Cat Behavior

Question
Good evening Jana,

I am writing because I have the sweetest cat in the world. When me and my husband married and moved into our new apartment the rule was no cats in the bedroom. Hercules is fine with it and it doesn't bother him but my sweet little Buttercup cries, howls, scratches at the door and demands to get in. It's all because she wants to cuddle. She doesn't do it all the time but some nights she will start at 1 am and continue until I get up and go lay on the couch to cuddle with her. My husband and I have gone back and forth about this thinking we should let her in but I found out I am pregnant so we really don't want her to get used to being in the bedroom for when the baby comes. Is there anything I can do to easy her anxiety or whatever it is she is going through? Am I feeding into her behavior by getting up and coming out to the couch with her? She is going to be three in June, spayed and I have had her since she was 2 weeks old after her mama stopped nursing her. She is currently on Amitriptyline 10mg for Obsessive compulsive grooming and doesn't go back to the vet for a couple more months to see if it is working. Oh and I should mention she has become more obsessed with me since becoming pregnant as well.

Thanks for any advice you can give,
Denise

Answer
Hi Denise,

I totally understand the predicament you are in with her crying and scratching,but I can tell you that it probably won't stop unless you let her back in.  

I don't get the issue of being pregnant and not wanting her in the room. She isn't a risk to you or the baby- and babies that grow up with pets are much healthier than those that do not.

Both of my kids had cats (I had 6 at the time) in and out of their cribs and the worst thing they ever got was a red spot from being groomed too much by the cat!

Since it doesn't bother the other cat, and you are essentially telling Buttercup that she isn't welcome anymore, try letting her in for a week and see how it goes. The more you let her in- or just leave the door open- the less she will want to be in there with you two moving around on the bed after a while.

But forcing her to stay out is a guarantee that she will want in all the more!

She will be happier, you will both be happier and the baby will be just fine if you stop forcing her to stay away. Getting up with her only reinforces the behavior and just lets her know when you go back and close that door that she is again being left out of things. The obsessive grooming is probably also related to the move and subsequent wall you have put between her and yourself at night. Amitriptyline works for most cats but it might not work for a while or for this crying either. It works good for cats that over-groom, inappropriate elimination and for cats stressed out by seeing stray cats outside.

You are her family. Don't close the door on her. She senses that you are pregnant and she wants to protect you! That's my opinion about it anyway.

Congratulations on your new baby!!