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- Mar 20, 2021
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My living space recently changed and I'm now sleeping in the same room with my cats. I used to sleep in a separate room since I could never get any sleep when they were around. In some ways, it's been really nice to cuddle with them at night, and I feel good knowing that they aren't ever lonely. They seem so much happier. However, without fail, no matter what time I go to bed, no matter how long I play with them before I turn in, they will be absolutely batshit insane for 30 minutes to an hour while I am trying to fall asleep. I've gotten to the point where I am falling asleep 1-2 hours after I intend to, which is causing all sorts of problems for my mental health and work situation, not to mention the intensity of the anger I feel every single night, which feels almost poisonous, especially before I am supposed to be resting and recovering.
Nothing I've tried has changed this behavior - I tried playing with them before bed and getting them really pooped out, giving them a good meal that they love afterward - doesn't change anything.
I'd like to explore other options to try to reprogram their routine a bit, maybe with melatonin? I tend to use melatonin temporarily myself when I need to change my sleep schedule, usually for no longer than a week, which I have done many times before while switching from day sleeping to night sleeping.
Just wondering if anyone has experience using melatonin temporarily for their cats? Any recommended products? The strategy I'm considering is playing with them for half an hour and then giving them some melatonin followed by their 4th and final meal of the day. I would probably give it to them maybe 30 minutes before I plan on going to bed. Does this sound like a good strategy? I'm also not sure how long I should do something like this before their new routine is "set" and they fall into the groove of a new habit. Any advice is welcome from anyone who has been in this situation or has used melatonin or other sleep aids/sedatives. I don't want to give them anything permanently, just temporarily while we all create a new routine together. I also have gabapentin if that would work better.
Nothing I've tried has changed this behavior - I tried playing with them before bed and getting them really pooped out, giving them a good meal that they love afterward - doesn't change anything.
I'd like to explore other options to try to reprogram their routine a bit, maybe with melatonin? I tend to use melatonin temporarily myself when I need to change my sleep schedule, usually for no longer than a week, which I have done many times before while switching from day sleeping to night sleeping.
Just wondering if anyone has experience using melatonin temporarily for their cats? Any recommended products? The strategy I'm considering is playing with them for half an hour and then giving them some melatonin followed by their 4th and final meal of the day. I would probably give it to them maybe 30 minutes before I plan on going to bed. Does this sound like a good strategy? I'm also not sure how long I should do something like this before their new routine is "set" and they fall into the groove of a new habit. Any advice is welcome from anyone who has been in this situation or has used melatonin or other sleep aids/sedatives. I don't want to give them anything permanently, just temporarily while we all create a new routine together. I also have gabapentin if that would work better.