If you’ve ever witnessed your cat wildly dashing about for no reason, you may be asking yourself “why is my cat running around like a maniac?”. These random bursts of energy are what’s known as cat zoomies.
During these short bouts of madness, you will find your cat running around the house at high speeds whilst jumping and pouncing on furniture. Cat zoomies are natural behavior and are nothing to be concerned about.
But when should you be concerned? Why do cats get zoomies? How can you help control zoomies? All of these questions will be answered.
What Are Cat Zoomies?
Cat zoomies, or Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs) as they are scientifically known are when your cat experiences short bursts of energy.
During these bouts your cat will do a number of things such as darting up and down the stairs, running in and out of different rooms at high speed, diving on and off of furniture, scratching things, stalking, and meowing.
If you are a new cat owner then this kind of behavior can be a little alarming, but cat zoomies are perfectly normal cat behavior.
How long do cat Zoomies last?
Cat zoomies are very short bursts of energy that only last a few minutes or less. In some cases zoomies can last longer but this is very rare. Every cat is unique and different, but you will find that a bout of the zoomies will only last around 30 seconds.
Why Do Cats Get Zoomies
Cat zoomies are easy to spot and you now know what they are, but why do cats get zoomies? Here are some common explanations.
#1 Hunting Instinct
Although cats are very much domesticated and get fed meals on a daily basis, they still posses predatory instincts and are innate hunters. You will find that a bout of the zoomies is them releasing their natural instincts and chasing imaginary prey.
#2 Sleep Habits
Cats sleep for long periods ranging from 12 to 16 hours a day. This is another instinctive behavior from their ancestors as cats in the wild sleep during the day to conserve their energy for hunting for meals.
So when a cat is a awake, you’ll find that they are very awake which can cause them to have zoomies as a way to reinvigorate their body and mind. This is why some cats have zoomies during the night or the early hours of the morning (more on this below).
#3 Bathroom Issues
This may seem a little strange but it’s common for a cat to have the zoomies after using their litter box, especially after defecation. This may be for a number of reasons:
- Instincts: Cats covering their waste is instinctive behavior so they do not get found by predators. So having the zoomies straight after using the litter box may be urges telling them not to stick around because predators may find them.
- Not clean enough: The litter box may smell unpleasant.
- Victory lap: They may well just be celebrating a job well done
- Medical issues: Medical issues such as constipation or infection may be causing discomfort and cause your cat to zoom away.
If you notice you cat having zoomies straight after using a litter box, make sure to check the contents to see if there are any abnormalities or anything different to usual. If there is anything unusual such as diarrhea, hard stool, or blood, then consult with a veterinarian.
#4 Zoomies Can Indicate Anxiety
If your cat has never really had much of the zoomies before and the bouts have suddenly started to become more regular, it may be a sign that something is causing their anxiety levels to rise. Some reasons for this include:
- Moving home
- A new pet in the home
- A new person living in the home
- A new schedule
There are methods you can use to help your cats anxiety levels which can be found in the tips to control zoomies section below.
#5 Medical Problem
A medical issue may be causing your cat to run around like crazy. As with the reason above, this may be especially true if you cat has all of a sudden just started regular bouts of the zoomies.
Here are some of the possible causes:
- Allergies: Allergies such as Flea bites or other kind of itchy skin problems can be very uncomfortable and irritate your cat which can result in them running around in attempt to escape from the irritation.
- Hyperthyroidism: Often caused in older cats, hyperthyroidism may cause increased energy levels.
- Change in eyesight: Deteriorating eyesight in an older cat can cause them to freak out as they cannot identify objects as good as they used to.
- Change in hearing: For the same reason as the eyesight.
Tips To Control Zoomies
#1 Allow the Behavior
This is the first one on the list because cat zoomies are natural behavior, it’s perfectly normal and it’s just what cats do so simply just allow it to happen. Your cat running around for a couple of minutes is causing no harm, so there isn’t a need to calm them down.
It would be the equivalent of stopping a young child from playing. The time to worry is the zoomies gets out of hand and there are dangers such as them pouncing off the top of high furniture.
If this is the case then the behavior needs to be re-directed by using toys or even something such as a catnip spray.
#2 Play Session
Frequent bouts of the zoomies may be an indication that your cat needs more interactive playtime. Play sessions not only help control zoomies, but they also help build a great bond between you and your cat. Here are some tips for play sessions:
- Have a number of short, 5-10 minute play sessions throughout the day.
- Have a large selection of different kinds of cat toys.
- Provide puzzle cat toys.
- Use interactive cat toys that your cat can play with on their own.
- When your cat is having zoomies, get the toys out and use this as a play session.
#3 Create A Calming Environment
There are a number of things you can or setup in your home to create the perfect environment for your cat. This will help to keep you cat stimulated both physically and mentally which will help them to release build ups of energy.
- Scratching posts: Having a number of both vertical and horizontal scratching posts in different locations around your home is essential. Not only is scratching good for a cats mental health, it also prevents them scratching the carpet or expensive furniture.
- Trees and Perches: Cat climbing trees as well as window and wall perches are important for a cats mental health. Not only does it provide great stimulation but it also gives them a safe-place to go if they feel anxious.
- Feliway: Feliway diffusers mimic pheromone’s which are produced by felines and act as a calming aid which can reduce levels of anxiety.
#4 Create Safe Outdoor Experiences
Cats can benefit from being in the outdoors as it provides great stimulation being out in nature. The problem lies in the fact that there are many dangers to your cat in the outdoors such as cars, people, and other animals.
There are ways for your cat to experience the benefits of the outdoors and eliminating all of the dangers. Let’s take a look:
- Leash Training: Not many people realize you can leash train a cat, but it’s one of the best ways for them to experience the outdoors without the risk of them running into any dangers.
- Catio: A catio is an outdoor enclosure specifically designed for your cat that allows them to enjoy being in the outdoors without all of the dangers that come with it. This may take a bit of work and money but it is more than worth it.
Why Do Cats Get Zoomies At Night?
One thing many cat owners will of experienced is their furry little friend running around like a maniac during the night. At the start of this article we told you exactly what a cat does during a bout of the zoomies, but this can become a problem if it happens during the night.
In fact, cats are actually more active at dawn and dusk as they are crepuscular and not nocturnal creatures as many people think. The reason for this is that cats out in the wild take advantage of these cooler times of day as it makes hunting more effective.
How To Prevent Night Time Zoomies in Cats?
As a domestic cat doesn’t need these instinctive hunting skills to survive, you will need to discourage your cat from being active during the night and the early hours of the morning. Here are some tips you can use:
- Meal before bed: Giving your cat a main meal just before bedtime is a great way to keep them calm. This is because they usually take a long nap out in the wild after eating.
- Play sessions: As mentioned previously, regular play sessions on a daily basis are important to keep them more active during the day. Have a quick 5-10 minute play session with them just before bedtime.
- Morning meals: It’s good practice not to feed your cat the moment you wake up. If your cat wakes you up in the morning and you feed them, they will quickly learn to expect this every time and continue to wake you up. Feed them just before you go to work instead.
Cat Zoomies Conclusion
Most cat owners are aware of zoomies but never really fully understand what they are or what causes them. We the research we have conducted, you should now have a better understanding of why your cats suddenly runs around like crazy.
