For those of you who are not familiar with the popular children's book, 'Mog the Forgetful Cat,' my post title is a frequently used exclamation of the family's frustrations towards some of Mog's typical cat behaviour.
Even though my Mog did not take her name from this particular book, I have found myself uttering this phrase (and much worse 😁) quite often recently.
Don't get me wrong, Mog is a great cat. The best. I really shouldn't complain. She doesn't climb curtains, damage furniture or jump on the kitchen surfaces. She is incredibly easy going, inexpensive to feed and although she doesn't exactly enjoy the process, she will take her worming tablet every couple of months with very little persuasion required on my part.
She doesn't scratch or bite, is quite used to having her sleep interrupted for a quick cuddle and has an adorable habit of wanting to be very close by while Lily enjoys her bath.
BUT. And it is a big but. For some reason she feels the need to wake me each morning at around 5.30a.m.
She's been doing this, on and off, for some time now but it is definitely becoming a more regular thing and I don't understand why. Sometimes she will stand next to the bed and miaow! Sometimes she nudges me with the top of her head, or I feel her cold nose against mine and sometimes I even wake to see her just staring right at me! I read online for ideas as to why she does this but the suggestions were that she needs to go out - she has a cat flap, she is hungry - there is always food in her bowl, or that she simply wants company - as soon as I get up she wanders off elsewhere, often straight back upstairs to sleep on the spare bed. So, I am still none the wiser.
One morning this week, however, she woke me at 4.30a.m.!!!
Now, it's a good job I am a morning person and I do enjoy being able to drink my first coffee of the day in peace and quiet, but still, this was a little too early even for me. Perhaps someone can enlighten me as to why this happens, perhaps this will sort itself out when the clocks go forward in a couple of weeks time, or perhaps I am just destined to be up early every day.
'Bother that cat!' I say. 'Oh, but she's nice!' replies Lily.
J. X
Stephen's time is 4.20am - I've had almost sixteen years of it!
ReplyDeleteMog is gorgeous, you'll forgive them anything, won't you? xxx
That's not quite what I wanted to hear :) But yes, she is a lovely cat in every other way. X
DeleteOh dear! I can imagine how frustrating it is to be woken at that time, especially when you can't fathom out why she's doing it. Fingers crossed that it's something she just grows out of.
ReplyDeleteI am just curious to understand why she does this. X
DeleteI wonder if Lily would think she as nice if Mog woke her at 4.30am or even 5.30am. I am not a pet person (apart from anything else they never suited my lifestyle and it would have been cruel for the animal) but when I was left with a cat (which I liked very much) it knew that it wasn't allowed in the bedroom and although it would stand at the door and look at me it never crossed the threshold.
ReplyDeleteI expect Lily would be able to fall back to sleep again :)
DeleteMog is a great pet, and she's very independent. I can even spend a couple of nights away from home without needing to worry about her. X
Darling Jules,
ReplyDeleteWe have just discovered your blog, drawn in by this adorable picture of Mog.
We are cat lovers but, sadly, now we are without a cat to scratch our heads at unspeakably early times in the morning which is something they used to do. How your Mog reminds us of them, although they were also partial to the curtains and cushions if we were off guard!
Our cats too were very independent creatures and only did the head scratching for attention since they lacked neither food nor company and, once they had done the job of an alarm clock, they disappeared from sight.
So, perhaps it is the coming of Spring and Mog senses the lengthening of the days and wants you to have the benefit of them.
You wouldn't consider sending to us for a holiday we suppose?:):)
Thank you for your lovely comment. Cats are funny creatures aren't they and I'd love to understand why they behave in certain ways.
DeleteYou must miss yours terribly but, I'm sorry, I think Lily would object to Mog spending a holiday with you. X
Our young cat does exactly the same thing. Luckily most times I give her a few strokes and a cuddle and she settles down next to me and we both sleep. Not always though so I do sympathise. If it makes you feel better our cat does claw the curtains and has recently torn some wallpaper too. She's a holy terror, but we do love her. x
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing that we do love them isn't it. X
DeleteI’m not a cat person so have no idea why Mog does this and I can see why it would be very annoying even if she is such a nice cat in every other way. All I can think is she really loves you :)
ReplyDelete(Whispers) I'm not really a cat person either. But I am very much a Mog person :)
DeleteDon't bank on it changing when the clocks change - cats are clevere than we think.
ReplyDeleteI suppose you could deny her access to your bedroom but then I suspect she would just sit outside the bedroom door and call.
I've never usually keep the door closed, as I like to be able to hear Lily if she should wake. It's only recently she has started doing this, so I just love to understand why. X
DeleteShe is beautiful. Good thing as she'd be in big trouble otherwise. (I say the same about my beloved dog.) Could you close the door to prevent her entry to your bedroom at 4-5 AM?
ReplyDeleteShe is a very sweet cat. We forgive them anything don't we. X
DeleteThat reminds me of our silly Pepps. Pepper wakes us up as soon as it gets light, so it gradually gets earlier and earlier! As soon as we are awake, she has done 'her duty' and wanders off! She too likes to check on any one having a bath or shower, making sure the bath is licked out afterwards ..... hmmmm. But, we would not have it any other way 😸🤍
ReplyDeleteThey are funny creatures aren't they. I would love to understand why they behave a certain way. X
DeleteEarly mornings are pretty standard for cats. One of mine is most insistent someone gets up at silly o'clock in the morning (I've never been a morning person!). Funnily enough, my other cat likes to supervise me washing my hair or having a bath.
ReplyDeleteShe's lived here for five years now and her waking me early is only a recent event. X
DeleteBless her, perhaps she just wants to check you are OK?
ReplyDeleteIt is clearly a "cat thing" because Stephen and Frank do the same to Vix on a regular basis.
I think you're right but it's only recently become a regular occurrence. X
Delete-smile- What else to say, but -smile-? She's a lovely pet. But has this quirk.
ReplyDeleteAnd how can anyone ever even attempt to change the behaviour of a cat?????
Except to close the bedroom door.
Which would probably result in a whole night, of cat-complaining, outside the door. Not a good idea.
We've had cats, but never this issue. So I am of no help.
😊😊😊😊😊😊
She is lovely, and it's a good job :)
DeleteOhhhh and Happy Mothering Sunday to you!!!!!
ReplyDelete😊😊😊😊😊😊
Thank you. And to you. X
DeleteMaybe she wants to make sure you're still alive. Cats are so funny! Our Tim gets under the covers and snuggles like a baby. As soon as one of us gets up, he leaps off the bed, but if we don't get up when he wants to, he pounces.
ReplyDeleteMog always follows me downstairs to the kitchen but then she will either go outside or back upstairs to sleep on the spare bed. X
DeleteOh dear that sounds very annoying and I'm afraid I can't help because I've never owned a cat and don't know that much about them, perhaps it's just a phase. Could you close your bedroom door so that she can't get in? but maybe then she would just scratch the door until you opened it. Good luck I hope that you get some answers.
ReplyDeleteI like to be up early anyway but I wouldn't mind just another half hour in bed. X
DeleteShe thinks she's your alarm clock? Or, maybe she just wants to make sure you are up and awake to keep watch while she naps! Dancer used to come and wake me up at 6:00 a.m., because he was used to me waking up at that time when I went to work. These days, when he comes to wake me up, I just put my arm around him to cuddle him and he takes a nap while I sleep a little longer.
ReplyDeleteShe is definitely more acceptable than the shrill beep-beep-beep of my alarm clock. I just wish she'd let me sleep for a little bit longer. X
DeleteI wish I had some advice to offer, but I don't have a cat. She sure is cute, though!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julia. She is a sweetheart in every other way. X
DeleteCos she loves you and is just checking you're ok. x
ReplyDeleteThat's what I'd like to think, but I'm not so sure :)
DeleteI instantly recognised this phrase. Our Mog books are well thumbed and well loved. I think as cats get older, they get more peculiar. Ours definitely are but their peculiarities don't disturb our sleep, thank goodness. I am convinced one of our cats thinks she is a dog. I have not clever suggestions for your insomniac cat, I am sorry. I hope you get enough sleep x
ReplyDeleteThank you, Christina. Yes, I always make sure I get to sleep early on a school night :)
DeleteOh my! To be awakened so early by something so cute! I have no answers for you, my friend. Mocha wakes me around 4:30 each morning to go out. But I give her a little treat and we hop back into bed! Have a cozy evening!
ReplyDeleteAre you sure Mocha wants to go out, or is she waking you for the treat? :)
DeleteHad the same problem here when my son (and his cats) stayed for a couple of months. Luckily they didn't wake me - I kept my bedroom door closed - but he was up by 5:30 every morning.
ReplyDeleteIt must be a cat thing. X
DeleteI don't know. Is she a Siamese? I know they yowl and insist. I have had dogs for all of my adult life. Lula sleeps in while I make coffee. She pads down the stairs an hour or so after I have gotten up; she has to wait to go out until it's light. (too dangerous up here with the cougars.) She has the routine down, though. Cats are more independent and insistent.
ReplyDeleteI have tried ignoring Mog, but she is most definitely insistent. X
DeleteShe clearly doesn’t like you sleeping lol. Does she ever jump on the bed and cuddle up with you? One of my cats, sadly no longer with us, always slept on the bed with us. Wizard is such a fidget that I have to shut our bedroom door to put him off. I dare say it’s just attention seeking bless her. Have a good week. B x
ReplyDeleteShe will lie next to me on the sofa but never on the bed. If she does come upstairs she prefers to sleep at the foot of the bed, but she will jump down before waking me! X
DeleteAwww that is such a sweet photograph.
ReplyDeleteNever having owned a cat the only thing I can do is point you in the direction of this article, which you may have already seen!
https://consciouscat.net/2012/08/06/how-to-keep-your-cat-from-waking-you-up/
Take care
All the best Jan
That's an interesting article, thank you, Jan. X
DeleteI'm not really a cat person, but that is one beautiful cat!
ReplyDeleteIt's never easy to take a photograph of her where she doesn't look grumpy, even though she's not a grumpy cat. X
DeleteMaybe she is lonely?? Maybe it is a huge compliment. :-)
ReplyDeletexx
I'll take all the compliments I can get, thank you, Joy :)
DeleteHi there, our cat Slinky used to do the exact same thing. It drove us crazy! In the end we bought her an automatic cat feeder that feeds her every morning, she doesn't bother us early now. However it was definitely food she wanted. Not us! X
ReplyDeleteAt least I can rule that idea out, as Mog always has food in her bowl. X
DeleteI've just read the article (though not the comments) from the link provided by Lowcarb and there's seems to be a lot of sense in it. Something I did think of - How long have you had Mog? Was she a kitten when you got her? Just thinking that if you had Mog when Lily was a baby needing regular feeds/attention during the early hours Mog probably got used to you getting up very early and the habit has resurfaced in her even though it's not necessary. I can only suggest that you need to break the habit by either keeping her out of the bedroom or not responding when she wakes you, in other words'play dead' and she may eventually give up. Good luck, whatever you do :)
ReplyDeleteLily was two and a half when Mog came to live with us, so it isn't this, and waking me up early is only a recent thing. Haha! I tried being unresponsive (it's quite easy at that time of day) but Mog is very persistent :)
DeleteI'm hoping it's just a phase. X
That is a lovely cat and we have most of the Mog books!. Our cat sleeps in our utility room with the door shut, and there is a cat flap in the back door for her. She is nearly twenty so is usually still fast asleep in bed when I come down in the morning
ReplyDeleteMy friend does the same with her cat. I am envious of your utility room :)
DeleteMog is only 5, so I may be getting up early for a good while yet. X
Agree. That is just a bit too early! Beautiful kitty though. Jo x
ReplyDeleteEven just another half hour later would be better. X
DeleteA personal alarm clock.....
ReplyDeleteI'm a true morning person so don't mind getting up at that time
Julie xxxxx
And this one doesn't need batteries! X
DeleteMog looks like she's saying "who me" lol. We have the doggie equivalent although not quite so early. Wendy will scratch on our door about 7am. The annoying thing is Mark happily gets up to let her in then goes down for his morning brew, leaving her clip clopping all over our wooden floor until I drag myself out of bed and lift her in with me. Then she happily settles down again. I'm not a morning person so it's not the best start to my days. xx
ReplyDeleteThe trouble is that at 5.30am there is no way I could fall back to sleep anyway, so I think I might as well get up. I don't mind so much at the beginning of the week, as I have to set off for work just before 7.30am and it gives me a nice slow start to the day. Saturday morning, however...
DeleteAt least I got to listen to the dawn chorus. X
How funny Jules! It is bizarre that cats seem greatly offended when their people fail to wake up at arse-o-crack in the morning. Our old cat, Deidre Raschid, used to regularly furry paw punch us in the face. We love Judith Kerr; Mog the Forgetful Cat and The Tiger That Came to Tea (that one makes me fell hungry!) are never far from our bedtime routine. Lulu xXx
ReplyDeleteI got a paw punch this morning :) I hope this doesn't become even earlier once the clocks change next week. X
DeleteMaybe she just had a job with a very early start in a former life and she can't get out of the habit of waking early :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's lucky for Mog that my job requires early starts at the beginning of the week. I can't remember the last time my alarm clock was needed. X
DeleteMy cat does the same thing, but it's 4am every single day!
ReplyDeleteOh my! I hope you manage to get back to sleep again. X
DeleteWe are big Mog fans in this house and although my daughter has taken the books off to her own house now, that still works for me because I can read them to her children there. Bother That Cat indeed, I hope she sorts herself out tomorrow when we move to British Summer Time. Even 5.30am is rather antisocial. x
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that might be the case, as my sleeping patterns are a bit out of sorts at the moment as well. X
Delete