Cats love to play and they’re usually ready for a game at any time. While a pre-bedtime playtime session is a great way to encourage your cat to sleep through the night, the one place you shouldn’t conduct that game is on your bed. Consistency is important in training and if you send the message that it’s ok to leap, pounce and play on the bed then she may also feel it’s ok to jump on your wiggling toes when you’re sound asleep in the middle of the night. If she begins to associate the bed as a giant playtime trampoline, then you can’t blame her when she sits on your chest in the wee hours of the morning and paws at your face in an attempt to rouse her favorite playmate. She may also feel it’s acceptable to attack your feet under the covers and trust me, having your cat biting your toes in the middle of the night isn’t a fun way to wake up.

For more information on how to effectively play with your cat, refer to any of Pam’s books, including Think Like a Cat.

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Pam Johnson-Bennett is the star of Psycho Kitty airing on Discovery UK. She is author of seven best-selling books on cat behavior including Think Like a Cat: how to raise a well-adjusted cat – not a sour puss. Think Like a Cat has become known as the cat bible. Pam is considered a pioneer in the field of cat behavior consulting. In addition to her television series and public speaking engagements, Pam owns Cat Behavior Associates, a private veterinarian-referred behavior company in Nashville, TN. Cat Behavior Associates offers private cat behavior appointments on a limited basis. Pam Johnson-Bennett is a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant.