“It most commonly (and annoyingly) happens at night. They usually don't last longer than 1-2 minutes, but they leave a lasting impression.”
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.
The zoomies aren't something you can necessarily prevent, and they shouldn't be discouraged as long as your pet is in a safe space. Instead of trying to control your cat's zoomies, be sure they get plenty of stimulation during the day, so they have less need to get out extra energy at night.
To keep your cat relaxed and happy at home try providing them with cat grass and other cat-friendly plants they can explore, as well as lots of places they can hide. Cardboard boxes are always a hit with cats, as being able to hide inside helps them feel safe and reduces their stress.
For the most part, the cat zoomies really are perfectly normal, and if your cat seems happy and looks to be enjoying the workout, it's fine to let him or her be. But there are times when you should definitely not ignore them and instead head to the vet. “It's all about the context,” says Dr. Caporale.
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.
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.
Here is a breakdown of the general milestones of your kitten's growth: 2 weeks - 3 months: If you're a parent yourself, picture this period as the “terrible twos”. This is the toddler years of your kitten and is when your kitten is usually most hyperactive. Get ready for zoomies as well as some scratching.
Zoomies are normal behavior for cats and a great way to burn off excess energy. But, if you find your cat frequently zooming frantically around the house, it may indicate that she needs more exercise. Increase the amount of time you spend playing with your cat. Enrichment toys, in particular, may help.
Playing Through the Zoomies
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.
Observe your cat for signs of overstimulation and impending aggression. Common signals to look for include: tail swishing, skin twitching over the back, flattening of the ears, tenseness, dilated pupils, low growl, walking away and lying down. Stop petting at the first sign of any of these early warning signals.
As with all young mammals, this seemingly crazy behavior is just your kitten's way of practicing to become an adult. Because of their predatory nature, kittens will explore new places and get used to their environment by following their instincts, which include biting, jumping and chasing after things.
Kittens are generally most hyper between the ages of 4 and 8 months. This is because during this time, they are going through a phase of rapid growth and development, and they have a lot of energy to burn.
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.
What is “Fading Kitten Syndrome”? Fading kitten syndrome, sometimes referred as “failure to thrive”, describes a kitten that “crashes”, suddenly becoming ill or unresponsive, even if it was previously healthy.
Wait until he's of a size to make that an unlikely risk. My main rule of thumb is to wait until the kitten is old enough to get up on the bed on his own — typically around his 6-month birthday.
Make sure your hyper kitten feels loved by paying plenty of attention to her. In addition to playing with her every day, let her sit with you while you work on the computer or watch television, snuggle with her in bed, and pet her while she purrs contentedly in your arms.
Intensive growth 2-4 months. This is the naughty stage of the kitten development chart when your kittens start to show their true colours! An important stage in kitten growth, the personalities of your kitties will come forth during this time making it one of the most endearing stages of kitten development.
A cat's temperament, training, and personality are the result of genetics and upbringing, and are generally unaffected by the presence or absence of male hormones. Castration is unlikely to calm an overactive cat or decrease aggression toward people.
Spaying makes for a calmer cat. Without the drive to mate, your cat may be quieter and won't be prone to cat calls and the incessant need to seek out a mate. The spayed pet no longer attracts males and their annoying advances and serenades. Spayed cats are also easier to get along with.
While cats may have a reputation for being sassy and serious, like many animals, they have a silly and playful side that can come out when you least expect it. In fact, it's one of the most common reasons why cats get the zoomies. For the most part, it's just a completely normal expression of their quirky personality!
That's because cats, as a prey species, like to stretch their predation skills and are, indeed, chasing an imaginary mouse. It's also entirely possible that your cat is really just trying to engage you in play, so offering a wand toy or some toy mice to “attack” during a zoomie session is never a bad idea.
Try changing the cat's schedule gradually To manage night time activity cat owners can try to gradually alter the cat's schedule by encouraging play time and feeding during the daytime and earlier evening hours, so that the cat's schedule more closely matches that of the humans in the household.