Cat scratches & cries at door all night

I have a siamese/himalayain mix and he is very vocal and at night will sit by the bedroom door and cry and scratch at the door all night long. I can't let him into the bedroom because then he will suckle on any available part of my body. No matter how many times I throw him off the bed, he will turn around and come back. It is very irritating. I can't sleep if I let him into the bedroom and sometimes I can't sleep with him on the other side. I understand that he does it because he misses me, but I don't know what to do. Please help. Also, if you have any suggestions on how to help stop the suckling, that would be wonderful. He's almost 4 now and has been doing it since I got him at 3 weeks old. I bottle fed him....

 

You are the mother and the baby is just showing affection.

This may sound cruel but it's usually a very affective treatment. Use a small spray bottle "like what pump hair spray comes in" when the unwanted activities begin just give a little squirt with a stern No! It wont take long till he gets the message that you don't like the suckling.

 

Agree with Mattison. You have to let the cat know what is not acceptable. Ours had a habit of getting on your lap and "kneading" with both front paws. We have two squirt bottles and have but to pick one up and whatever non-allowable activity is going on...stops. (two cats)

 

The only problem with the squirt bottle is that Sam (my siamese) will squint his eyes and squish his body into the pillow or the wall and sit there as I squirt him. Eventually he will move, but I've been using the squirt bottle for almost 4 years. The other affect it has is when I lift it, Sam automatically squints his eyes. How do I make him stop scratching at the door and crying all night?

 

Hi Kssntigger-
How do you feel about the smell of tea tree oil?

Cats hate the smell and if you dab a few drops on you it will quite likely keep him away from you.

 

Lock the cat in a room far away from your bedroom for the night, such as a laundry room. Make sure he is warm and safe, with water, bedding, a litter box, and a scratching post; and that the room is cat-proof (no poisons, electrical cords, etc.) In time, he will get accustomed to the routine, you'll get some sleep, and you'll both be happier.

Save the spray bottle for when he claws the furniture.

 

I'm with razz on this one. You can lock the cat in the laundry room or bathroom or simply crate the cat at night. Many behavior problems in dogs and cats can be controlled or eliminated by the careful use of crates. Placing crate near your bed at night may resolve the situation. At least you will know where the cat is while you are sleeping and the same for the cat. Use treats for good behavior.

 

Kssntigger,
I read another one of your posts where you stated that your kitty is peeing outside the box and is what is known as a "wool sucker". This peeing outside of the box behavior could be related if he is feeling separation anxiety from his 'mommy', that would be you.

I have been through this myself. I have rescued and hand raised many abandoned litters of kitties and suckling is a common problem. Currenty we have 7 cats.... Yes I said 7. Two of the seven are wool suckers and now only suck on their own 'blankies'. I have used tabasco sause, bitter apple, sour grape, on my hands, earlobes, neck to train/dicourage this sucking behavior. With some I have had to transfer this behavior to a 'kitty blankie' or knitted sock. This is how they comfort themselves and being separated from you at night may only cause more behavior problems in the future... He's trying to tell you something the only way he knows how.

His peeing problem could also be signs of a kidney problem, which is very common in male cats, a trip to the vet to rule that out would be my first step.

You can find great advice/information on pets at: http://www.bestfriends.org/theanimals/
They have a great forum.

Also find great info at: http://www.21cats.org/ including the health and care info center: http://www.21cats.org/health.html and
the kitty nurse hotline: http://www.21cats.org/ask.html

I hope that helps.