Conference misery::feline_v1

    When he gets on the table, gently but firmly put him back on the floor.
    It may take a lot of patience, but he'll get the idea that there's no
    purpose to jumping up soon.  You might try playing with him to wear him
    out before going to bed.  We had to do this with Tristan when he was
    young.  He eventually settled down and slept through the night.
    
    Good luck,
    Karen.

    I've gotten two cats over the 5:50 am syndrome.  You have to
    pretend whatever they're doing (yeowling, pushing breakables
    off tables, whatever ;-)) is NOT going to get you up.  Keep
    this up for several days and they give up.  Don't do
    anything to "reward" the 5:30 a.m. behavior.
    

    Actually, Vernon sounds like a perfectly _normal_ cat to me.-:)  Re:.1
    persistance and consistancy seem to be the only way to modify a cat's
    behavior.  Eventually Vernon will have you trained in exactly the
    manner he wants.  8-))
    
    Chuck
    

    Some random thoughts for you:
    
    Yes, you really should get Vernon a companion.  He's so young, it
    probably does not matter what sex.  Two kitties is ten times the
    love.  Expenses do not double, except for vet exams and kennel fees
    if you need to board them for vacations.
    
    Buy/make him some toys.  Tiger Toy (back of CAT FANCY magazine)
    is terrific.  Basically it's an $18 large mobile for cats.  My baby
    Misty just LOVES it.
    
    You CAN train him not to jump on the table when you are there, but
    he will still do it when you are not there.
    
    Put out clean water and some of his favorite food before you go
    to bed, and he should stop the 5:30 alarms.  You must not give in
    on this.  The other responder was exactly right.  Personally, I
    believe in free feeding, altho' I know others don't.
    
    He's climbing and jumping to get your attention.  This is not at
    all "radical".  Strictly normal.  Put aside 10 mins when you get
    home to make a big fuss over him.  Then after you've eaten, play
    with him awhile.  Really, it doesn't take much to keep them happy.
     Cat Dancer (mag or cat show) is a $1.89 miracle toy that interests
    even my 13 yr old Pooh.
    
    Best best wishes, and please DO SERIOUSLY consider a second kitty!
    
    andrea (mom to Pooh [Shaded Silver Persian, 13 yrs]; and Misty [silver
    tabby, Pooh's grandson, 1 yr])

    When you are at the table, keep a squirt bottle beside your plate,
    and USE it every time he gets on the table.
    
    Rehang your toilet paper holder to a MUCH HIGHER position.
    
    Leave food down ALL THE TIME - cats like to snack at odd times.
    
    Feed canned and dry.
    
    hope this helps

    If you want to spend just a little more buy him a kitty tease.
    In fact - if you're on asabet you're probably at the mill.  I 
    believe Asabet is one of the systems my husband manages (Jack
    Cunniff).  I have an extra kitty-tease, unuse which I'll be
    happy to sell you for what I paid for it $5.  If you buy them
    through the mags they're $8.
       Have fun.  I was never a cat lover when I was younger, but
    a tiny black & white kitten changed my mind.  Now we have 4 going
    on who-knows-how-many and I wouldn't have it any other way.
      Nancy DC

    Re: leave food down all the time
    
    
    :-) :-) S&H would weigh 600 pounds if I did that.
    

    yeah, I have a few of those - but with kittens, they seem to
    adjust to it if they are started young - just snacking a few
    small meals during 24 hours on dry food.  

I second the squirt bottle.  We've trained a number of cats over the years and
they are all perfectly aware now that plates on the table means cats off.  In
case one of them forgets, all we need to do is set the squirt bottle on the 
table, and they "remember". ;-)  ("Gosh, Mom, I forgot.  Really, I did!! See??
In fact, I was just going to leave...  I'm leaving now.  I'm gone.  Bye")

We also leave crunchies down all the time and feed them canned food at 
regular times.  Once you've got a schedule, they seem to adapt just fine.

You and Vernon will do just fine.

Jill

    RE .9
    
    Love it.  That's just how Thunder sounds when she sees the ole squirt
    bottle.  It really does work wonders.
    
    I have never really had to use it on Lightning or Deja, just Thunder.
    
    Sandi mom to WHITE LIGHTNING, BLACK THUNDER, STORM and DEJAVU too.
    
    

    
         Be careful about squirting him on the table.  My kitty tried to
    run so fast, we now have permanant 'kitty claw impressions' on our
    brand new table.  He didn't mean to do it!  I guess he trained me!  I
    now firmly pick him up off the table and put him on the floor with a 
    fairly loud NO!
    
     Willa, Sharmin, Bear, and Hobbes- alias The Hobbit. 

    but of course, it must be the name... vern, all verne's are babies.
    
    carlajeanne
    mom of verne and shirl
    :)
    

    My new foster-turned-permanent cat really liked to used his claws
    on anything and everything (my vet, my legs, my other cats, etc.).
    My vet said that we should give him a loud NO!, and carry him off
    to his travelling cage for a 'time out'. After 5 minutes or so alone,
    we let him out and he's much calmer (even will condescend to let
    us pat him!). This has worked wonders. He occasionally forgets but
    he's manageable now. He was also neutered several weeks ago, and
    this has minimized his nightime activities too.

    Sounds like you're learning lots about training Kitties.  Glad
    its going so well.  Keep writing those notes about Vernon.  I
    enjoy them,.
      Nancy DC
    

    Sounds like you've got a normal cat to me.  Maybe one ove the reasons
    you've decided to continue this relationship is just because of
    the way Vernon is.
    
    Radical behavior(?) mellows out in time and when it does, you look
    back and wish it were still around.
    
    
    Giudi in S.F. (Pippin, Gino & Stitch Too)