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Cat Behavior Q&A
Dr. Pam Reid, Vice President, ASPCA Animal Behavior Center, Dr. Jennifer Sobie and Carmen Buitrago—June 20, 2008
In honor of Adopt-A-Shelter Cat Month, we hosted a live chat on feline behavior with Dr. Pam Reid, Vice President, ASPCA Animal Behavior Center. The questions poured in so quickly that the good doctor enlisted her two colleagues— behaviorist Dr. Jennifer Sobie and animal trainer Carmen Buitrago—for help.
Check out the challenging and humorous circumstances they were asked to solve, like the kitten who plants herself by the door of her mom’s bedroom, demanding with loud meows that they take a nap together, and the not-so-pleasant consequences of two male cats vying for attention. With wit, expert knowledge and great suggestions, our specialists get to the bottom of some of the most challenging—and puzzling—feline situations.
My seven-year-old cat Bagheera is beyond chatty. He wakes us up every morning by yowling and I'm just wondering if a squirt bottle would be the proper way to train him to be quiet at certain times of the day. I don't want to spend the next ten years of my life being woken every morning by my crying cat.
—Ange B.
Is he crying to get you up because you feed him in the morning? If he's trying to get you to feed him, buy a feeder on a timer so he can sit and stare at the feeder instead. You should also have him checked out by your veterinarian. Cats with hyperthyroidism sometimes yowl uncontrollably.
—Dr. Pam Reid
For the last couple of months my Persian, Leo, has started to go outside the litter box. Nothing has changed in his routine regarding food, litter or the attention he receives. What could be wrong?
—Victoria C.W.
I hate to tell you, but Persians are notorious for developing litter box problems. I'm attaching our handout on elimination problems so that you can make sure you've covered all your bases in terms of potential things that Leo doesn't like. You may also need to speak with your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medication. Living with four other cats may simply be too much for him.
—Dr. Pam Reid
My cat, Ivory, is about three years old and for the past year, after she eats her food, she throws it back up. I’m worried that she might not be getting enough nutrition because of this. Any advice?
—Amanda
This could be an anxiety-related problem or it could be a medical condition. I suggest you go back to your vet and bring it up again. You need to make sure it's not a medical issue. It also might be a good idea to reconsider the location of the food dish. If it's in an area with a lot of commotion, your cat may feel the need to gulp her food quickly, and this will make her more likely to vomit.
—Dr. Pam Reid
Her food dish is in the kitchen and it’s not too busy in there. The problem might also come from our other cat, who is 1 1/2 years old. They got along when she was a baby, but now they can’t even walk by each other without hissing and trying to swipe at one another.
—Amanda
There are many possibilities, so it’s crucial that you rule out a medical condition first. It's possible that the younger cat has something to do with your older cat’s eating issue. Maybe the younger cat picks on her while she's eating and so she tends to gulp her food to avoid your other cat. Can you put down numerous food bowls in different parts of the house? That way, if it's about competition, they both have plenty of opportunities to eat in private.
—Dr. Pam Reid
Our youngest cat will not listen to us. He constantly jumps on the counter, table, stove and into the sink. Nothing I say or do will correct this behavior. I’ve tried giving him a "time out," yelling and splashing him with a little water, but none of these methods has solved the problem.
—Diane P.
Although many people advise spraying a cat with water to get him to stop doing something, it is unpleasant for the cat and, as you have found, won't prevent his “naughty” behavior when you are not around. A better approach is to redirect his behavior. Take some toys designed for cats, such as sticks with strings and feathers attached to them, and play with him away from the areas where you don't want him to go. Don't leave food on your counter. Make sure he has acceptable high perches, such as shelves he can reach and fit on that are comfortably secured to the wall. Your approach must be to teach your cat what to do, not what not to do. I'm attaching our article on feline enrichment to give you a few more ideas of activities that cats enjoy.
—Dr. Jennifer Sobie
My Pookey likes to paw on my lap and puts little holes in my shirt where her claws go in. How can I get her to stop?
—Leanne Z.
I'd recommend a couple of things. First, are her nails trimmed? When properly trimmed, her nails shouldn't be sharp enough to go through your shirt. If you're not sure how to trim her nails, or your cat doesn't let you, ask your veterinarian for help.
Second, you could redirect your cat's attention to a dangly toy—a fishing pole type, on which you keep your hand well away from the part she plays with. Use it to entice her off your lap when she's acting playful. That way she’ll learn a more appropriate way of playing with you.
Third, if redirecting her attention to appropriate play doesn't work, you could just get up and walk away. If you're consistent, she'll soon learn that when she gets pokey with her claws on you, you go away and all fun ends.
I've attached an article on play arousal, which should give you more ideas.
—Carmen Buitrago, MSc, CPDT
I'd really like some suggestions on how to stop two of my cats from urinating in the same spot day after day. We've taken them to the vet and there is nothing physically wrong with them. The vet said it was a behavioral problem and put them both on buspirone. So far, that's not working either. Help! It's already well into the nineties here in CA, and one of the cats keeps urinating on the AC vent in our dining room!
There are a zillion different reasons why cats urinate outside the box. How long have you been giving them buspirone? You need to make sure you're offering alternatives to the cats as well. I've attached an article on feline house soiling. Hopefully there are some ideas in there that will help you.
—Dr. Pam Reid
My two cats, three-year-old Maggie and four-year-old Yoda, are both fixed and don't get along. They have to be separated from each other at all times. We’re trying to reintroduce them since they've lived together for three years, but it's not getting better. Any advice?
—Amy
I'm attaching our article on cat-cat introductions. It refers to new cats, but the procedure is the same for all cats who are fighting. If you've tried it and it's not working, the most humane thing may be to find a new home for one of them. There are cats who simply do not want to live with other cats. If they were feral, they would be solitary. It is perfectly normal for certain felines to be asocial. These types are far happier being the only cat in a home.
—Dr. Pam Reid
We recently tried to introduce a self-flushing litter pan to our two cats, but neither one is taking to it. I've tried letting their regular box get dirty and I also mixed the new litter into their old box, but our female cat just got upset and peed all over the house. Is there any hope of getting them to use the new box?
In situations where cats have existing litter box problems and don't use their boxes, it can help to confine the cats to a large room with the box, while they learn to use it again. You might consider this approach. However, there is no guarantee that the cats will use the box, and confinement often upsets felines. In your situation it may actually lead to litter box problems when they are released from the room.
The safest path to success is a gradual change to the new litter box. Keep in mind that many cats develop litter box-usage problems, and these can be difficult to overcome. It may be wisest for you to accept their use of the old box.
—Dr. Jennifer Sobie
I have a neutered five-year-old female who is apparently in good health, but she will lick soap—any kind, Camay, Ivory, whatever—if it's left on the counter. Why does she do this? Is it bad for her, and should I keep her away from it?
—Peggy
Soap licking could harm your cat’s digestive system and therefore her litter box habits. I'd recommend using bottle-dispenser soaps so that she no longer has soap bars around to lick.
—Carmen Buitrago, MSc, CPDT
My two-year-old female cat has a habit of chewing on certain fabrics. She also eats holes in my clothes, tablecloths, placemats and napkins. I’ve heard of a disease called pica, but I don't know how to treat her if this is what she has. My vet has given me very little advice that makes sense. Please help.
—Dee
Is she ingesting these items as well—not just chewing, but actually swallowing? If she is, I'd remove all the stuff that she chews and ingests, but leave out items that are acceptable for her to chew, such as fabrics that she’s drawn to and that aren't costly for you. If your cat does this constantly, she may have a compulsive behavior problem and you should seek professional help. There are medications that can help her. I've attached an article, Finding Professional Help, which will help you to find a certified applied animal behaviorist or veterinary behaviorist in your area.
—Carmen Buitrago, MSc, CPDT
Our cat, Mitzi, has started peeing on my mom’s bed. My mom cleans her litter box out every other day, but this doesn’t stop her behavior. Mitzi is not spayed and I thought that might be the reason why she’s peeing, but a vet in town said that she would not stop if she was fixed. She is also biting a lot and will attack us, breaking the skin. My mom doesn't want to spend the money to have her fixed if this behavior is going to continue. Help please!
—Christy
It’s highly likely that a lot of these disconcerting behaviors will stop when she is spayed, Christy. Cats go into estrus and that causes all sorts of fluctuations in behavior. So your mom really needs to spay her first and then determine if the other behaviors are related.
—Dr. Pam Reid
I live in fear of the day that I need to get my adopted shelter cat into a carrier! The few times I’ve had to put him in have been traumatic for both of us. He goes wild with terror and in the most recent carrier battle we both ended up injured and bleeding. I’ve had him for ten years and I worry because he is getting older and I don’t know how I’ll be able to transport him to the vet if he gets sick. What else can I do?
You could try using a large dog crate instead of the small cat carrier. It'll be less confining, so he may be more willing to explore it. And if you feed him in it, he will have to go in eventually! Use an airline crate with a top and bottom and start with the top off. Once he's comfortable going in to eat, put the top back on. Also keep the door off so he never gets trapped in accidentally. Then if you do need to transport him, at least you have the option. You should also speak with your vet about tranquilizers so you have some on hand in the event you do have to take your cat to the clinic. It’s best that he feels as good as possible about the experience. And I don't know if he'd tolerate it, but you could try teaching him to go for walks on a harness and leash so you have another alternative for transporting him safely.
—Dr. Pam Reid
I have a 13-year-old male who became verbally demanding about a year and a half ago when we lost one of our cats to kidney failure. My theory? The cat who passed on was the alpha female and had him under her thumb. Since she's not here, is he showing how spoiled I've made him? He's the healthiest one in the house, so it isn't medical. Any input?
—Roberta
It could be that he's still searching for the female, but that's quite a long time to continue this behavior. And it sounds like you have other cats, so I’m presuming he's not lonely. Given his age, I would ask your veterinarian to check him for hyperthyroidism. Excessive meowing can be a symptom of this, and it can also make a cat hungrier.
—Dr. Pam Reid
My cat is meowing a lot during the day. She doesn't seem hurt or hungry, so I can't pinpoint why. She’s a little over a year old and after we moved to a new place she started meowing more than ever. Could this be why?
Excessive crying can be a symptom of hyperthyroidism, so have her checked by your veterinarian. It could also be related to the move. She may be feeling more anxious in this setting for a number of reasons. Are there outside cats in the new place who are frightening her? Is she simply more stimulated by the outdoors, wanting desperately to be outside? Does she have as much to see and do in your new place? I'm attaching an article on feline enrichment to help give you some ideas on how to keep her occupied and happy.
—Dr. Pam Reid
My cat Gia scratches everything! She’s even got the paint off the walls. Why?
—Carly T.
Scratching is a natural behavior for cats. It helps keep their claws sharp and spread the news to other cats that they are there. Even if you don't have any other cats, a cat will still try to get his or her message out that “I’m here!” I’ve attached an article on feline scratching. It will teach you how to direct your cat's scratching behavior to suitable things.
—Dr. Jennifer Sobie
Miss Jinx is five years old. About a year ago she started pooping on the floor near her box when the box was full. Then she started pooping there even when the box was clean. Just this past week, she pooped in the kitchen and on the living room rug. Once in awhile there is some blood in her stool and she occasionally scoots along the rug like her butt is itchy. The vet doesn’t seem to be too concerned about this, but I am. Any thoughts?
—Maggie
Did you tell your veterinarian about the blood in her stool? Miss Jinx's behavior suggests that she is uncomfortable eliminating. I'm attaching our article Feline Inappropriate Elimination to help you help Miss Jinx to use her box again.
—Dr. Jennifer Sobie
I have three cats and one of them can be very abusive to one of the others. Jack has cornered Cleo and swatted to the point where he has drawn blood on her nose and ear. He has also taken to guarding the door to the basement where the litter boxes are. Both cats have been fixed and Jack only behaves this way with Cleo. The other female cat is his best friend. Is this something I can change?
—Erica
Unfortunately, some cats simply do not get along. In addition to Cleo's mental well-being, a big concern I have is that Jack's behavior will keep Cleo from using the litter box. I suggest you put an additional box somewhere in a relatively open area for Cleo, an area that Jack can't guard well. Occasionally people have success with using feline pheromones in situations such as yours, but often even though the cats have known each other for years, they now must be separated and reintroduced. I'm attaching an article on cat-cat introductions to help you with their new “introduction.”
—Dr. Jennifer Sobie
I have a six-year-old cat who was born in my house and she thinks that she is human. She’ll stand there and complain when she wants me to go into the bedroom and take a nap with her. If I ignore her, she’ll come out and start to vocalize louder. I think that she spent too much time with my adopted grandson's cockatiel. She sounds just like a bird when she complains. How can I get her to tone down her complaining?
—Evelyn S.
She sounds like a smart cat! She's learned that she can get you to do something she wants you to do by meowing loudly at you. In other words, if you've ever obliged her requests, then you've rewarded her meowing. I'd recommend that you no longer give in to her. I've attached our article on feline nocturnal activity, which should give you more ideas on how to respond to her behavior.
—Carmen Buitrago, MSc, CPDT
Our one-year-old adopted cat has started pacing the floor and yowling extremely loudly, especially at night—and she is spayed. Petting and playing with her doesn’t help. She just starts right back up again when we stop. We finally started letting her outside during the day, which she seems to enjoy. She comes back into the house willingly in the late afternoon to eat and nap with our other cat. At night, though, she starts pacing and yowling loudly again.
—Trina
This is very interesting, Trina. It could be an attention-seeking behavior. Some cats are clearly more vocal than others and if it works to get them what they want, the behaviors will escalate. But the nighttime pacing and yowling makes me think that she really wants to go outside to roam at night. This is when a cat would want to explore and hunt. Maybe you need to keep her outside through the afternoon so she doesn't get that nap and will be more tired at night. If she's that loud when she cries, I'm betting she has Siamese in her genetic makeup. You might also want to have her checked by your veterinarian. She could have a thyroid condition, which can cause excessive vocalizing.
—Dr. Pam Reid
My nine-month-old cat has a fetish for tearing up toilet paper and paper towels. I have to remove everything from the rolls before leaving home or I’ll have a mess! Will my cat outgrow this or will it last a lifetime?
—Toni
Your cat will probably outgrow this behavior, Toni. I've attached our article on feline enrichment to give you some ideas on how to keep your kitty happy and stimulated. Hopefully it will suggest some things that your cat can do instead of making a mess!
—Dr. Pam Reid
I moved in with my boyfriend Kevin almost three months ago and my five-year-old cat, Oliver, despises him. He hisses, moans and gets really tense around him. Kevin can't even touch Oliver. I sometimes have to "rescue" my boyfriend from the cat! Oliver has never really liked people except for me, which, I must admit, makes me feel kind of special. Any suggestions as to how I can get Oliver to be more tolerant of my boyfriend?
—Kathy T.
Wow, you have a very understanding boyfriend! Given the importance of having everyone get along, it would be good for you to see a certified applied animal behaviorist or veterinary behaviorist. They will probably want Kevin to take over feeding and playing with Oliver so he comes to view your boyfriend as the "bearer of good things." You may also want to consult with your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medication to help Oliver feel more relaxed around Kevin. Oliver will still always view you as the most special person in his life, but he does have room to love others, and it would be a good idea if Kevin didn't need to fear for his life in his own home!
—Dr. Pam Reid
My two four-year-old cats love to drink by dipping their paws into glasses of water and lick off the water, even after I've given filled their bowls. Why do they do this? I can never leave a glass unattended for long without fear of drinking paw-water, and I always have to warn guests. It all started with Luna. She was a rescue off the street, so I assume she learned this trait out of necessity at some point. But then Lilly watched her and picked it up.
—Andrea
I don't believe anyone knows why cats do this. One thought is that it's quite a vulnerable position to bend over and drink. A cat has her head down and can't watch for predators. Sitting up and drinking water from her paws enables her to keep an eye on the surroundings. It's conceivable that this is the evolutionary reason for why this behavior exists in cats, but it doesn't explain why some individual cats are more prone to this behavior than others. Another possibility is that it's just fun for the cats to do. My best suggestion for discouraging it is to prevent the cats from being rewarded for this behavior. Use covers on your glasses for awhile and clap loudly or make some sort of sudden abrupt noise, though not too terrifying, to startle your cats when they go to paw a glass. It's best to set the cats up. Purposefully put down a glass when the cats are hanging around and go about your business, always watching so you can intervene and startle them at just the right moment.
—Dr. Pam Reid
Right now I'm watching my cat, Bookes, take a play dip in her water. It looks like she is playing with her reflection! Perhaps if I cover her water bowl, preventing her reflection from showing, she may decide against getting the floor soaked?
—Heather W.
This is quite possible. Cats are highly visual so they might like the effect of seeing a rippling reflection. You need to be careful how you cover the bowl so the cat can still always have access to water. You might try another bowl—one made out of different material that doesn't show the reflection.
—Dr. Pam Reid
I adopted my 11-year-old female cat when she was about eight weeks old, and since then, she has had little to no exposure to other cats. She is definitely the queen of our household, but we’ll be moving to a situation that will allow us to get a second cat. Would it be better to introduce the second cat when our new home is still "neutral," or should we wait until our “queen” has had time to adjust? Is there a particular age and sex of cat that would make the transition easier for our older cat and increase the likelihood of the two getting along?
Also, is there anything we can do to make the transition into a new house easier for her?
—Hannah
Female cats or male/female pairs are more likely to get along together. There are of course many exceptions, but feral cats live in female groups. Females often treat a neutered male like he is the tom, so a male/female pair can work too. Age is the more critical issue. You want to adopt a cat with a similar activity level. Your older cat may not tolerate a playful active kitten running helter-skelter around the place.
Once you adopt, it's best to give each cat the opportunity to explore the new place on their own, alternating so that they get to smell each other, too. I'm attaching an article on cat-cat introductions for you. Good luck!
—Dr. Pam Reid
We found one-year-old Ruger on the street a few months ago. He's wildly affectionate, but has two weird habits. He likes to settle into fuzzy blankets, then use his paws to work the blanket up into a little nub and suck on it like he's nursing. Also, he never drinks water from the bowl. Instead, whenever someone goes near the kitchen or the bathroom, or when they walk in the front door after being out all day, Ruggie makes a beeline for the sink and yowls until someone turns on the faucet. Then he drinks like crazy. Any thoughts?
—Maggie
Some cat behaviorists believe that "nursing" on blankets is caused by early weaning. There's nothing to be concerned about. He just enjoys the sensation. It makes him feel relaxed and happy. In terms of him not drinking out of the bowl, it may be that your cat considers it "safer" to drink this way. I'm sure if you weren't around to turn on the water tap and he was thirsty, he'd drink out of the bowl. Just make sure he always has the option so he doesn't become water deprived.
—Dr. Pam Reid
We have seven cats and we keep their litter boxes in a walk-in closet. One of the cats will use the litter box to defecate, but will urinate right outside the door of the closet and we just can't figure out why. She fights a lot with one of our other cats, so we have been giving the two of them Paxil, which has cut down on the fighting, but not the peeing. It started when we were fostering some kittens. That was over a year ago, though, and the kittens are long gone. Before they arrived, our cat used the litter box without any problems. She also does not have her full sight and maybe that has something to do with it.
—Sarah F.
Boy, there are a lot of complicating factors! It could be marking because of the foster kittens' presence before. It could be that she doesn't want to be "trapped" by another cat in the closet. It could also be a manifestation of the anxiety related to the fighting. Maybe it’s that she doesn't trust her sight to get her into the closet. Cats who poop in the box but won't pee are less common than cats who pee but won't poop. We can speculate your cat finds it less offensive to have uncovered urine than uncovered feces in her house.
—Dr. Pam Reid
For the past few months my neighbor’s dog has been vomiting and having bouts of bloody stools. I'm wondering if he has been exposed to radon, as he's in the basement when his family isn’t home. He seems fine when he hasn't spent a lot of time down there.
—Stephanie B.
The best thing you can do, Stephanie, is call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
—Dr. Pam Reid
My friend's cat seems to poop a lot. I was at her house for about 30 minutes and saw the cat poop twice. My friend says he does this normally, sometimes going up to three times in one hour. Sometimes her cat can't even aim into the litter box, which is pretty big. His stool is also loose and poorly formed. Can you give me some idea of what he might be suffering from so that I can explain it to my friend and convince her to take him to the vet?
—Pauline
I'm not a veterinarian so I can't speculate on what could be causing this, Pauline, but the cat definitely should be checked out for a medical condition. It could possibly be a dietary problem.
—Dr. Pam Reid
I have three cats, one male named Scuttles and two females, Pooh and Elsa. Scuttles and Pooh are both about 12 and Elsa is about four. Pooh and Elsa have recently been fighting, and now Pooh runs and hides when she sees Elsa. Recently, Pooh has also been peeing on or under the sofa where she sleeps and parking herself in one position without moving for the whole day.
You need to make sure that Pooh has places to go where she feels safe from Elsa. I can't speculate on why the fighting has started without a lot more information, but you should separate Pooh right away. Give her a safe room or two in the house with her own food and water bowls and litter box. If you want to try to resolve the problem, you can see a certified applied animal behaviorist or veterinary behaviorist to help you determine what caused the fighting and what to do now. If appropriate, speak with your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medication for Pooh and possibly for Elsa, too. You may need to give serious thought to rehoming Elsa for Pooh's sake. She's an older cat and can't defend herself against such a feisty female.
—Dr. Pam Reid
Our youngest cat growls the minute I put his food down and keeps growling until he's done eating. He started doing this one day after some of his food spilled and I wouldn't let him eat the spilled food.
—Diane P.
There aren't many cats who guard their food, so you have a special guy! The easiest thing to do is to leave your cat alone while he's eating. If you want to help him feel more comfortable, try standing nearby and tossing in small tidbits of food that are much yummier than what he has in his bowl. He should enjoy these treats and eventually feel comfortable with you being close to him while he's eating.
—Dr. Pam Reid
I have two cats, a nine-year-old male and five-year-old female, who are mainly very calm with each other. However, at least once a week the male beats up the female. Sometimes she starts it by playing rough with him, but other times he just attacks and they fly after each other. The female is a very nervous cat and licks her belly raw. Can it be the smell of her that gets the male cat going?
—Tammi
You should check with your veterinarian about the excessive licking. Cats can do this because they have a dermatological condition or because they are nervous and anxious. If she is anxious and their relationship is volatile, it may be a result of living with your male cat. Alternatively, if the female is naturally overly anxious, it may be something about her behavior that triggers the male.
—Dr. Pam Reid
My cat Harry won't poop in the litter box. He’ll urinate, but after doing so he runs out like the cat box demon is after him! I've tried everything. He definitely tests my patience, but he'll be with us until the day he passes. Any suggestions?
—Mary S.
Cats who use the box and then run out quickly often have a history of either constipation or diarrhea. If a cat was constipated, defecating may have been associated with pain and so the cat tears out of the box as quickly as possible. Diarrhea can also cause the same behavior. The cat has diarrhea, gets loose stool on his paws and finds that horrifying, so the litter box becomes a place to steer clear of. Also, some cats will run away from the box if it smells offensive. Make sure there's no current problem that is causing your cat pain, and then add a new box that is very different from the current one. Change the look and size of the box, the type of litter and put it somewhere else. Also use unscented litter, and don’t use liners or deodorants. If your cat starts using the new box and there are no demons there, leave the old box in place for a couple of months and then fade it out if he no longer uses it.
—Dr. Pam Reid
I have two male cats, Buster and Bosco. Although I give them equal attention, they now constantly complete for the spot right next to me. Bosco almost lost his tail from an infection because Buster bit and scratched him and Buster had his eye scratched—also warranting a trip to the vet as well. They continue to be jealous of each other. Any suggestions on how to stop this?
—Michele
Boy, when two cats decide they aren't crazy about each other, it's very tough to convince them otherwise. You may need to start over with these two and "reintroduce" them. On our website we have information on how to introduce cats. You start with a period of separation and then, whenever they are close to each other—initially on opposite sides of a door or baby gate—give them food, treats, cuddles, play and whatever else they enjoy. When they seem to like each other's company again, you can give them brief periods of time together, always supervised, and always when they are either occupied with eating, playing or sleeping. If they like to groom each other, you can smear them with some tuna juice that they can lick off each other. You may want to speak with your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medication. If the cats continue to fight, you will have to give serious thought to re-homing one of them so that they can both be safe and happy.
—Dr. Pam Reid
My 19 1/2-year-old-baby has some arthritis in his back legs and I find that he has problems jumping. So he’ll wake me up in the middle of the night, crying for me to pick him up and put him on the bed—or he'll claw up the side of it. I’ve tried putting a footstool beside the bed for him to use, but he is terrified and refuses to use it. How can I make him more comfortable and ensure that he's still able to enjoy the life of a stealth cat that he once did?
—Lea G.
This is an interesting challenge because for many cats, a stool would have been the perfect solution. You could try putting an armchair next to your bed. That should be stable enough for your cat to feel comfortable pulling himself up and then moving onto the bed. Another option is a ramp or a small set of stairs. The stairs would have to be carpeted to provide him with the traction he needs. Commercially available ramps are usually covered with rubber matting for firm footing. Another possibility is to try a big bean bag chair next to your bed. If all else fails, you may just need to keep doing what you're doing and help him into bed when he's ready. Every night you spend with him is special, so you may just have to tolerate a momentary disruption of your sleep.
—Dr. Pam Reid
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