I'm keeping my friend's cat company HELP! [View all]

My friend has been ill and in and out of the hospital lately, currently in rehab. I live about 2 1/2 hours away. My friend has an elderly cat, that I've known since my friend has had her. Her neighbor has been feeding the cat through the week, and I've been going to my friend's Friday-Monday or longer, to give the neighbor a break, keep the kitty company and visit my friend. The cat gets 3 small cans of special diet food daily and I give her some before I go to bed.

When I sleep, the cat gets on the bed. When I first started going to stay, the cat slept on the bed and didn't bother me. The last 3 times I've stayed, the cat wakes up around 1 or 2 am and starts bothering me. She walks up my body, she walks across the pillow, she puts her face in my face. This goes on until I finally get out of bed around 6 am. I am not getting enough sleep. I got back to my house today, and I can't wait for bed.

I have tried turning away from the cat. I put her on the floor and moved the little bench she uses to jump up to the bed. Turns out, she doesn't need the bench! I try to cover my head, but I can't do the for long. I'm sleeping in the big bed, because I knew from other visits that the day bed isn't big enough for the cat and me. I moved to the far side of the big bed in case I was taking her spot. I tried to shut her out of the room, but the latch isn't tight, and she came right back in. I have to get up once or twice a night to use the bathroom, so I tried giving her a spoonful of food each time. None of this is settling her down, or keeping her from bothering me. I don't want to stress the cat, but I need to be rested.

Does anyone have suggestions?

When I go back up this weekend, I'm going to block the door shut. Or sleep in my car.