'I'm losing my mind': Sleep-deprived cat owner can't figure out a solution to her kitty's early meowrning wakeup calls, she seeks internet advice on best next steps for a full night's rest

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    Tired Woman Can't Sleep
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    My cat will go to sleep with me whenever I go to bed. But at about 6 am, every day, he starts meowing (well it's more like a murmur sound, mouth closed) and pacing around.
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    I usually get up, feed him and my other cat, they eat and I go back to sleep.
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    Well now he's decided that's not enough. He walks around my bed, jumps on any available surface, knocks things down, and makes that murmur meow nonstop.
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    Tabby Cat Meowing on Wooden Floor
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    He'll be quiet if I say his name for about six seconds. If I move to get out of bed even half an inch, he runs out of my room.
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    I've followed him to see if he's trying to indicate something but no. Plenty of water in his bowl, food usually still available, other cat is fast asleep.
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    He won't leave me alone and I don't know what to do about it. I can't shut the door because the litter box is in my room (roommate + apartment living) and even when I've tried playing more it doesn't seem to help at all.
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    Help me I'm going crazy and I miss sleeping.
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    sarahnottsara = This is now a habit. Meows/crazy behaviour my human will get up. Ignore it. Get up when he calms down. DONT get up if he's doing unwanted behaviour. You're giving in. My cat does the exact same thing. My cat is in my room overnight and he CONSTANTLY meows at the door. (but he has gotten significantly better). It took a lot of restless sleep, frustration, etc to break this habit that i let happen.
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    Woman sitting on bedroom floor, sadly holding her face
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    divamermaidprincess Is he neutered? Your description of the sound he makes sounds to me like mating call..
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    Help_a_user_out Don't feed your cat in the morning. He's waking you up to get fed. Leave food out overnight or set a feeder with a timer or provide food later in the day.
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    veetown Original Poster's Reply I used to do the auto feeder but my cats both have to be on separate diets now and it's a pain in the bot. I have to use the microchip things or they'll eat each others food.
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    n7Angel Had the same issue, an automatic feeder solved it for me.
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    veetown Original Poster's Reply I used to do the auto feeder but my cats both have to be on separate diets now and it's a pain in the bot. I have to use the microchip things or they'll eat each others food.
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    No_Afternoon2216 Very playfully and very lightly like a pillow softness. Grab him like a battering ram and run towards the wall. Tell him let me sleep! Very slightly playfully and pillow softly, however. Joking, of course, but I would do it. But once again like you would your own child.
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    DigginInDirt52 You have rewarded the behavior by feeding them. You are now their slave for life.
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    anon7777777777777779 Wear earplugs and a sleeping mask. Stay limp and give no sign that you're awake. That broke my cat of the habit. 6 am is about dawn. Cats are most awake at dusk and dawn. So his instincts are telling him to hunt breakfast (not eat, but hunt) and he's bored.
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    veetown Original Poster's Reply Found some earplugs today going for this tonight. I will break him (lovingly)
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    DrawingRoomRoh I sympathize. My own cats are too smart for their own good so they get bored with toys very quickly, making playtime difficult. If your cats are on the same diet, maybe hide snack toys around the place instead of an evening feeding? It might make him less bored. Boredom is a real bear with intelligent cats. My own little queen will wake me up at two or three AM because she wants a drink out of the faucet. It's not so bad because I'm usually getting up (temporarily) around that tim
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    OohHelpMeDrZaius I have the Ozlo sleep buds for my partners snoring but they're also great at drowning out loud cat meows in the morning. They pricey but worth it. They have special noise cancelling white noise soundscapes and a built in alarm clock.
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    veetown Original Poster's Reply Oh man these might be great. My ears are so sensitive but something designed for sleep might work. I'll look into them more

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