Feeding dilemma

[LeighK]

Thanks, yes, I needed it. I was so used to a much lighter weight Suzie sleeping all night on the bed and I do miss her terribly and it would be nice if Alfie and/or Frankie would do the same and maybe in years to come they will but Alfie is a very independant minded cat and just joins me at 3AM to get me up to feed him but he does have his very loving moments like last night when he is in the mood. Frankie is more layed back and it takes him a while to get used to new regimes so I'm hoping that he will jump up on ther bed and settle down just like he does when i'm laying on the settee, there's definite promise there.

Cheers

Leigh

[Janeyk]

 glad you got a better sleep Leigh 

[LeighK]

Hi hun,

Yes not bad, Frankie's not a problem as he just retires for the night on the settee, his idea of bliss is a cuddle on my lap on the settee, a long sleep and some grub on call when he fancies it, it's Alfie who is the bright spark. I still feel a bit guilty but needed the sleep. Undercover Mousey is still a big hit at Kemp Towers they've been playing with it every evening and morning whilst I'm getting ready for work, I think Maxy will love it. If Alfie hasn't got bored with it yet then it's a real success.

Cheers

Leigh

[clarenmax]

That's a result Leigh 

[LeighK]

Update:

Last night I shut the bedroom door before going to sleep but Alfie joined me shortly after I got into bed for an hour long stroking session before jumping down so I didn't feel too unfair, result, a reasonable nights sleep and bot puds tucked into their breakfast when I got up.

Cheers

Leigh

[LeighK]

I guess you're right Dawn, will try and exhaust any alternatives first but might have to do that if all else fails.

[Dawn F]

I don't think you should feel bad if you have to shut him out Leigh - you do need your sleep - we had to shut our old cat Bluto out of the room because he bit toes!

[LeighK]

Yeah, I love having Alfie in with me especially as I miss Suzie sleeping on the bed all night, maybe he'll join me for a few hours after I go to bed and I'll have to shut the door before going to sleep as it is getting very difficult as things stand.

[Janeyk]

ooh dear, it is a bit of a dilemma that.  I'd love to let my 2 into the bedroom but Byron just keeps me awake all night so I know the feeling! and I won't let 1 in without the other, occasionally I'll call her in but I just get no sleep at all    our first 2 cats slept at the bottom of the bed and that was fine.

[LeighK]

Hiya,

Fresh dry food each morning for the daytime which they eat a bit of and fresh dry food again overnight which they usually eat most of.

[Janeyk]

Do you leave dry food out during the night Leigh, or does he just eat all that?

[LeighK]

  the feeder worked fine when I just had Alfie then when I adopted Suzie I had to go over to the new feed when I get up/door closed routine. Frankie is very layed back he never prompts for food he just waddles over and eats it when it's there but Alfie just loves his food and, unfortunately, his biological food clock is hard-wired for 3AM. Maybe I could try a hybrid approach tonight, set the feeder for 3AM with just one pouch (for Alfie) and feed Frankie manually when I get up but then Alfie'd be ready for a second breakfast, worth a try I suppose

The other problem with the feeder is that I turn in early and I put two of those ice brick things under it to keep it fresh but it can't be as fresh as it would if I fed them manually when I get up and, in the summer, with the flat as hot as hell, I don't think it's an option. I'm going to leave a food pouch out and teach Alfie how to feed himself 

[Leanne]

When we tried the feeder bloomin Jess broke into it when we went to bed 

[LeighK]

I feel your pain too, I would much prefer 5AM to 3AM, it wouldn't be too bad if it wasn't for Frankie noit getting the plot, I could set the auto-cat feeder and they could both tuck in, maybe I should keep at it and Frankie might get the plot.

Cheers

Leigh

[Leanne]

Leigh I have no answers but I feel your pain. Every morning at 5am Jess and Milo start the morning wake up routine. It starts with sitting on the headboard and dangling a tail on my forehead. When I turn over they usually get down and proceed to walk around my head. At this point Jess usually comes and sits on my chest, he gets so close I can feel his breath on my face. Milo then promptly starts batting my cheek at this point I usually get up but should I ignore them further Milo will get his claws out and swipe my cheek.

This happens every morning, but considering we get up at 5:30(ish) I can live with it, I just wish they understood weekends more  but then usually I get up and feed them and then go back to bed. Should we shut them out they usually scratch the bedroom door. Equally I love them sleeping with us, it was 4 in the bed last night 

[LeighK]

Hi folks,

Here's the situation. Before loosing Suzie I had to keep the bedroom door closed after retiring for the night because of Alfiie's boisterous behaviour disturbing Suzie. I always felt guilty about doing this and shutting the boys, particularly Alfie, out of the bedroom but it was the only workable solution. Lately, since loosing Suzie, I have been leaving the door ope of a night and I do enjoy Alfie's company on the bed very much but, and here's the dilemma, Frankie rarely wanders into the bedroom of a night and is happy to sleep in his favourite spot on the settee but Alfie is a very "food" orientated cat and has taken to waking me at 3AM for food. He is quite a stocky built cat and you know when he land on you and he is not one to take no for an answer when food is concerned without at least an hours head butting, jumping off of the headboard onto me, milk treading etc. type session. Everything that I have tried to date has failed including setting the auto-feeder thingy for 4 AM this morning, as Alfie just put the clock back . Also Frankie is a bit slow on the uptake with modern hi-tech gadgets and only cottoned onto there being food after Alfie had nearly polished off both lots, I know because I was wide awake after an hour of Alfie attention watching him eat and Frankie was oblivious until too late, I had to point him in the right direction . I guess the only answer is to revert back to closing the door and feeding them both when I get up. I know I'm a softy but I do like them to be able to come and go but this 3AM business is getting a bit too much especially as Alfie will keep it up for hours if he needs to. If I feed him/them at that time of the morning it's a long time until I get in from work and Alfie's ready for a second breakfast by the time I get up! .

Cheers

Leigh