Our kittens, Purrdy and Charley, have woken us up every single morning since we brought them home in July. They both sleep curled up at the foot of our bed, and at the first sign of one of us stirring, they'll be in our faces, mewing and wanting a fuss.

If that doesn't get one of us moving, the sound of them running around the flat causing sweet fuzzy havoc certainly does. Purrdy's as adventurous as Charley is scared of everything, so when one spooks the other, a chase ensues that sounds like a tiny herd of elephants stampeding across the savannah. And if that don't get you out of bed, buddy, nothing will.

But, on the plus side, our intuitive little darlings know exactly when it's time for bed, regardless of when Will and I get sleepy. The kittens will jump into bed with us, all yawning and blinky, before snuggling up to us for extra warmth. Purrdy likes tummies and pillows; Charley prefers to cuddle into corners so it feels like he's being hugged. Even scardeycats need affection at sleepytime.