It's just gone 6 and I'm already up and about. We're having real problems with our cat, Hobbes. Since we moved 5 weeks ago, he persistently meows from 4ish onwards, until we get up. Admittedly this is confounded with him being on a rather strict diet, so he probably is hungry, but really, he should be able to wait and once or twice he has. We've tried just about everything, but he just won't stop!

Any suggestions?!

Our cat did exactly the same to us when we moved into our new place - I think Hobbes is probably just feeling a bit unsettled after the move and needs some extra reassurance from his mum and dad! It took a couple of months, but our little cat did calm down and now we're usually awake before she makes an appearance :P

How old is Hobbes?

I think part of this is that cats are also biologically geared to be active around dusk and dawn.

Of the two incumbents at The Towers, the older female is quite happy to spend all night in an easy chair or on the bed without making a squeak. The slightly younger male is wandering around at dawn wanting cuddles or displaying caught prey. :)

Hi Tracie

He's about 2 years old. Thing is, it's a meow for food, and I'm reluctant for him to learn that he can wake us up as and when he's peckish. Lol - we left him in the good care of a close friend when we went on honeymoon for a month, but she caved in to all his pesterings and when we came back, he was the only cat I've ever seen with such a double chin! He's had to really readjust poor mite! Unfortunately we're also in a house without a cat flap now, which I think upsets him even more, despite a window being left open...

Why don't you chuck him out (and shut the window) til you get up?

very tempted...he'll meow the neighbourhood down, but it might just do the trick.

My older cat wakes us up at around 5am every morning wingeing for food, she has a really bad memory and thinks shes never been fed. also if we fail to get up she flicks her litter around the kitchen just so I run and shout at her... clever cat gets me out of bed though.

I would put some biscuits down last thing at night, just a few, or a small piece of meat in an ice cube which he wont be able to eat until its defrosted. and get it a litter tray then basically just ignore until he gets the message. I know its hard.

you could invest in one of those timed feeders and just put some low fat nibbles in for him, wafer thin ham etc. just enough to keep him from moaning at least until you get up.

Hi Tracie

He's about 2 years old. Thing is, it's a meow for food, and I'm reluctant for him to learn that he can wake us up as and when he's peckish. Lol - we left him in the good care of a close friend when we went on honeymoon for a month, but she caved in to all his pesterings and when we came back, he was the only cat I've ever seen with such a double chin! He's had to really readjust poor mite! Unfortunately we're also in a house without a cat flap now, which I think upsets him even more, despite a window being left open...

If he's on a strict diet, is he on a diet cat food which fills him up for longer? The biscuit 'light' foods are very good at achieving weight loss without them being too hungry.

I know this makes me seem a bit callous, but if he persists in trying to wake you up at 4am, I'd make him comfortable in the kitchen, or dining room or wherever, with a snuggly bed, and a litter tray, water and toys, then shut the door and go to sleep in peace. He'll soon learn that it won't get him anywhere and shut up- and you'll get some decent sleep.

Thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions. After another crap nights sleep, we've decided to do as you suggested Medusa, and tonight he'll be all set up in the living room. I've tried this before once he started to whinge, but reckon doing it from when we go to bed might be better. We'll also look for an auto feeder this weekend. Oh give me my bed, I feel like a zombie! Who needs kids when you have cats?!