This doesn't sound like insomnia to me. Insomnia is when you can't sleep
even when you could sleep. If I didn't already have insomnia and wasn't able
to sleep because of the cats,  I wouldn't hesitate to throw them out of the
bedroom. But I've learned to sleep in spite of cats. When I can sleep at
all, that is.

Have to say, it's not insomnia, it's catsomnia!  I couldn't sleep last night
but it's a frequent occurrence for me over the last 4-5 years.  No reason
for it, it just happens a lot.  (At one point my doctor prescribed Ambien
but they don't keep samples around and I can't afford the prescription.)  I
was tired but sleep wasn't coming.  Looked at the clock, it was 2:30AM.  I
hate tossing and turning; it makes me cranky and makes it even more
impossible to sleep because then I get angry that I can't sleep!  But I also
dislike taking valerian root or melatonin that late (or should I say that
early), although those do seem to help sometimes.

I finally got up, moved to the couch and read until I felt like I really
could sleep, about 5AM.  (Obviously this doesn't work well if you have to
get up and go to work in the mornings.)  Persia was snuggled up next to me.
Despite the fact that my thermostat is set anywhere from 65-68F, I got hot.
Persia is a warm furry sleeping pad so I can only imagine what your cats do
to you!  I had to turn on a fan in order to cool off and doze off.  I slept
about 5 hours which was better than I would have done if I'd just wound
myself up tossing and turning.

I did *not* take a nap today so hopefully I'll be able to get to bed at an
decent hour (say, by 11PM) and sleep through.  If I feel the need I'll take
a couple of valerian root capsules 30 minutes or so before to assist me.
Maybe I'll be able to sleep until 6AM.  I'm also sipping on some decent but
inexpensive wine right now which can't hurt :)

Jill

It always amazes me how much some people will allow their sleep to be
disturbed because of their cats.  My cats are not allowed in my bedroom.
They have beds downstairs, are allowed on the furniture, and can sleep on
the spare bed in the other bedroom if they want to.  There is no need for
them to crowd onto my bed at night and disturb my sleep.
If your cats are in your bedroom and keep you awake, then put them in
another room and close the door on them.  Unless you like to be kept awake,
of course!
I am lucky that both mine are no trouble at night.  They mainly sleep, and
if they don't, they never disturb me.
I really feel for Susan M with Otis, I don't know what I would do if I had
such a demanding cat.  Makes me feel lucky!

Tweed