The good news is that the zoomies are completely normal behavior for cats of all ages! However, if your cat starts to exhibit above average levels of activity, it may indicate an underlying health condition such as hyperthyroidism, which increases energy levels in older cats.
Zooming behavior is often how cats engage their inner predator. These play periods allow our furry companions to hone their survival instincts — think stalking, pouncing and pursuing. For the vast majority, zoomies are a healthy expression of excitement.
actually has the most beneficial effects if it is provided relatively frequently in short energetic bursts of activity." Being an active participant in the zoomies is a great way for you to bond with your kitty, help them release pent-up energy and tire them out for their next snooze.
That means they're naturally most active in the twilight times of dusk and dawn, which is when their rodent prey is most active, so they hunt most successfully. Even though our house cats don't have to survive on hunting, they still have the instinct to be active and "hunt" at those times. Hence, nighttime zoomies.
Cat zoomies are generally short-lived so you can usually just wait it out and your cat will return to her normal self. Most cats don't zoom much longer than five minutes or so.
Play throughout the day
A great way to encourage your cat to burn off all that excess energy is to have regular play sessions with them. Instead of having one long 15-minute play session in the evening, spread a few short five-minute play sessions throughout the day to keep them entertained.
The most common reason cats experience the zoomies is pent-up energy. Cats rest and sleep for a majority of the day to conserve energy for short, very active periods. Without intentional exercise and activity, your kitty will need to find a way to get that extra energy out, resulting in a case of the zoomies.
Evenings are most common for cats to zoom if they don't get enough exercise throughout the day or are eager to play when you come home from work. Stressful triggers, like bath time or lifestyle changes, can also warrant a race around the living room.
As the new owner of a tiny, terrorizing bundle of energy, you may be wondering: Do cats calm down with age? Rest assured; the answer is usually yes. Although it can be wearisome at times, it's healthy, and normal, for your kitten to be running through the house with the “zoomies” and getting into mischief.
Most owners see this as a sign of affection and welcome this behaviour. When cats rub against objects, they are transferring their scent. It is almost as if they are claiming ownership and we are one of their belongings. Your cat head-butting or nuzzling your face deposits scent from glands in their cheek area.
9-14 Months: By the time you reach this stage, you officially have an adult cat. After spending so long learning the social etiquette of your home, they will start to mirror you and your actions–like sleeping more during the night and playing during the day.
When a cat poops, it stimulates a nerve in their body that gives them a euphoric feeling, which might explain why your cat gets the zoomies. The nerve that's being stimulated is called the vagus nerve, and it runs from the brain throughout the body, including the entire digestive tract, Shojai said.
Single kitten syndrome is the idea that young kittens, when raised with other young kittens and cats and then adopted into a home by themselves, can become aggressive, anxious, stressed, and even develop behavioral issues like inappropriate chewing/scratching and inappropriately using the litterbox.
Your kitten is only ready to bring home from around 8 weeks old, and it's at around this age that they'll start to act a little more erratically. You can expect their manic energy to start peaking at around the age of 3 months, which is when things will start getting really interesting.
A frequent cause of zoomies is an excess buildup of energy that dogs hold on to, which is then released in one big burst. Certain times of day may trigger zoomies in dogs more than others, such as the first thing in the morning or in the evening after spending much of the day in a crate.
“Zoomies” Meaning. Zoomies or Frenetic Random Activity Periods (FRAPs) is a word to describe cats and dogs running around erratically as an explosion of pent-up energy. And yes, zoomies in cats exist, too! You've likely seen this vibrant outburst more than a handful of times.
If your cat has anxiety, you may notice pacing or restlessness, hiding, decreased appetite, vocalization, hypervigilance, trembling, salivation, and excessive grooming.
"Sleeping more than usual is also a sign of stress in cats," says Dr Nadkarni. A more serious and obvious sign of mental health issues in cats is that of overgrooming. "Some cats who are struggling with mental health issues will overgroom, to a point where they self-mutilate and cause baldness," says Dr Nadkarni.
In cats, the term used by specialists is a condition called Dysthymia. It causes sudden changes in mood in animals. It seems that this type of bipolar disorder is more common in certain breeds of cats like the Abyssinians for example. However, this remains rare.
Zoomies are periods of hyperactivity where you may notice your cat moving around the house rapidly, perhaps in laps or up and down the stairs. This may then all come to an abrupt halt and your cat may resume relaxation as she was before getting the zoomies!
While some vets and animal experts seem to agree that cats can get ADHD, the condition isn't recognized by all. Cats can exhibit symptoms or personality and behavioral traits that are often linked to ADHD in humans, especially human children.
Given that catnip can have a calming, soothing effect, it can be used to: help reduce a cat's stress and anxiety when going to the vet, help reduce stress when traveling, help with urinary issues (note that stress is a major contributing factor to urinary obstruction in cats!).
These are "alpha cats." They are natural leaders; they refuse to be led and attempt to take charge of practically every situation. These cats like their food when they want it and the way that they like it - or else. They may only let you touch them for short periods of time and then again, only on their terms.