Are all Coonies early risers?

**mcguy** · 12th April 2010, 09:47 PM

Our four also tend to get up around 5am (depends a bit on sunrise). However they have gotten pretty good about letting us sleep. Some of them will visit us, but none really do too much to wake us up (beyond walking on bed or us briefly). The kittens early on will generally keep sleeping, but then they get to be the worst for a while, until they get a bit older. If we try to sleep past 7:30-8am now the 9mos old will walk around the bedroom crying, but I expect that will improve.

As for getting up at 5:10 to play...I have to say that are just reinforcing that behavior and you are going to be doomed. We have found that they are very quick to begin to expect to always do something they enjoy once you repeat it even just a couple of times. My wife started playing with the 9mos old with a teaser once when he went and looked up at where they are stored and cried out, and he now goes and sits and cries beneath them half a dozen times a day! It seemed so cute at first, but now....

**Scrapdragon** · 13th April 2010, 07:00 AM

Yes I've noticed they learn quickly... gryfn already knows where the teasers are....

**IrishKitty** · 13th April 2010, 08:19 AM

Interesting to see how much all our coonies have in common

I guess normally it would not bother me as I was used to my parents outdoor cat waking us up early to be fed, but once that was done she went on her merry way.
What I'm a bit concerned with, is that I live in an apartment, and am worrying that Winston's early morning antics will be heard by neighbours. He had me up at 4.50 am today so I joined him in the dining room and went on the PC. He then fell asleep on the cat tree and I sneaked back to bed around 6. As soon as I pulled the duvet over my head, his lordship arrived at the door telling me "what did I think I was doing". I'm sure thats what he said

Should I have set more boundries and not allowed him to sleep in the bedroom to begin with?
As I write this he is all curled up on th rug and I'm bleary eyed whilst typing this!

**Scrapdragon** · 13th April 2010, 09:16 AM

poor you.
We let the cats sleep on our bed, but Gryfn didn't stay on our bed last night. I get the feeling that Charlie Brown has informed him he's not allowed to...
Charlie Brown is a bit of a bully. I'll be glad when he's snipped! But Charlie Brown has tried waking us early and we've just put our hand on him, given him a scratch and told him it's too early and go back to sleep and he's actually listened.

**Heather2mc** · 13th April 2010, 11:44 AM

All of mine sleep on the bed with me

If Sarah woke me early I said no and gently pushed her away - If it was after my alarm or a reasonable hour then I put my arm around her and gave her a cuddle.

It did take a week or two for her to get the hang of it but she did - the occasional slip up but not much.

The weekend thing she worked out by herself.

A good alarm clock if all else fails.

**Karena** · 13th April 2010, 11:53 AM

Oh dear Dee, I think if I were you I would put my foot down. I'm sure if you just ignored him a few mornings when it was too early he would get the hint. The only other way that may solve the problem is get another kitten to keep him entertained while you are sleeping of course this might also double the trouble

**jckkerrison** · 13th April 2010, 04:07 PM

I love all my animals but say that they are the same as babies,give into them once & they never let you forget it so Irish Kitty I would say yes lay down your boundries they & you know where you stand esp.this breed of cats that seem to learn very quickly,we always say to new pet owners when they bring their babies in for 1st vacc love them yes but do not let them get away with anything you don't like they are never too young to learn.
Sounds hard but...
I am pleased my cats haven't mastered reading these postingsyet or they might ask to pack their bags & head for a home where a better bed is on offer !