Cat Scratch Fever

[c9]

Every night, just after we go to bed, one of the cats will visit our bedroom door and scratch it to get our attention. This is probably Lucky, lonely. Then again in the morning, before we feel like getting up, one will visit our bedroom door and rather insistently scratch to let us know that it's time to get up and feed them. This is almost assuredly Action Cat, starving to death since he hasn't eaten in 7.5 hours.

I need a solution, or we may go mad. My current plan is to find one of those small-child-tunnel things, except the even smaller cat-size one, and lay it down in front of the door each night. That way they can play, and even cry, but scratching will be tougher as they won't be able to reach the door itself. *bliss*

If they prove to be well-behaved after this plan, we may reward them with a Cat Spa. Both are only $20, so except for the minor detail of all my debt, I might just go for both.

Comments

[msvu20.livejournal.com]

Just get out of bed and feed the cats. To the coyotes.

[c9.livejournal.com]

The thought has occurred. Kitchener has no coyotes though.

[jpman.livejournal.com]

Couldn't you leave a bowl of (dry?) food out, so Action Cat can eat? Most cats I know (and I've never actually had a cat) regulate their own feeding, unlike any of the dogs I've had.

[c9.livejournal.com]

a) they eat all the food very fast, and would grow fat if we left out as much as they actually want

b) Lucky is allergic to dry food, but will still eat it, so we'd be cleaning up puke every day instead of every month.

[msvu20.livejournal.com]

Your cats are higher maintenance than most people.

[c9.livejournal.com]

Don't I know it.

[jpman.livejournal.com]

Note to self: when I get a pet, just get a dog. I know they're high maintenance. I don't want to be lulled in by the fact that cats are supposed to be low maintenance, and then end up really annoyed.

[c9.livejournal.com]

They prefer the term, "differently maintained."

[simplisticton.livejournal.com]

Don't bother with the Cat Spa. It's one of those things that cat owners think their cats will like, but the cat is completely indifferent to. Every cat owner I know has one of these things which sits totally ignored and taking up valuable floor space, waiting to be kicked or tripped over.

If you want to get something your cats will probably like, get a scratching post (the 2x4 nailed to the middle of a square platform, covered in carpet).

[c9.livejournal.com]

We have our cat tree that my parents donated, though it's about 3 times as big as it needs to be since they have no claws. No cat spa, check.

[skeezix1000.livejournal.com]

Would leaving the bedroom door open help at all? Or would it make a bad situation worse? Our cat caterwauls something fierce if our bedroom door is closed, but tends to leave us alone for an extra hour or two in the morning if she is able to wander in or out (mind you, we test the limits of her patience on Saturday mornings...)

[c9.livejournal.com]

Undoubtedly. But leapfish wishes the door closed, so we're working on other approaches.

[simplisticton.livejournal.com]

Timed feeder?

[c9.livejournal.com]

That's what I'm thinking. It will simplify our weekends away too. But they're so expensive! I even found one $20 cheaper than the one you linked to. Crazy.

[simplisticton.livejournal.com]

I really want one (mostly for Dieter, he's the most time-sensitive eater), but in reality I know I'd need three. And that would be annoying/expensive.

What I need is to teach Zach to feed the cats. But first I need to teach him a) to walk, b) that the cat food is not his food.

[c9.livejournal.com]

Except that I have no follow-through, I'd try to invent one myself for cheaper. I think the baby plan will bear more positive results.

[msvu20.livejournal.com]

Leaving the door open could work. Who is higher in the heirarchy, Vinny or the cats?

[c9.livejournal.com]

I agree that it would settle them, as it's just the standard "I need to know what's behind this door RIGHT NOW" about half the time. But I suspect that Vinny is higher in the hierarchy. :)

[msvu20.livejournal.com]

Be careful how you say that infront of the cats. They outnumber you two to one, eight paws to four.

[c9.livejournal.com]

Oh, I only say things like that when Vin's home to back me up.

[jpman.livejournal.com]

Sell your place, move into a place that has mice. They'll be too busy catching their food to bother waking you up, and they'll get enough excercise so that you don't have to worry about them getting fat.

You can tell them it's a 24 hour buffet/aerobics workout all in one.

[c9.livejournal.com]

You've never owned cats, have you. Cats eat the yummy parts of the mice, and then leave the carcasses around the house to surprise you.

Or they catch and wound the mouse, but then let it run around inside the house for sport. Think little bloody mouse footprints. :)