ANIMAL COMPANIONS
Naturally, feline pets are active when you're not

Hawaiian Humane Society

Humans and felines both have built-in biological rhythms determining everything from heartbeat and respiration to eating and sleeping. Many cats, however, have never synchronized their internal clocks with the busy schedules of their human families.

Cats naturally tend to be active during normal human sleeping hours, and cat guardians naturally want to sleep at night without interruptions from their animal companions.

For some cat owners, though, snuggling up with a cuddly pet is worth minor loss of sleep that might result from sharing their bed. The dependence that cats display, such as gently waking their owners with a purring or nuzzling request for attention or food, can be quite charming.

Some cats employ more forceful methods of awakening their owners, and some pets are so boisterous at night that their people are rudely awakened.

So how did this situation evolve, and how can it be resolved?

Hunting for answers

The ancestors of today's domesticated cats learned over the centuries that the prime time for hunting was between sunset and sunrise. Skilled hunting cats ate well, reproduced and passed on their preference for nocturnal stalking.

Although modern pets need not hunt for meals, their instincts remain intact. So if your cat prowls at night and is more active than you would prefer in the early morning, blame it on genetics.

The sun rises at different times, depending on the time of year. Many cats will respond to the changing pattern by also getting up earlier, which probably is not what their sleepy owners have in mind.

Behavior modification

These techniques may help modify your cat's behavior.

• Play with your cat in the evening to avoid feline "friskies" when you're sleeping.
• Feed your cat an evening meal just before you go to bed. On occasion, hide snacks around the house. Your cat will enjoy the hunt.
• Ignore your cat's early-morning antics. Each time you give in to your feline's whims, you're rewarding him/her with playtime and reinforcing the behavior.
• Designate your bedroom as "off limits" at night. Keep the door closed. Keep windows closed and drapes drawn to shut out noise and light.
• Introduce "white noise" such as the hum of a fan to block out sounds that could prematurely awaken your cat.
• Be patient and persistent, and find what works for you and your cat.

Cats can determine 'time of day'

In the hypothalamus — the area of the brain that regulates your cat's eating and sleeping patterns and sexual activities (among other things) — is a cluster of cells called the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Scientists believe the suprachiasmatic nucleus plays the role of a biological "master clock," keeping mammalian bodily rhythms tick-tocking as they should. And light controls this master clock.

When light plays on the retina at the back of the cat's eye, it stimulates a chemical reaction that sends electrical signals along a dedicated pathway of nerves (the retinohypothalamic tract) to the suprachiasmatic nucleus. This dedicated pathway provides the biological clock with "light/dark" information.

Interestingly, this pathway is distinct from another pathway that conveys visual information from the cat's eyes to the areas of its brain that control vision. Hence, even a blind cat can still tell "the time of day."

ADOPTABLES

Tag no. 33684. This affectionate year-old brown and black tabby has gorgeous golden eyes. With the cat adoption specials continuing through July, you can adopt Kitty and another cat or kitten for one adoption fee.

These particular animals already may have found homes. The Hawaiian Humane Society and McInerny Dog Park at 2700 Wai'alae Ave. are open noon to 8 p.m. weekdays; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends. The incoming-animals area always is open. If you've lost or found an animal, call the society immediately at 946-2187, ext. 285. See www.hawaiianhumane.org.