New cat - locking out of bedroom

laprof

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Hello, and thanks for reading my post. After living with a roommate and her cat for the past 2 1/2 years, I recently moved into my own place and adopted a cute black cat named Otis. He's been home for 2 days, and I'm feeling overwhelmed and a little depressed. I've read several threads about how this is normal, so that makes me feel a little better. Still, I hope I didn't make a mistake. I really loved my roommate's cat (sadly deceased), but ultimately I was not the primary caregiver.

Anyway, one thing I'm trying to deal with is sleep. I have a sleep disorder so I really need to get a good night's sleep. This isn't helped by Otis waking me at 4AM! I live in a large studio apartment that is divided into a couple of rooms, but my bedroom doesn't have a door. I've decided I want to try to not let him sleep in the bedroom. I have two options for this: 1) A barricade that I put together that will go between the bedroom and rest of the apartment, or 2) Put him in the small 4 x 6 room where his litter box is and which does have a door - and shut him in there for the night. I'd also give him a bed, some water & kibble, and toys I got today. Clearly option 2 will guarantee he can't bug me while I sleep, but I'm afraid it's too drastic. Have any of you ever tried something like that? Or what have you done in this situation?

I'm also going to play with him before bed tonight and feed him before I go to sleep.

I want to try to make this work and I don't want to be cruel just because I need to sleep, but sleep is important to me.

Thanks!
 

maggie101

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I use a food timer for wet. She also has a cat tower,, cubes to hide and pounce on chew toys. Lots of room to run around. Tis true,playing before bed helps except cats are early risers and like to play before eating. Have you been tested for sleep apnea?
 
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laprof

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I use a food timer for wet. She also has a cat tower,, cubes to hide and pounce on chew toys. Lots of room to run around. Tis true,playing before bed helps except cats are early risers and like to play before eating
Thanks, he's 18 months old. The room I could put him in isn't very big. I'm going to try to use the barricade first so he can have more room to roam. Hoping it works. What food timer do you use?
 

maggie101

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Thanks, he's 18 months old. The room I could put him in isn't very big. I'm going to try to use the barricade first so he can have more room to roam. Hoping it works. What food timer do you use?
Easy to use. Comes with an ice pack. When my cat was that age she would run around for 15 minutes when I went to bed. I locked her out. Then opened the door later


20220510_221448.jpg
 

ladytimedramon

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I've kept my kitties out of my bedroom at bedtime since day 1. My older cat (with me for 2 years) learned pretty quickly, and I got her a timed kibble drop feeder for 2am hunger. My newer kitty (with me for 6 months) is still learning that but she's getting better. I toss and turn too much to have them in the room when I'm trying to do more than nap.
 
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laprof

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Update: I put the barricade in place the last two nights. I live in a large studio apartment, so no door on bedroom. He did respect the barrier during most of the night (win!), but I knew he'd be able to jump over it...and this morning he did at 5:45. I know that's better than 4AM LOL! Still, I'm not sure this is going to work. I'm thinking about trying one night in the small room with the door. See picture below....but I'm afraid it's too small (4 x 6). Overall, I wonder if I made the wrong decision, that my apartment is too small for a cat. I want to try to make it work, but I really do need to sleep. Anyway, thanks for your comments!
 

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Furballsmom

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Hi!
I think that small room should be fine. It may take a little adjusting, but that's more for him to figure out your schedule rather than the size of the room. You're renting so I assume you can't put screw or nail holes in the walls? I'll give you an article anyway just in case you see something that works.

Also, can you play with him to try and wear him out, (a wand style toy can get a cat going :) ) and, would you be able (depending on where you live/if it's safe outside) teach him how to go for walks in a harness and leash?

How To Make Your Home Bigger (at Least For Your Cats) – TheCatSite Articles

Harness And Leash Training For Cats – TheCatSite Articles

In addition, this article has photos and info for a couple of doorway barriers that might have something useful for you;

How To Successfully Introduce Cats: The Ultimate Guide – TheCatSite Articles
 
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LTS3

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Vertical space is more important to a cat than horizontal space. There are people who have cats in those trendy micro-sized apartments. The bathroom and the attached room that the litter box is in are fine and the cat can get onto the sink to get off the floor. I'd leave the bathroom door open so the cat has more room than the one 4x6 room with the litter box. It looks like the bathroom has a window? You can attach a window perch the window sill for another elevated area. Many window perches are renter-friendly and easily removable. Might be a pain to remove each time you want to use the tub, though. Make sure the window screen in on securely or just don't open it at all when the cat is inside. You don't want to open the door one day to find the window screen and the cat missing.

You've only had the cat for a few days so the cat is still exploring his new home. Once he's comfortable and settled in, he'll learn your routine and habits and adjust accordingly.
 
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ladytimedramon

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I'm in a 1 bedroom apartment. When I adopted a 2nd cat and had to separate the 2, I got the tallest baby gate I could find. It had an extension so it was held in place by compression. When my girl figured out how to jump the gate, I made an extension with cardboard to make it taller. It worked until little Miss Houdini kept figuring out ways to get out of it (the gate was to keep the 2 cats separated during introductions). You could probably do the same to train the cat about bedtimes. The girls have beds outside my door so they know where they can sleep near the door.
 

PushPurrCatPaws

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I think it would be okay to try using that room (and also the bathroom) at night for him. One thing I would do straightaway, though, would be to lower the height of that tower of storage boxes, as I foresee him wanting to get on top of those and that almost certainly would result in a big tumble down of the boxes. You could shift them closer to the area nearer the litter box, leaving space in that corner for an actual cat tree and/or cat bed area for him. I think putting a cat tree in there would be a great idea. I'd recommend giving him a few places to choose from for a bed: the cat tree itself but also maybe putting a donut bed on the shorter grouping of your storage boxes.

Just be open to the possibility of meowing and howling happening in the small room, if he's locked in there at night. It could echo quite a bit, unless you also add a small rug to dampen the sound. Most cats who are 18 months old are feeling quite independent-minded and like a lot of space to roam, so I think you have only a 50-50 chance of this working out in that small room.
 

LTS3

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I think it would be okay to try using that room (and also the bathroom) at night for him. One thing I would do straightaway, though, would be to lower the height of that tower of storage boxes, as I foresee him wanting to get on top of those and that almost certainly would result in a big tumble down of the boxes.
:yeah:

I'd move those storage boxes out of the room and put a cat tree in. Or buy actual furniture to store the items in and attach the furniture to the wall with safety straps and there's still room for a small cat tree.

Tips on how to sleep at night: How To Stop My Cat From Waking Me Up At Night (step-by-step Plan) – TheCatSite Articles
 
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laprof

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Hi!
I think that small room should be fine. It may take a little adjusting, but that's more for him to figure out your schedule rather than the size of the room. You're renting so I assume you can't put screw or nail holes in the walls? I'll give you an article anyway just in case you see something that works.

Also, can you play with him to try and wear him out, (a wand style toy can get a cat going :) ) and, would you be able (depending on where you live/if it's safe outside) teach him how to go for walks in a harness and leash?

How To Make Your Home Bigger (at Least For Your Cats) – TheCatSite Articles

Harness And Leash Training For Cats – TheCatSite Articles

In addition, this article has photos and info for a couple of doorway barriers that might have something useful for you;

How To Successfully Introduce Cats: The Ultimate Guide – TheCatSite Articles
Thanks for these links! Those are clever solutions. I have been trying to play with him at night and I feed him before I go to bed.
Hi!
I think that small room should be fine. It may take a little adjusting, but that's more for him to figure out your schedule rather than the size of the room. You're renting so I assume you can't put screw or nail holes in the walls? I'll give you an article anyway just in case you see something that works.

Also, can you play with him to try and wear him out, (a wand style toy can get a cat going :) ) and, would you be able (depending on where you live/if it's safe outside) teach him how to go for walks in a harness and leash?

How To Make Your Home Bigger (at Least For Your Cats) – TheCatSite Articles

Harness And Leash Training For Cats – TheCatSite Articles

In addition, this article has photos and info for a couple of doorway barriers that might have something useful for you;

How To Successfully Introduce Cats: The Ultimate Guide – TheCatSite Articles
Thanks, I appreciate the links! I have been playing with him with a couple of those wand toys.
 
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laprof

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I'm in a 1 bedroom apartment. When I adopted a 2nd cat and had to separate the 2, I got the tallest baby gate I could find. It had an extension so it was held in place by compression. When my girl figured out how to jump the gate, I made an extension with cardboard to make it taller. It worked until little Miss Houdini kept figuring out ways to get out of it (the gate was to keep the 2 cats separated during introductions). You could probably do the same to train the cat about bedtimes. The girls have beds outside my door so they know where they can sleep near the door.
That is a great idea! I think he'd be able to jump over the baby gate. How did you make the cardboard extension?
 
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laprof

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I think it would be okay to try using that room (and also the bathroom) at night for him. One thing I would do straightaway, though, would be to lower the height of that tower of storage boxes, as I foresee him wanting to get on top of those and that almost certainly would result in a big tumble down of the boxes. You could shift them closer to the area nearer the litter box, leaving space in that corner for an actual cat tree and/or cat bed area for him. I think putting a cat tree in there would be a great idea. I'd recommend giving him a few places to choose from for a bed: the cat tree itself but also maybe putting a donut bed on the shorter grouping of your storage boxes.

Just be open to the possibility of meowing and howling happening in the small room, if he's locked in there at night. It could echo quite a bit, unless you also add a small rug to dampen the sound. Most cats who are 18 months old are feeling quite independent-minded and like a lot of space to roam, so I think you have only a 50-50 chance of this working out in that small room.
Great point about the storage boxes! I removed the two smaller ones. The others are heavy enough that I don't think he'd be able to knock them over. I've been thinking of getting a cat tree so I'll try to do that today. I already have a donut bed (so far I haven't seen him use it though).
 
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