1. Give your cat its own bed. Don't let your cat sleep on your bed. Cats react to smells, and once it connects the smell of you with the smell of you that's on your bed sheets, you're sunk. If your cat doesn't like his bed, put some of your dirty clothes in it until kitty likes it.
2. Play with your cat before you go to bed. Cats by nature are nocturnal animals, sleeping during the day and hunting at night. A great way to help them to say goodbye to their schedule and hello to yours is to play with them for about 15 minutes before bedtime
3. Don't let your cat into your sleeping room. That means closing the door when you're asleep. Kitty might scratch at the door for a little while, but will ultimately give up and go to sleep or find another activity. Prevent damage to doors by installing a scratch pad on it or trimming kitty's claws.
4. Use earplugs. I've heard that swimmer's earplugs are good, but I don't like anything in my ears, so this one is not for me.
5. Put on some music to listen to as you fall asleep. I can't go to sleep with music or the television on, but I do like the ceiling fan on because it makes a soft swooshing sound.
6. Get kitty adjusted to a regular food schedule by not giving into demands for food. This is actually funny since cats would rather train us than have us train them. However, it's actually not hard to train cats, although perhaps a little more difficult than dogs since cats don't react as specifically to doggie treats for rolling over -- LOL.
7. Take a temporary sleep aid while kitty gets adjusted to your schedule: glass of warm milk flavored with a drop of vanilla, mild sedative from the doctor, etc.
8. Establish a persistent and consistent schedule. Cats are like people in that they don't like surprises. To everything there is a season, and to every cat there should be a time for food, play, grooming, love, sitting on the patio looking at the stars, etc.
9. Make the room totally dark. Another one that I don't like since I like nightlights. However, even though cats can see extremely well in very low light, they cannot see in total darkness. Of course, neither can I! If they can't see, they are more inclined to simply go to sleep.
10. Get kitty a playmate. This one initially didn't make sense to me because if you can't sleep with one cat, how could you possibly sleep with two? Of course, further evaluation reminded me that one cat can keep the other occupied while I sleep.

11. Give kitty to a friend or the animal shelter. Alright, so this is #11 and was not sent to me by my mom, but if you determine that kitty just isn't right for you or your household, please, please, please don't abandon it alongside a dark and dangerous road one night. Thanks.

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