in the crate in the kitchen and hoping he won't cry or we won't hear him.

Has anyone ever encountered a cat that just won't sleep and can't be in a big space without crying? Drugs :)

Thanks.

I haven't had to deal with that problem but I have been pawed at in the middle of the night and walked on, and Andy has even pulled my hair with his teeth in the middle of the night but my cat(s) have been silent during all of this. I hope you get some answers. I guess for now you just need to apply some extra make-up to those bags under your eyes. :p

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Originally Posted by Pam

I haven't had to deal with that problem but I have been pawed at in the middle of the night and walked on, and Andy has even pulled my hair with his teeth in the middle of the night but my cat(s) have been silent during all of this. I hope you get some answers. I guess for now you just need to apply some extra make-up to those bags under your eyes. :p

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hehe. Thanks for checking in on my post, Pam :)

I don't have any cats, but I can feel your pain!!! There is nothing worse than being woken up what seems like a thousand times a night...I hope you find some answers!!

Cats really hate change. And Bean is not adjusting well; he was there first.

I think your idea of finding another place for Sunny's crate is the best idea, so Bean can have his basement back.

Sunny is young enough to adjust. I hope you can find a place on the main floor for her.

I know you love Sunny dearly, but Bean should be allocated "squatter's rights". ;):D

LES...thanks.

I was going to post what Catty1 has already said!!! And I could not agree more!!! GOOD LUCK. PLease consider OTHER choices BEFORE drugs.

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Originally Posted by kb2yjx

I was going to post what Catty1 has already said!!! And I could not agree more!!! GOOD LUCK. PLease consider OTHER choices BEFORE drugs.

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Thanks. I was just kidding with the drugs. I would never drug him or any of my animals just for convenience. We won't even give Sunny anything for her car sickness...we just keep trying to work with her.

I have to agree that the reason Bean is crying is that he has been displaced. With cats, relocating a litter box can be a traumatic event! So think about long term where you want Sunny to sleep at night, and try moving her there now, so Bean can have HIS place back.

Now, what if the place you want Sunny to be in . . . Bean's old place. I'm not sure WHY Bean can't be down there when Sunny is down there in her crate.

Also, with Bean's crate, can you turn the gate facing the wall and put it close to the wall, so even if he tries and succeeds in undoing the latch . . . the gate can't open. May need something heavy behind the crate so he can't push away from the wall (I wouldn't put ANYTHING past a determined cat!)

You say he is an indoor/outdoor cat? How about fitting a cat door? Just a thought.

Thanks Freedom, Chris and everyone else... I never really thought about how hard this has all been on Bean. I think we expected Moon to be the challenge and he really wasn't but never really thought anything except Bean was being...well...Bean. We thought about letting Bean go back down in the basement with Sunny in her crate but the one night we tried it, Sunny sat right up in her crate and we envisioned a night of meowing and barking and decided not to even try it for the night. Again... not wanting to mess up the really easy time we had with crate training Sunny. We thought of the cat door but we don't want Moon going out and the one's that come with magnetic collars would be an option except they would have to be break away collars and Bean loses collars all the time....sigh...:rolleyes: Sandi, I was a PRO :) at all the crate tricks when he and I lived alone. I always had to push the door against the wall or vwallah...he'd be out. I tried that recently but he just cried. He's just not content, it's obvious now.

We are thinking of letting Sunny sleep with us at night and back in her crate during the day, etc....Then Bean can have the basement back at night. Sunny seems pretty housebroken and we have some good plastic sheets for the bed...just in case.

On a positive note, for those of you who haven't seen our success yet...They ARE getting along and hanging out in the yard together, etc...It's just the night that's proving difficult.
Moon on left, Bean on right
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...0/0ddf1052.jpg
Sunny and Bean
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...0/e29978bb.jpg

Thanks again for all the good advice.
Deb

I agree, move him back and crate the pup. He feels like his spot was taken over, and he was misplaced;)

Dont worry, it will get better. Also try and play with him for about 30 minutes before bed. Laser light is fun, so is "da bird" cat toy:D

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Originally Posted by kt_luvs_kitties

I agree, move him back and crate the pup. He feels like his spot was taken over, and he was misplaced;)

Dont worry, it will get better. Also try and play with him for about 30 minutes before bed. Laser light is fun, so is "da bird" cat toy:D

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ooh...I just got a laser chase.

I think we've also left off one obvious solution -- which is that YOU ought to have the drugs at night! :D

Seriously, though -- I do think letting Bean have the basement back is probably a good thing to try. Very best of luck with whatever course(s) of action you take!

Hugs,
Diana

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Originally Posted by mamaducky

I think we've also left off one obvious solution -- which is that YOU ought to have the drugs at night! :D

Seriously, though -- I do think letting Bean have the basement back is probably a good thing to try. Very best of luck with whatever course(s) of action you take!

Hugs,
Diana

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LOL! :) (I must admit, I've thought of that too)...Thanks for the well wishes. I am actually looking forward to tonight with a solution in mind...Sunny upstairs with us and Bean back down in HIS basement :)

Well, yes - isn't that why we all buy a house with a certain feature? It's because it is for the CAT! :)

Sunny will enjoy being snuggled and Bean will have his whole basement back! ;)

And YOU will get some sleep! :D

That whole plan sounds lovely :)

Thanks for helping me see Bean's point of view. So much change in a short period of time...when you're too close to a problem sometimes you can't see it.

UPDATE: FROM BEAN...

THANK YOU!! To all of my friends here at Pet Talk. I tried and tried and tried to tell Mommy how unhappy I was to lose the basement but it was like I was talking Siamese or something...she just wasn't getting it. Then, last night, something changed. I came in from outside at 10pm...Instead of running in mom's room to eat and then dash back outside, Mom picked me up and brought me down to the basement (MY basement). She showed me where my food and water is (hmmm...that's where it USED to be...why are you teasing me?). I got confused and ran back upstairs. She went and got me and "put me downstairs" the way she always used to. Hmmm...this seemed familiar. Now, mommy doesn't know what I did all night...all she knows is she heard 1 little meow from me and that was it! What I did was inspect every inch of my room that that stinky little puppy has touched. There's even a new entertainment center down there for me to explore. I may have even slept some. Everyone in the house slept. Mom got up at 5:45am to let Sunny out and I was waiting on the top step,in my usual spot, to come up...quiet as a mouse. Then, I ate breakfast and went outside for my day. I even checked out Sunny's new swimming pool (Moon joined me for a little bit as he's allowed to walk the yard with me...just no further...silly Moon).

Anyhow....THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! and MEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!
Bean

Well, now -- THAT'S what we're talkin' about!

So glad that all worked out for you and sweet Bean -- and ESPECIALLY glad you were able to get a full night's sleep!

HOORAY!

I'm very happy to hear that your life is returning to normal Bean! I know what it is like to have a new sibling arrive uninvited into your home. I'm glad you got your space back though!

I'm glad that things turned around for you and Bean. My internet was on and off most of yesterday, so I didn't even see this thread until this morning. It's tough being awakened several times a night; messes w/your rhythms. That's why my Fur Posse all sleep in the basement now and Mom has her bed all to herself, except for Ms. Puddy when she wants to sleep w/me cuz she's in CRF. Peace at last for you and I'm glad. :)

Thank you, Yes...things are back to normal. Bean came up from the basement this morning and had his spring back in his step and looked happy again. He hasn't looked happy to me in 2 months. Thank you all for your guidance with this :)

I'm so glad to hear that things are now back to normal and that Bean is a very happy cat now.:) Just always remember this: "Cats Hate Change."

Awe... so glad Bean is happy again.

Kitties are not happy campers when it comes to change. They like things the way they are, and whether it be a new puppy or a new kitten, moving litter boxes, or changes in your schedule, they usually don't like them and will be quite vocal (if not in other noticeable way) about letting you know how they feel.

Been through this with new kitties in the household, changes in my schedule, new boyfriends... I can handle the meows letting me know they aren't happy, it's the peeing and pooping outside the box that doesn't thrill me. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by MoonandBean

UPDATE: FROM BEAN...

THANK YOU!! To all of my friends here at Pet Talk. I tried and tried and tried to tell Mommy how unhappy I was to lose the basement but it was like I was talking Siamese or something...she just wasn't getting it. Then, last night, something changed. I came in from outside at 10pm...Instead of running in mom's room to eat and then dash back outside, Mom picked me up and brought me down to the basement (MY basement). She showed me where my food and water is (hmmm...that's where it USED to be...why are you teasing me?). I got confused and ran back upstairs. She went and got me and "put me downstairs" the way she always used to. Hmmm...this seemed familiar. Now, mommy doesn't know what I did all night...all she knows is she heard 1 little meow from me and that was it! What I did was inspect every inch of my room that that stinky little puppy has touched. There's even a new entertainment center down there for me to explore. I may have even slept some. Everyone in the house slept. Mom got up at 5:45am to let Sunny out and I was waiting on the top step,in my usual spot, to come up...quiet as a mouse. Then, I ate breakfast and went outside for my day. I even checked out Sunny's new swimming pool (Moon joined me for a little bit as he's allowed to walk the yard with me...just no further...silly Moon).

Anyhow....THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! and MEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!
Bean

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Oh Bean, I am just catching up on things and now read that all is RIGHT in your world . . . er, BASEMENT! again. Whew, humans DO take training, don't they? I am SO pleased to see someone has a problem RESOLVED. Oh and about that new entertainment center? Please do NOT chew the wires, ok? Hope you keep right on enjoying that basement for many many years!

I just read this thread for the first time! I'm so glad that Bean is feeling happier now! I was going to suggest making him a 'den' with his carrier but leaving the door open for him. It sounds like he likes to be very cozy at night. :) I leave a few carriers in each of the rooms that my cats sleep in and I put bedding inside and on top and I usually find half of them cozy as bugs in rugs inside the open carriers each morning. My original reason for leaving the carriers in each of the rooms was in case of a fire, I could quickly put everybody into cages but it's turned out that they love having these spaces to sleep in. :)
It's great to hear that Bean is being quieter through the night instead of a 'Mexican Jumping BEAN!' :D

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Originally Posted by Emeraldgreen

I just read this thread for the first time! I'm
It's great to hear that Bean is being quieter through the night instead of a 'Mexican Jumping BEAN!' :D

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LOL!! He is soooo happy again! Last night, my SO told me that he was sleeping on the back of the couch as content as could be and flew through the air to lay on the computer desk and flop for attention as he has always done when someone was sitting at the computer. He really missed his basement!!

Well done Bean - you got through to meowmie in the end ;)