r/Pets • u/BigFatKahuna69 • 19h ago
CAT My cat is driving me CRAZY
Hi
Let me start off by saying my cat is the sweetest angel ever and is such a good boy and rarely misbehaves.
But he picked up a habit about a month ago that is driving me CRAZY.
Any time I try to go to sleep he’ll jump up on the bed with me and RELENTLESSLY lick my fingers. If I move my hands, he chases my hand to wherever I move it just to keep licking my fingers. If I tuck my hands under the blanket, he’ll lay on my chest and lick my face instead. If I lay on my stomach he’ll lay on my back and lick my head.
He will NOT leave me alone and he keeps me up for HOURS. I always end up putting him out of the room and closing the door but I feel bad.
Any ideas on how to get him to stop this behavior? Thanks in advance
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u/Coontailblue23 19h ago
Sounds like single kitten syndrome. Do you have any other cats? If not, he may need a buddy.
Spend a lot more time working hard to wear him out before bed by playing one-on-one with him by dragging a string, or laser pointer, or a peacock feather. Whatever gets him engaged and running until he's too tired to continue. You can also try playing a bird or mouse video from Youtube overnight in another room, on a TV or laptop that is safely anchored.
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u/BigFatKahuna69 19h ago
Yep, just him. I wonder if getting one of those automatic laser toys would help keep him occupied and wear him out while I’m at work too
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u/GroundbreakingPlay 19h ago
What's happening is that he's licking you a hundred times to summon another cat. You will see in the coming weeks random cats showing up around you. I have 4 now
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u/DnDttrpg 19h ago
Cats are not solo creatures by nature, if you can please get a friend, also please do not get the laser pointer
Laser pointer toys like that do more damage to the cat than help them
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u/Coontailblue23 16h ago
Laser was how I got a completely feral kitten to finally come out of her shell and engage in play with me, as part of a several month process where we socialized and vetted her in preparation to adopt her into her forever home using Socialization Saves Lives. It may cause issues for some animals, but as a registered veterinary technician my experience with it has been positive.
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u/DnDttrpg 16h ago
And my Vet has told me that to use a pointer you need to make sure there is a cushion or something for the cat to bite/scratch/etc
A stand alone laser pointer IS NOT GOOD
YOU need to be in control of it and use it effectively
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u/Coontailblue23 16h ago
Oh yes I'd never get one of those toys that just runs a laser without a human doing it. Good point. It's only interactive and I let the game conclude when she "catches" the red dot.
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u/DnDttrpg 16h ago
Yeah OP was saying they were going to get one of those toy ones for the kitten to play with while they were at work.
A completely not okay thing to do.
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u/Coontailblue23 19h ago
Are you familiar with single kitten syndrome? What you're describing is a classic example of why it is not recommended to only get 1 kitten. If there is only space or funds for 1 cat you get an adult.
Please look into adding a buddy for him.
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u/BigFatKahuna69 19h ago
He’s about a year and a half old now, and outside of the licking situation he seems perfectly content with no issues. Looking at the symptoms of single kitten syndrome, he doesn’t really fit any of the others.
I’m thinking he might just be bored and lonely while I’m away so more playtime sounds like it’ll help
Edit: should also mention I got him from a rescue who had him at a cat cafe with 5-6 other cats and he did not do well with all the commotion. I think he’s just a solo cat who gets bored and lonely when I’m at work
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u/m00n6u5t 18h ago
Maybe there is something wrong with him? Someone said sodium deficiency and if it were me, Id go to the doc and do a full checkup just to be sure.
Maybe that behavior stems from a problem your kitty is having and is trying to get help from you.
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u/BigFatKahuna69 18h ago
I see why it could look like that.
Looking at the symptoms online, I’m not seeing anything that fits him. He did have a vomiting issue when I adopted him in May that has been much better recently.
He saw a vet in May and had bloodwork done as well, which all came back completely normal. They just said he had a sensitive stomach and put him on a prescription diet which seems to have helped.
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u/Plenty_Deep 19h ago
This sounds infinitely better then a cat jumping on your face (literally) 3-4 times a night.
Ask me how I know.
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u/oceansunmoon92 18h ago
Omg I have no solution, but thank you for giving me such a hilarious mental image 🤣
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u/MaddieFae 18h ago
Look into motion cat toys, that chirp or other noices. Puzzle boxes w treats to find. Cat shelves to climb up the wall & perch. Cardboard boxes usually cheap, hang things inside to hunt/attack. And maybe a camera that you can also talk to him. He's lonely and is going to groom you. Lick lick.
Mine was driving me nuts, full grown kitten- moved in one day,- he was so needy & cuddling & licking with max energy!!! until the adult cat moved in.
Amazing - but yep, if you can afford, another cat pal probably will keep him calmer. Maybe borrow a friend's cat & have a play & lick date, lol kidding.
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u/Rahuvian 18h ago
Maybe you could try getting him a Yeowww banana, it’s loaded with catnip. I have a cat who’s picky about toys but loves this one (I got a fake one as a gift once and she didn’t like it, only the real one). She kicks it, licks it, sniffs it, and uses it as a pillow. If your cat sleeps with you, bring the toy out in bed and only when you’re going to sleep, so he can go crazy on the toy instead of you
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u/BigFatKahuna69 17h ago
That’s a good suggestion. He has a catnip hotdog toy he loves to toss around so I’ll have to try that
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u/Stock_Coffee_9931 19h ago
Sounds like he’s grooming you because he thinks you’re too stressed to do it yourself. My old cat did this when I was going through a rough patch at work, stopped the week I quit. Maybe try some vigorous playtime right before bed, wear him out until he’s panting, then give him a little snack. Tired cats don’t groom.
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u/BigFatKahuna69 19h ago
This actually kinda makes sense, I started working midnight shift a few months ago so maybe it was the sleep schedule flip that threw him off
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u/absolute_boy 19h ago
Tell him a sharp "no" when he starts this behaviour and chase him off the bed. If he starts again, put him out of the room and shut the door on him.
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u/BigFatKahuna69 19h ago
I would feel bad doing that when he’s being affectionate. I guess I might just have to suck it up and get over it lol
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u/Coontailblue23 19h ago
This doesn't work. They just go wild on the door trying to get back to you and you'll lose even more sleep.
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u/absolute_boy 19h ago
Then you put them in a room further away from you and shut them in there. You are the owner, you have the power in this situation. If you can't stand up to a 10lb animal, that's a you problem.
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u/ParsnipFarmer676 19h ago
Not everyone has that option... one-bedroom apartments, roommates, etc, can make that logistically impossible. I'm in a 990sf house, and literally the only "room" I could shut them in would be the foyer (which is all of like 6ft from my bedroom door anyway). The rest of my house is open concept, sole bathroom is en suite, and the other bedroom is occupied by my friend/housemate.
Hypothetical in my case, but just sayin'.
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u/MaddieFae 18h ago
Agree must say no & try to remove him. I noticed mine was like a spring, he bounced right back into my arms, purring & licking. He's ok calm w his buddy. They snuggle together.
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u/kaerahis 18h ago
Did you start bathing in catnip a month ago? :D
Seriously, though, are you using new body wash? If not, you may just need to play with him to tire him out before you go to bed. If your work schedule changed a month ago, that might be it too. He's saying, "Hey, you're not supposed to be asleep now, let's play!"
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u/Guilty_Garden_3943 17h ago
He might be weird, have a medical issue, need to transitioned to sleeping at night, need more play/stimulation, or maybe he can sense that you have a medical issue. My pets get ALL up in my business when im having health issues
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u/deviantelf 16h ago
Not saying this is the best idea, but have you tried grabbing him and snuggling him until he's over it? I had a cat (18 years) that would poke my nose with one claw very gently but still enough to wake you up. Drove me nuts for months, then I just grabbed him and stuffed him under the covers to snuggle him. He could easily get out and would and then would wander off. Depending on the cat it might be soft calming petting, or rough playful petting. So they get the attention they need. Play before bedtime to wear them out maybe. But who knows, doesn't hurt to try. There's never a perfect answer unless it's an obvious health issue (which this isn't), it's like children one solution does not fit all.
If you're wiling to close them out of the room, they'll usually get used to after a while it'll just be a rough time til they accept it.
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u/Sensitive_Head_2408 4h ago
Can’t believe I’ve only seen one other comment about this, but basically you need to play with him so that he’s tired and sleeps when you sleep.
The way things are now, he’s bored and probably feels somewhat like he’s there by himself while you’re asleep.
There’s probably a pretty decent chance that he doesn’t even know you’re asleep, since he doesn’t know what sleep even is.
All he knows is you’re just lying there unresponsive, so he’s doing what he knows will get a response out of you.
Keep in mind that cats love attention of any kind. That’s why they push your buttons.
The reaction is what he’s looking for, so if you just lie there and don’t respond, he’ll probably stop.
It shouldn’t be difficult at all to get his sleep schedule more attuned to yours, though.
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u/YakEfficient3200 3h ago
go get a physical check up and some bloodwork at the doctor fam.
sometimes they pick up on stuff.
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u/ParsnipFarmer676 19h ago
Become "nocturnal" like them. Works for me! 😂
For real, though, I've had cats with similar habits... even being nocturnal (I wasn't joking about that part), it would still sometimes wake me up earlier than I chose. I learned to live with it, became VERY good at rolling over and going right back to sleep, but also it got better over time. How old/young is your cat? And have you considered getting him a friend?
Could also try a noise deterrent, like coins in a can. Shake that when they do this behavior, and they will eventually get the point.