How to stop your cat from sleeping on your bed
Although there are a few benefits to allowing your cat to sleep beside you, sometimes, this scenario cannot continue.
Preventing your cat from sleeping on your bed is no easy task, especially if he has been used to doing that. But with patience and a little creativity, you can achieve that goal. Here are a few tips that will help you achieve that goal:
Start training your cat while he is still young
Whether it is your first or nth time to get a cat, it is critical to decide on a few serious matters. That includes whether to allow your kitty to sleep on the bed or not.
If you do decide to keep the bed off-limits to your pet, you should train him to do so as soon as you get him home. Otherwise, you might have a difficult time stopping him from doing something that has become a habit to him.
Give your cat his spot in the bedroom
If you want your cat to stay with you in the bedroom but you do not like him sleeping beside you, you should ensure that he has a comfortable spot to sleep in like a cat bed.
1. Invest in a cat bed
Choosing a bed for your furry little pal can be a bit tricky. In fact, there are no clear guidelines as to how to choose a cat bed. The reality is that you may have to experiment until you find a bed that your cat likes. Or more accurately, you might need to buy a few beds so that your pet has no other option but to use at least one of the beds you bought for him.
One trick that you can use to choose a cat bed is to observe the surfaces that your cat prefers to sleep on. You may also want to watch his sleeping habits.
For example, if your cat likes sleeping under the space beneath a piece of furniture or your bed, consider buying a hooded bed. Or if your pet is a senior cat and has mobility issues, he will benefit immensely from a heated cat bed.
2. Buy a cat tree
On the other hand, if your cat likes perching himself atop high places, you should strongly consider buying a cat tree for him. This will allow him to stay in the bedroom and observe everything from a high place.
Alternatively, you can clear the top portion of a piece of furniture and give that spot to your cat.
Make your bed less appealing to your cat
As you try to coax your cat to sleep in his designated space, you should also make your bed less appealing to him. To do that, there are a few tricks that you can employ.
1. Use a cat repellent.
There are some scents that cats generally dislike. And you can use that information to your advantage when you want to prevent your pet from sleeping on your bed.
Among the scents that cats dislike are citrus and eucalyptus. Use sprays that contain these scents on your bed. Apart from repelling your cat, these sprays can make your bedroom smell clean and fresh.
2. Attach double-sided tape to your bed.
Another way to deter your cat from jumping on to your bed is to attach strips of double-sided tape on your bed.
First, figure out where your cat likes to jump off from and land on your bed. Once you have identified these spots, attach strips of double-sided tape to these.
Cats dislike the sticky texture of double-sided tape on their paws. And after a few initial attempts, your cat will be discouraged to jump on your bed.
Create and stick to a bedtime routine
Sometimes cats wake their owners to fulfill some need. Perhaps your cat simply wants to play with you. Or maybe your cat gets hungry at night. When these situations arise, your cat will wake you up, no matter what time it is.
You can prevent these from happening by creating a bedtime routine for your cat.
For example, if your cat wakes you up in the middle of the night because he wants to play with you, you can play with him before going to your bedroom. This way, he will be tuckered out by the time you need to sleep and he will be less likely to wake up in the middle of the night.
If your cat wakes you up in the middle of the night to beg for food, you can train him to eat at certain times of the day instead of free-feeding. Alternatively, you can invest in a puzzle feeder and put it inside the bedroom so that your pet has something to nibble on when he gets peckish at night.
How to make your cat sleep on his bed
Part of the equation that is keeping your cat off your bed is making his bed more enticing. Once you have made your bed unappealing to him, the next order of business is making his bed look like the best spot in your bedroom.
Find the right spot for the cat bed
There is not one perfect sleeping spot in your bedroom. Instead, you have to observe your cat and take into account his preferences.
Most cats like sleeping in a warm area, like spots near the window on a sunny day. Over the course of a few days, figure out where your cat likes hanging around in your bedroom. Experiment with the bed placement until you find a sweet spot for him.
Coax your pet to use his bed
Once you have identified a good place for your pet’s bed, the next thing that you need to do is to make his bed more appealing than your bed.
Start by sitting next to the cat bed. Next, call on your cat to come to you. Use treats and be liberal with praises. Afterward, make him come and lie on the bed using toys, treats, or even catnip.
When he hops on to his bed, shower him with praises and give him more treats. This will help your cat form a positive association with his bed.
Consider making the bedroom off-limits to your cat
There is no real guarantee that your cat will not sleep on your bed, no matter how hard you try. You can buy several beds and he might still choose yours.
In such a situation, you might want to consider keeping your cat away from the bedroom entirely. Although you might feel guilty just thinking about it, there is nothing wrong with that. You are not making yourself a bad fur parent if you do not allow your pet to sleep in the bedroom with you.
In fact, many experts even recommend making the bedroom a cat-free zone, especially for people who are allergic to cats.
It might take some time (and protests from the feline resident) but yes, you can train your cat to sleep outside the bedroom.
First, make sure that your cat is fed before bedtime. This can help prevent him from making noises and scratching on the bedroom door when he gets hungry at night. Or you can place a puzzle feeder nearby so that he can eat any time he feels hungry.
Make sure that you set out a few toys in the area where he will be sleeping. This will help stave off boredom while you get your beauty rest.
You might also want to confine your cat to a specific area in your home. This will help prevent your cat from making a big mess before you wake up.
It is okay to let the cat sleep off the bed
It is natural to feel guilty when you want your pet to sleep off your bed. It does not make you a bad fur parent. While there are advantages to sleeping beside your cat, there are also a few disadvantages.
At the end of the day, your sleep quality matters. And if you cannot get a good night’s rest when your feline is sleeping beside you, you should discourage him from doing so.
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