we just got a 17 week old persian last saturday. This is my first kitten and I am so excited! I love him. We are having an issue though with neediness. Mostly at night, if we don't let him sleep in our bedroom, he sits at the door and cries for hours. Is this normal? How do we get him to stop? We would let him sleep in our bedroom, except he tried to sleep directly on my husbands head. So my husband has to move him, then he goes right bacl, then my husband moves him again, and the cycle continues which means no sleep. So we tried to have him sleep in the living room (we have an apartment, so it's very close) and he is fine until about 3 in the morning, he sits at our door and cries. We have been trying to ignore him so he learns this won't get him his way , but it's hard because he isn't easily discouraged and cries for hours. Please help I don't know what to do!

I have a kitten a little younger than yours that does the same thing. He cannot stand for a door to be shut or he cries until I open it. So I open it. And now he likes to wake us up at 4:00 in the morning.

Your husband will get used to a cat sleeping on his head in time It is much more peaceful than trying to keep him out. It was when mine started chirping in his ear that he couldn't sleep Congratulations on your new baby and he just wants to be near you.

Some get over this and some don't. Mine don't sleep with me at all (their choice; not mine). Maybe after he gets used to being around and doesn't feel he's being abandoned, he'll get over it. My suggestion is to just wait him out. Good luck with your new baby!

he is a baby and afraid by himself. We got Bluie at 8 wks way to young, and my husband never let her sleep with us because he was afraid he would kick her off the bed, if anything touches his legs he kicks.. so I used our large doggie carrier for her bedroom, I put a soft blanket in it, a stuff pandy bear for her to have company, a few kibbles and water. and a small tray.. This made her feel safe, she uses it for her bedroom til this day if we go somewhere,, he is a baby,, just needs to feel secure.. good luck
ps when she got older we used a baby gate and still do to keep her in the living room area..

I would take his "neediness" as a good sign. He just wants to be around you and it sounds as if he is a very well-socialized kitten. Just be thankful he doesn't run and hide as some kittens do that have not been properly socialized.

Does your kitten have his own bed? It's a long shot but try giving him his own bed in your bedroom and see if he will sleep in it instead of on yours.

Enjoy your new baby!

It sounds like your new little boy was used to sleeping with his humans before. Perhaps a crate for him next to your bed? Kitties are just like little people - they are frightened and lonely in new situations. He'll get used to it fter a while.

Perhaps your hubby should get used to wearing a hat to bed

Hi, and welcome to the forum.
Congratulations on your new kitten - love to see a photo of the new arrival.

As for the nightime visits.. yes.. this is very normal behaviour.

Since he's still a baby, and brand new to your home...he's feeling lonely and insecure - removed from his mom and littermates.. so wants the comfort of being close to you.
A little too close for your comfort, though. I understand and sympathize with your dilemma.
He wont actually learn by being ignored - that method doesnt work for cats. He'll just keep on with his meowing pleas as he feels the need..
You may have to just decide which is the lesser of the two disturbances - listening to him... or allowing him access.

He may stop this as he settles in to your home - finds his own favourite spot.
Could continue to want to sleep on the bed... but not on your husband's head.

You could try a cat bed or small crate in the bedroom... maybe try adding an article of your clothing to comfort him, or a soft toy to soothe him.
I've heard some kittens are comforted by the sound of a ticking clock nearby..dont know if this is true.
I guess you have tried moving him to the foot of the bed?
Lots of cats love this spot.. he might decide he does too.


There's just not an easy fix for a cat who must get in to beyond the door..
I gave up on that long ago - my 3 like to come and go during the night - and one likes to sleep on my pillow.. sometimes on my head.
Not everyone can adjust to this. or they just dont want pets in the bedroom at all, but I really like this. Well, lying next my head.. not right on it
I'm sure it will all work out as you all adjust to this sweet little newcomer - good luck to you!

Hello and welcome and congratulations too! A new furbaby is something wonderful but....as said before, you are his new family and cats are used to being together. I guess they chose the head of people to sleep on, because they considers this our fur
If your husband feels he cannot get used to this, how about you? Another thing is to get a furry larger toy for him and place it on your bed where you have space and see how he will adjust to that. If the two of you handle the toy first to get your scent on it, the kitty may consider it family as well.

I hope you can solve this to the happiness of all involved!

Birgit

thank you all so much for your responses, I sincerely appreciate it. He does have his own bed, he doesn't seem to like it much as we can't get him to stay in it. We even gave him the twin to my husbands pillow, thinking maybe it was his pillow he was fond of, and he likes it but hasn't stopped him from badgering my husband at night.
I'm glad to know ignoring him wont help, we wil try something else tonight. Like maybe a few minutes of cuddling then putting him back to his own bed.
and I like the idea of getting him a stuffed animal, maybe that will keep him from feeling so lonely. I will make my husband rub it all over his head so it has his hairs scent and maybe that will satisfy him!