Will catnip spray work to wean cats out of the bed?

by Anonymous

Will catnip sprayed on new cat beds work to wean cats out of the bed? My boyfriend sleeps with his three Siamese cats. We want to wean them out of his bed and bedroom before we move in together.


I read that catnip sprayed on anything will help. We are thinking about buying cat beds, placing them out of the bedroom, and spraying them with catnip.

I know every breed is different, so do you think it will work with them? And roughly how long would it take for these Siamese until they get it the bedroom is off limits?

I also read that the reason cats sleep on top of their humans is for warmth, which makes sense, because my boyfriend says in the summer they fight (not literally) to sleep on the window sills that face the sun.

So, if we place the cat beds on a warm spot, they would like it, wouldn't they?

If you do not recommend this method (spraying catnip), what can be done to train them to sleep in another room?
Thanks.

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starstarstarstarstar 		Catnip spray may help, but not a sure thing
by: Kurt (Admin)

If the cats are affected by catnip, spraying catnip on the beds should help attract them to the beds. I would suggest using dried catnip as well. Adding warmth will also help attract them as cats do love warmth.

Will this curb their desire to sleep in his bed or be in the bedroom when the humans are present? That's harder to say, but I think that alone is probably not enough to modify their behavior. You won't know until you try, but let me give you a few more things to consider.

Cats often like to be where their people are. If that's the main attraction in sleeping in the bed or being in the bedroom, then it may be hard to modify that behavior. It may take quite a few nights of crying and clawing at the door before they get the message.

Cats also like to have a choice. It's been said that a cat is always on the wrong side of a closed door. They like to have their options open, and they like to be able to patrol, investigate, and spread their scent around their territory.

Since many cats like to climb, you might want to add a tall cat tree to a room. Add cat toys, scratching posts, and a water bowl. Many cats like to hide, too, so I would create some hideaway spots down low as well.

Have your boyfriend spend a lot of time in that room playing with the cats. If you can make this room attractive enough, that may help.

To get the cats to explore other parts of the house more, consider placing some semi-hidden treats in different parts of the house for the kitties to discover.

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