We've had our new cat, Thomas, for a week. He's 5 months old and has settled in really well. He has the run of the house during the day (not going out yet) and at night is shut into the dining room where he sleeps in a chair. His food and tray are in the same room. The house is a terrace, with a samll kitchen at the back, then the dining room,door to stairs that go up between there and the front room. There's no door at the top of the stairs.

For the first few days Thomas went happily into the dining room at night and that was the last we heard from him until he heard someone getting up and then he meowed until anyone went downstairs. Three nights ago he started flinging himself at the door / handle from the early hours (goes in quietly initially and settles down straightaway) and scrabbling at it loudly in an effort to get out. Two nights ago he started this at 4.30am and last night 6.10am and didn't stop until someone got up. It's not condusive to sleep!

I know he's bored and wants to get to us - if we let him out he would come and sleep on the bed as he did one morning. I don't mind this in principle, but giving him access to all the house at night isn't an option as he's jet black and I'm afraid of standing on him or tripping over him at the top of the stairs and injuring him or us!

I think we may just have to tough it out untilo he gets bored - problem is that although the dining room floor is bare boards at the moment we're getting a new carpet in a couple of weeks and I'm worried that once it's laid if he's still scrabbling behind the door he'll end up digging the carpet away from the gripper rods and then we'll really have a problem!

You may say we shouldn't be getting a carpet - too late, we weren't intending getting another cat until next summer but this one appeared out of the blue and we've ended up with him (he was dumped at my OH's work)!

Any suggestions?

So he has learned that if he makes a noise you go to him. So he wont stop this unless you ignore him and he will eventually give up, but not without some damage being done to your carpet or door.

If you are happy with him being upstairs, then this is the easiest solution and will save you some sleepless nights. I have two cats and three dogs and have lived with a black dog and a black cat and I have never ever fallen over them during the night and neither has anyone else. You can always buy one of those plug in lights for the landing which gives off a soft glow.

Cats unlike dogs think they are above the rules of the household and are determined little blighters. They know there place and its above everyone else including any dogs who are worthy of sharing there living accomodation.

Good luck :D

We're working on the ignoring him but as one of us eventually HAS to go downstairs the little blighter thinks he's won anyway!

Go Thomas Go! He sounds a right character!