How to show my kitten that my bed is my territory?

I think cats like to sleep on the bed for two reasons: 1. They like to be up high, when possible, which comes from predatory instinct and a way to stay away from danger. 2. they like to be next to our warm bodies, not on a cold, drafty floor.

Also, if this is a kitten, it is used to laying next to its warm mother, not on a cold bed by itself. Is there a specific reason why you don’t want the cat on your bed, other than that you are territorial?

I hate to tell you this, but you will never train your cat not to sleep on your bed. Perhaps you should have got a fish instead of a cat.

@jca Sometimes, after she poops in the cat litter, she’ll go up on my bed and scoot her butt on the bed. She doesn’t scoot her butt all the time, only after she poops. We went to the vet 2 days ago so the vet could check if my kitten has worms but everything was normal. :-(

How old is the kitten? I think sometimes when they’re taken from their mother too young, they don’t know how to clean their butts properly, because mommy wasn’t around long enough to teach them well. I would take a damp rag or damp paper towel and wipe her butt when that happens, and then let her hang on the bed.

I think you should learn that the bed is the cat’s.

Well..what you can’t do is yell and physically punish your kitten. Cats are not dogs and do not learn like dogs. I love having my 2 cats sleep with me. Cats are very clean, much more so than dogs, and I’d suggest that either :

A. You allow the cat on your bed and use an extra blanket or cover if you don’t want them on your bedding, or:

B. Use a spray bottle of water and zap them when they get on the bed.
Just say “NO!”

C. Get a tall cat tower as cats do like being up high. My male cat sleeps on top of his cat tree most of the time and my female prefers the bed.

Are you sure the kitten was really rubbing it’s bottom on your bed?
Cats rarely need their anal glands expressed like many dogs do.

Only thing I can think of is close your bedroom door all the time and keep the cat out, or buy a cat tree as others suggested and put it in another room at night and close the door to keep it out of your room and other rooms as you sleep. Eventually it will get use to the idea that it sleeps there alone.
When I had a cat years ago, we use to let it sleep in the living room and close the door to the living room so it only slept there at night. She was near her litter box and bowls and had the sofa to sleep on at night. She cried a little but eventually would fall asleep.

I saw a funny series of photos where people make a ring of random items, and the cat gets inside. Like they get into cardboard boxes.

People would lay out a ring of vaccum hose. Or make a ring of towels. Or a ring of little stuffed toys. And cats cannot resist getting into the ring.

Maybe you can make a cat trap like that. Or a cat trap that at least keeps her in one corner of the bed.

How To Trap A Cat In 3 Easy Steps

Who is the human?

I just got a mom cat and her kitten from a shelter

I have no problem with them sleeping on my bed. The kitten loves to sleep next to my chest. I think she finds the beating of my heart and chest comforting. For some reason the mom cat loves to sleep stretched over my knees. I can’t explain that. Step one is to not give a fuck. If i want to move I will move.

I built a big six foot tower in my room from a futon I found by the dumpster. It has a nice bed on top. Like others have mentioned cats love being high.

I did have a huge problem with the kitten constantly trying to be on my desk while I was working. My sister suggested putting some coins in a empty juice bottle and giving it a good shake when the kitten got on my desk. This worked well and the kitten no longer gets on my desk. And the nice part in I am not touching the cat to punish. So it still loves me. She just knows that getting on my desk results in loud scary noise and doesn’t associate it with me.

edit:: Bonus kitten pic

@johnpowell Do they like PBR?

A large part of the problem is how you are viewing the bed issue.

You’re seeing it as a war for territory with the bed as the prize. Even tho cats are territorial by nature (much more so than dogs) I guarantee that’s not how your kitten sees this particular issue at this point in her life.

Remember, she is a kitten and you are now “Mommy” to her. That’s how our cats basically see us; as part of their family.

So it’s the most natural thing in the world for her to want to sleep with Mommy. There would be something abnormal if she (as a kitten) did NOT want to sleep with you.

When she is full grown, she might develop a preference for the top of the cat tower but she is still a baby and I’m sure it would be confusing to her and make her sad that she couldn’t sleep with her Mommy.

It has nothing to do with dominance issues. She wants to be with you. Period.

Why on earth did you get a kitten instead of a full grown cat if you weren’t prepared to be a Mommy to it ?

I suppose if you persist with a squirt bottle and give her a face full of water (and a ton of rejection) everytime she tries to get in bed to sleep with you that you can “cure her” of this desire if that’s what you really want. But both you and your kitten will be the worse for it.

She will feel sad and rejected and not know why her “Mommy” is treating her this way. And as she continues growing up you will have a meticulously clean bed and an empty heart from realizing that you passed up a primary bonding opportunity with her.

And you’ll be lucky if she wants to be around you at all. If I were her, I wouldn’t continue to expend the energy if all I face is rejection.

If you wanted a pet that would slavishly adore you in spite of rejection, why not get a dog. Or if that’s too high maintenance perhaps someone elses suggestion of a goldfish would be more appropriate.

I really feel sorry for both you and her.

Ha! Good luck, I am still trying to get my beloved dog to sleep alone and I don’t see it happening now. Can you leave the cat in another part of the house and close your bedroom door?

Butt scooting usually means worms. Did you get a healthy kitten check from the vet? If not, do it asap.

I find it disturbing that you don’t want your new kitten with you all the time. Maybe you should get a dog so you can lord over it.

Even I don’t try to teach my cats to stay off the bed, and as Fluther knows, I’m the cat whisperer.

johnpowell Too cute.

My neighbors cat is asleep on my bed right now, lol. Nothing works – you will just have to shut your bedroom door to keep Molly out.

Close your bedroom door.

“Sometimes, after she poops in the cat litter, she’ll go up on my bed and scoot her butt on the bed. She doesn’t scoot her butt all the time, only after she poops.”

” I think sometimes when they’re taken from their mother too young, they don’t know how to clean their butts properly, because mommy wasn’t around long enough to teach them well.”

I read these two comments, and the solution became clear to me.

You have to teach your kitten to lick its butt after pooping. You’ll have to show her how.

Yeah, yeah. It’s in general. I couldn’t resist.

@micchon: My advice is loosen up, enjoy the kitten and give her the bonding time she needs.

Bitter apple or a similar spray can repel cats. Putting the cat bed in a tree is good add something cushy that smells like you. If the kitten likes heat maybe an electric blanket on a low setting that turns off and then back on as a safety feature might help.

@micchon: Can you please update us as to how things are going and what you have been doing as far as acceptance or repelling?

I think any strong scented linen spray would deter them. Most animals rely heavily on their ability to smell things and strong perfumes will mess with their nose. You could try lavender oil. I notice my dog doesn’t seem to care for it much and lavender scent for people is used for relaxing.