by Faye Westlake Newman

Created on: May 28, 2009   Last Updated: May 29, 2009

Humans are naturally diurnal creatures. Exceptions are those of us who, due to the demands of our occupations, must sleep days and work nights: police officers, nurses, waitresses, and others. Even then, night workers tend to revert to day people on days off.

Cats, by contrast, are normally active at night, sleeping not only throughout the day, but much of every night as well. Cats sleep from half to three-quarters of every 24-hour period. The trick is to encourage them to spend the waking 6 to 12 hours of their day with their diurnal human companions, or at least in daylight activities, so they don't keep us awake all night. Like people, they can adjustpartially.

The solution is complex, and various methods work, some of the time. Cats are complicated creatures, as every owner knows. The spritz of water that keeps one from scratching furniture is a playful reward to another. The only way to find out is to ask your cat. I'm not getting into woo-woo land here, or suggesting you contact a cat whisperer. I'm suggesting you learn a bit about your cat's language. When you left on a two-week vacation and had someone look in on your furry friend, you had no difficulty understanding, when you returned, that she was mad at you for leaving. She probably sniffed you all over to find out where you'd been, gave you a loving greeting, and then refused to speak to you for three days.

Remember, too, that your cat is genetically programmed to be nocturnal. Just as humans need some daytime hours even when they work nights, cats need some nighttime hours even if they're awake during the day. If you don't want a neurotic cat, don't try to destroy her natural instincts. Work with them.

The first step, then, is to observe closely. Allow your cat to sleep where and when she likes for several days, and learn exactly what conditions she prefers for sleeping.

Chances are, you'll discover that she has a selection of different places to sleep. Cats are not only nocturnal predator animals, they are also nocturnal and diurnal prey animals. That is, there are animals in the world that prey upon cats, day and night. There are other dangers in the world, as well: humans who accidentally step on them, cars that run over them, snakes that bite, dogs that chase them. They are even aware that some locations they choose to sleep have insects that bite and other places don't. That explains why you occasionally find that the third shelf in your bookcase is a favorite bed, especially

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