You've often noticed that your cats can nap almost anywhere, any time and any place. It must be nice! One day, one was curled up on a window ledge and his companion cat was on a shelf nearby. The other morning, the two napped together in their basket. Your female's body was draped over your male's back - snug as a bug. They each have a basket, but usually prefer to sleep together.

Naptime can sometimes add up to fifteen or sixteen hours a day. This is probably an inherent trait from their ancestors, wildcats, whose daily survival demands required sufficient sleep and restoration. A nap here, a nap there was often the rhythm because of predators that would keep a cat on the run.

That may be why your cats often appear to sleep with half an eye open - or even when both eyes are shut, they can spring to life at any moment. But despite their sleep-a-thons, there are times when sleep is not on their agenda. There are those occasions when one of them will start meowing in the wee hours. Soon after, they'll run relay races across your bed, and one of them may poke at the blinds while the other knocks objects off of your dresser. Their anti-your-sleep behavior can be sporadic or roll on non-stop. But why must they partner in this sleep-deprivation ritual?

It may very well be that your cat is reacting to your biorhythms. They change as the night moves on. Because cats are so sensitive to energy, your rhythm may be their wake-up call. So what can you do to ensure yourself a restful nights sleep?

Here are some suggestions for those sleepless nights:

• Give your cats some physical activity before bedtime.
• Should pandemonium still prevail, escort them to the bathroom or any small room. Include their creature comforts: litter box, water, slumber basket and toys. Maybe some soft music can accompany them. Tell them that this can be their own private playroom. The more upbeat and positive you are, the better they'll feel and behave. You may find it best to escort them to their new sleep haven at bedtime.

There may be protest cries for the first few nights, but soon they'll adapt to their new accommodations. You'll miss your bedmates, but you can't stumble through the day sleep-deprived. Cheer up! Realize that your nocturnal needs, for now, don't match, but things change - and your cats love to call the shots.