30 Apr Butters Won’t Let Us Sleep!
A senior fourteen-year-old cat nanny won’t let his family sleep. Is there a Plan Z? ….
Hanging in his bathroom sleep suite with feathers
(New Baby Competition, Baby Culture Shock, Sleep Deprivation)
“Dan and I leave for work each morning in zombie mode,” said Annie. Butters, their first born, now a golden fourteen-year-old, was Willy’s cat nanny until Willy was about eight months. That was two months ago.
The more active Willy became, and the more people attention he needed, was when Butters’ 4-6 a.m. anxiety attacks started. “He meows, sometimes paces near Willy’s crib and in and about the apartment. It’s all downhill after that.” “The town crier,” I said, as Butters played with the toy I gifted, and the link to the music I sent played in the background.
Annie went on to say how they adored Butters, but they needed a Butters plan that worked — were well past plan B. “What’s your take Carole?”
So relaxed — if only he’d stay asleep
Major Culture Shock
I told Annie their crack of dawn biological rhythms may be his wake-up call, and it’s the ripple effect — that, sprinkled with new baby competition angst. Anyway, Butters mirrors that combo, and his auto or OCD behavior takes off. He needs his own feel good, safe space to blot out this slippery slope. Such a space is a reminder, a return to the womb where he was protected and loved. “We can’t build an extra room. Yet, he does like the bathroom. It could be the heat of the radiator, and that’s where his litter box is. So how do we delete this culture shock?”
Butters Itinerary For Undisturbed Sleep
- Give him a vigorous workout before bedtime.
- Lead him to the bathroom at bedtime. This could be a snack time, catnip frolic, or a bedtime-brush-time.
- Include all of his creature comforts. Don’t forget his music.
- Tell him he’s the best cat. He’ll be safe and cozy in his private playroom.
- Close the door with a warm good night.
- Remember to be upbeat. You want him to mirror your good feelings.
- He may protest the first few nights. He’ll soon adapt as he feels safe. And you’ll no longer stumble through the day sleep deprived.
How To Handle His Baby Willy Angst
“That sounds reasonable. What about his baby Willy angst?” said Annie.
“Mention Butters when you interact with Willy, so he feels in the loop. The more he feels in the conversation, the more connected he’ll be. Remember Butters was your first born. Arrange play dates with a neighbor’s cat-friendly dog. Find some time you can schedule Butters “prime time”— when you can hang out with him — so he receives all of your attention. As you say Butters’ prime time, you will feel good, and so will he. Good energy is contagious.”
“Okay, got it. I’ll fill Dan in and send you a progress report.”
Butters’ Progress Reports:
Three days after session – He slept through the night.
Two days later – A breakdown — return of his auto meows and a sleepless night. Butters battered his paws from scratching the door. Secured a towel and a scratch pad to the bathroom door to prevent a repeat.
We did a brief tune-up session on speaker phone so Butters could “tune in” front and center. If his bathroom sleep suite displeased him, a kitty play pen could be substituted.
Ten days later – A breakthrough — “Butters no longer needs to be tucked in to the bathroom at bedtime. He sometimes sleeps with us. If he feels agitated, he goes to his bathroom sleep suite. And he’s ever so cool and gentle with Willy.”
I told them that Butters really got it.
“Yeah, Plan Z appears to agree with him,” said Annie. “If he has a relapse, we will reboot from the beginning.”
What fun this is!
Look crossed paws!!
I sent off a case report to his doctors at Westside Veterinary Center where I am in residence — so we could all be on the same timeline and sent a Distant Reiki treatment to Butters.
(Variations on Sleepless Nights)