OT - should I say anything about boyfriend kicking cat off bed?

I know i sometimes blow things out of proportion with my boyfriend of 3 years I'm wondering what if anything I should say to him about when he kicked one of my cats off the bed this morning when she walked on his legs.  He has insomnia once in a while but has slept well this week. He's under a lot of stress to get  a work project done. So basically I know he's frustrated and overworked and barely paid and I've done what I can this week to offer advice, listen to him vent about how impossible the situation is, and rub his back and shoulders since they hurt at night.   But I'm bothered that this morning when my cat got on the bed and started climbing all over me to feed her before she went to his side of the bed, he kicked her off. Really pretty hard. She didn't scream but it was mean.   I haven't said anything yet and he was crabby this morning.   Part of me wants to say if you ever do that again I'm kicking you in the balls and part of me wants to be more assertive and say please be more gentle.   He likes all 3 cats most of the time but is really protective of his sleep because his work leaves him exhausted and his insomnia keeps him up some nights. I understand that but do not want my cats to be abused.   Your thoughts?

That's a hard one as far as I'm concerned... I hate pets on the bed myself, even though I like pets.  I used to kick the cat off the bed (which entailed sticking my foot which was under the covers, under the cat and lifting him off the bed)... not really kicking him off, just sending him on his way - when it jumped on.  Did it once or twice and cat got the message and didn't come up on the bed again.  Used to slide a friend's cat over the edge of the kitchen table onto the floor as it would always walk on the counters and table and I find that disgusting.  I even found a dead flea in the butter one day...yuk.  Did same thing to my cats if they jumped on counter and they stopped quite quickly.

Doesn't make me an animal hater, but it sure made them realize they should not be up on certain things.  My dog knows it can't be on the couch, is not allowed even in the bedrooms and knows where it is allowed because she understands 'no' and has learned...cats....they don't understand 'no' like the dog does...so actions work for them instead........

If what he did amounts to him abusing the animal in your eyes, you should say something to him.  There is no reason to abuse another living thing, even if he's crabby and tired.  What happens if you somehow annoy him (even if you don't mean to) when he's trying to sleep?  Will he be allowed to abuse you?  I would definitely let him know his behavior was not acceptable and will not be tolerated in the future.  But, wait till he's in a better mood to do it so he can think rationally about it.

That makes sense. It's what I was thinking too. I don't think being tired or overworked is ever an excuse to abuse a person or an animal. And I don't have a problem with him gently nudging her off the bed, I've done that. Just the way he really kicked her almost as hard as he could it seems. He's working late tonight so I will have to wait until this weekend to say anything. Thanks for the advice!

You betcha!  I hope it goes well.  

Aw!  Talk to him and tell him next time, he gets kicked in the nuts by both you and the cat!!! 

My ex hated my cat in the bed he'd kick him off and the cat got the message but my cat truly loved me, and he found a way to get in bed with me by sneaking in under the blanket on my side!!! LOL That was funny and cute!!!! :) 

I love having my cats with me on my bed, I need them for some body heat now that I'm always cold!!!

Hello, I have a neutral suggestion.  Get a small squirt bottle- you can find them in the travel section of stores.  Fill it with water and give it to him.  Let him know that if he squirts the cat a few times the cat will associate it with the bed.  If he can squirt the cat so that the cat doesn't know it is him and thinks it is the bed that is even better. 

I love my cats but unfortunatly with all the pain I have I toss all night and have flung my cat off the bed unintentionaly and he still comes back. 
Best of luck!!

I love that idea especially the thought of making it look like the bed is squirting the cat! LOL! That would be a funny trick. My cat sleeps on my pillow by my head so maybe she will just associate the random water works with his side of the bed! I  have a squirt bottle and will give it to him for that purpose. She's welcome on my head anytime though!

Because hubby really needs his sleep then maybe it is time to shut the cats out of the room at night.  He is trying to get his rest and as much as he loves the cats, he loves his sleep also. 

If he never abused the cats before I probably would not say anything. Make an effort to keep the cats out of the room and especially off his side of the bed. Sleep is very important. If he does it again then I would say something. If he is trying to sleep then he will not like the cat waking him up at all and especially will not like having to spray the cat with water when he is trying to sleep. For people with insomnia sleep is crucial. Im sorry but as someone who suffers with sleep issues I am on his side. If something wakes me up I am extremely angry because I know it will be hours before I can fall back asleep and I still have to get up for work.