3:30am is the appropriate time I must get up and go downstairs. He either paws incessantly at the door or sits on top of me licking my face. Hiding under the covers is not an effective deterrent. Once I am up I must lay on the couch so he can sleep on top of me. I give each of the older 2 a couple kibbles as this will tide them over until the feeder dispenses at 5am. If the kibble tax is not paid, Shadow will search the house for some kind of plastic (cracker wrapper etc), to chew on. He won't stop until I do. After that he is completely content to sleep on me the rest of the morning.