Need help, cat won't settle

[RobJay18]

Hello everyone, could really do with some help.

We bought a kitten back in March Oli and he was great, sleeps with us in the bedroom plays and eats fine not a problem. We have started letting him outside which is good however he has only learnt how to get back in and cant quite figure out how to get outside himself. This is not the main problem mind. We have recently found out that we are going to be parents and my wife is very cautious around the Oli being with the baby especially at night. We have started closing the bedroom door at night to try and let Oli know that he can't come in the bedroom. However this has made things worse. Oli now scratches at the carpet for most of the night and we are seeing nearly every hour of the night, any advice to prevent this ?

We have tried double sided tape, 1 hour of play before bed, leaving his evening meal till last minute, leaving toys around the flat, ear plugs, he has a little house outside that he can use for shelter but just cries at the door instead.

Thanks in advance
Rob

[Ruth B]

It is very hard to tell a cat 'No' after you have been saying 'yes' to them.

You are doing the right things, lots of play before a feed and then shutting him out, but I would suggest you really need to give him a place close to the door that is warm and safe and smells secure. Could you fit one of the self heating cat beds, or even a heated cat bed by your bedroom door and encourage him to use that, perhaps an item of clothing that you have been wearing during the day put in there when you take it off at night so the bed has your scent in it. If he sleeps for a while after you go to bed and then wakes you up by crying in the early hours a second small meal in a timer controlled feed bowl might help, or treats hidden away around the house that he can go and hunt for, perhaps in puzzles that he has to open to get at them which will entertain him as well as giving a reward afterwards. You really have to make being outside your bedroom more pleasant for him than cuddling up with you on the bed, hard, but it can be done. Finally, if you do want him to learn he can't be in the bedroom with you, NEVER give in, hard as it may be, you have to stick to it, otherwise he will know that if he makes enough fuss he gets his own way. If he sneaks in when you have to go to the bathroom then try and just pick him up as soon as you can and take him back out, don't chase him, don't give him fuss, cats can easily decide that any attention is good, quiet, calm and efficient is the best way to teach him not to try and get in.

[RobJay18]

Thanks,

Yeah we leave a bed by the door but he's never used it ever.

I'm sure its an attention thing as he doesn't scratch away at the carpet throughout the day even if we are both out at work