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* Cats often adapt their activity patterns to the presence of humans.
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* However, experimentally cats show variation in activity pattern and ability to adapt to light conditions, which may be why some individuals exhibit problematic nocturnal activity.
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==Timing of Activity==
 
==Timing of Activity==
 
Cats follow a strict timetable to movement around their territory in order to avoid contact with each other, taking full advantage of the [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Olfactory communication|chemical signals]] deposited by other cats. Cats are now commonly described as '''crepuscular''' (active primarily during twilight - dawn and dusk), and this has been confirmed in radio-telemetry studies<ref>Konecny, M. J.  (1987) Home range and activity patterns of feral house cats in the Galapagos Islands. ''Oikos''. 50, 17-23.</ref>. This is also implied by the structure and function of the cat’s[[Eye - Anatomy & Physiology|eye]], which has a number of adaptations that improve its function in low light conditions. However, cats have previously been described as nocturnal and diurnal, based on findings from different studies. Under laboratory conditions in isolation from human contact, cats showed random patterns of activity in continuous light, and free-running circadian rhythms in constant darkness<ref>Randall, W., Johnson, R.F., Randall, S., Cunningham, J.T. (1985) Circadian rhythms in food intake and activity in domestic cats. ''Behav Neurosci''. 99(6), 1162-1175.
 </ref>. Food intake was stimulated by simulated starlight and the presence of people. There was also a significant level of idiosyncratic variation in entrainment to different light-dark cycles, indicating that some individuals were more capable than others of adapting to different day length.
 
Cats follow a strict timetable to movement around their territory in order to avoid contact with each other, taking full advantage of the [[Feline Communication Behaviour#Olfactory communication|chemical signals]] deposited by other cats. Cats are now commonly described as '''crepuscular''' (active primarily during twilight - dawn and dusk), and this has been confirmed in radio-telemetry studies<ref>Konecny, M. J.  (1987) Home range and activity patterns of feral house cats in the Galapagos Islands. ''Oikos''. 50, 17-23.</ref>. This is also implied by the structure and function of the cat’s[[Eye - Anatomy & Physiology|eye]], which has a number of adaptations that improve its function in low light conditions. However, cats have previously been described as nocturnal and diurnal, based on findings from different studies. Under laboratory conditions in isolation from human contact, cats showed random patterns of activity in continuous light, and free-running circadian rhythms in constant darkness<ref>Randall, W., Johnson, R.F., Randall, S., Cunningham, J.T. (1985) Circadian rhythms in food intake and activity in domestic cats. ''Behav Neurosci''. 99(6), 1162-1175.
 </ref>. Food intake was stimulated by simulated starlight and the presence of people. There was also a significant level of idiosyncratic variation in entrainment to different light-dark cycles, indicating that some individuals were more capable than others of adapting to different day length.
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