Cat Advice?

[Bulletdance]

I'm having some slight cat problems. Here is an image of the culprit, Buttercup deciding when I should work and when I should look at the cat.
http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae75 ... tercup.jpg
The problem I have is that I have too many cats, I inherited three from my brother and had one of my own already. This little one Buttercup I found out has to have special food. Special very very expensive food. Since we've always had food down all the time and she is extremely vocal I "brilliantly" trained her (she trained me I know it) to meow and cry and harass me when she wants food. I then take her aside and give her a few handfuls while the other cats attempt to get the precious special food that apparently is made of cat alluring drugs because they all want it. I had her on a good schedule since at the moment I'm working from home I'd feed her three or four times a day,but she decided times had to change. She's started to refuse the food until 3 am or 5 am when she wakes me up. Since I have lung problems I'm not always 100% and shes really starting to effect my sleep.

Anyone have any advice of what I could try? Also here is a hilarious picture of her partner in crime Milly the work stopper. Thanks any advice is appreciated.
http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae75 ... topper.jpg

[Dewclaw]

Is shutting her out of the bedroom an option? Or perhaps lock her in her own room at night with her special food available?

[Bulletdance]

She cries and gets super stressed out when I try to lock her in a room. But her and milly have always slept in the bed room with me at night, her on t he chair and milly on the bed. Maybe I can try shutting them in and having some of the food down in here. I could probably train milly not to eat it since she's pretty smart as far as cats go ( she comes when I call her name everyone thinks shes part dog) But there is no litter box in here due to my breathing problems.So as long as they don't start thinking outside the box it might work. Thanks, I'll give it a shot.

[Dewclaw]

Have you got hooded litterboxes? Those cut down on dust considerably.

[GormanGhaste]

1. If they are interrupting your sleep, keep all the cats out of the bedroom at night. If you have breathing problems, the reduction in cat fur and dander on your bed will be a plus.

2. Feed the cat on your schedule, period. Give her 15 minutes to finish, and then offer her food again at the next scheduled time. I'd recommend feeding her right before bedtime, and then not again until at least 3 hours after you wake up in the morning.

[zedxrgal]

Best advice right there ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I used to work in pulmonary critical care and I can sure as hell bet if you have a lung condition no doctor would agree with cats sleeping in your room let alone on the bed with you. This may sound cruel but you are more important then your cats. So is your health.
The cats should be fed on a schedule and 'put to bed' when you go to bed.

I have crate trained my cats purely to ensure that they sleep when I do. I suggest getting a crate for them and setting it in the farthest point from your room. Maybe in another bedroom across the house. You may hear crying but try your best to ignore it. Keep on a exact schedule and they'll learn that it's time to sleep when going in their crate not wonder around time or food time.

[Dewclaw]

http://www.catforum.com/

This forum may have some good ideas for you.

[Dizzy]

I don't know anything about cats (i'm more of a dog person myself ;< )

but Gor and Zed seem to know what they're talking about, that seems like good advice to me.
Just keep up the routine, maybe your kitty will "get the hint" and learn that she's on YOUR schedule.

I hope the problem gets fixed though, lung problems + not sleeping= sucks ><
even if it's for your little friends :<

[Teigan]

.

[Bulletdance]

Thanks everyone. I had never really thought about it like that before. Though it seems somewhat obvious now that you mention it I've had lung problems for a few years now,but I guess it still takes some getting used to and maybe this is one of those adjustments that will help me feel better. It might be best to keep them out of my room at night. I'll have to ask my doctor about it next time I see him and look up some more info.

[Kaylai]

http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/ae75 ... topper.jpg

lmao!
"ARRGGG! MUST NOM FOOT! omnomnom"

Just wanted to pop in to say that, cuz I thought the pic was hilarious. I can't help much with your problem, I've never actually had a cat. I seem to be allergic.
Good luck!