How to train your...cat?

[Legend83]

Our Florence is a bit of character, and being part ragdoll basically spends much of her life acting like a dog. She is incredibly sociable with humans...to the point it's beginning to become a bit of a problem.

Since we adopted her and Fred, at night time we have tended to lock them in the (fortunately reasonably big) kitchen with the cat flap open so they can come and go as they please without disturbing us while we sleep.

However recently Florence has discovered a penchant for climbing onto the velux roof and either a) climbing in an open window and scaring the crap out of us by jumping on our chest and nuzzling our faces at 2am!!; or b) if the windows are shut, meowing until one of the boys gets woken up and lets her in.

This has resulted in many a sleepless night - not only are we woken but she is also a noisy purrer and likes to sleep as closely tucked into us as she can. Like having a newborn baby but worse!

She can clearly get up onto the roof despite my attempts to erect some defences on the trellis she is using as a jumping platform - the issue may be that she can't work out how to get down...or perhaps she knows perfectly well but is clever enough to know it won't result in human company!

Any thoughts on a) how I might train her to come back down (I have put out treats on the bench that sits below the roof); or b) how I might more effectively stop her climbing on the roof?

The only other solution is to lock them in the kitchen with the cat flap locked which I really want to avoid if I can.

[dave123456]

You are aware of the hierarchy of cats, humans and dogs?

I suspect cats are trainable but they tend to just get what they want via their approach.

They broadly sit above the female of the household and then the man followed by the dog. Which is why men and dogs rub along well.

Some unlucky men find themselves bottom of the pile…

[Harry H]

Not of any help but we've recently had to shut the cat flap in the utility room at night where the dog and the cat sleep.

Not because of the cat who is usually free to roam but because the dog has taken to sticking his head through it and barking for attention.

[Legend83]

Harry H said:

Not of any help but we've recently had to shut the cat flap in the utility room at night where the dog and the cat sleep.

Not because of the cat who is usually free to roam but because the dog has taken to sticking his head through it and barking for attention.

That at least makes me feel it wouldn't be overly cruel to lock them in the kitchen to at least catch up on a few nights sleep! Although the issue then is she claws at the kitchen door!