What Are Cat Zoomies? Some may call it the witching hour; others know it as the nighttime “crazies.” Most commonly known as the “zoomies,” this sudden burst of hyperactivity mystifies many cat parents. It often includes frenzied running, pouncing, bopping, and even excessive meowing—seemingly out of nowhere.
Although cats are evolved for night-time activity, during domestication they have adapted to human lifestyles. Domestic cats tend to be most active early in the morning and at dusk, not in the middle of the night. They also change their activity cycles to fit in with their human housemates.
The Mad Half Hour appears to be particularly common in housecats. You've heard of the expression “climbing up the walls”. Well, like us, if your feline friend spends too much time indoors, they may need to start expelling their energy in not necessarily the most constructive of ways.
"For indoor cats who don't get enough exercise, they may engage in the zoomies as a much-needed energy release." Cats of all ages can experience zoomies from pent-up energy, but the behavior may be more common in younger cats and kittens who have more energy to expense.
This is because cats are crepuscular, which means they hunt and are active in the evening or early morning. This cat behavior at night is sometimes called the night crazies and may cause lack of sleep for cat owners. If your cat won't let you sleep, there are things you can do to help.
A meal before bedtime can help a cat settle down and for some cats, will be enough to keep them satisfied through the night. Depending on what type of food you give your cat, you can also invest in a timed feeder that will dose out a portion of food for your cat. Take note of what time of night your cat gets hungry.
By sleeping during the day, your cat is primed and energized to hunt at night. On top of this, many domestic cats spend a lot of their time indoors and without much engagement during the day. This creates pent-up energy that they also need to burn out by running around crazy at night when they're finally awake.
It's actually a natural behaviour that a lot of cats display, but it's more common in younger cats or indoor-only cats. While an occasional burst of 'frapping' is quite normal, if your cat is getting the zoomies on a daily basis then this could be a sign that they are under-stimulated and frustrated.
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.
Dr. Anish Sheth, a gastroenterologist, says the distension that comes with the passing of a large stool causes the vagus nerve to fire, resulting in a drop in the heart rate and blood pressure which in turn decreases blood flow to the brain. The resulting mild lightheadedness can lead to a high and hence cat zoomies.
Snuggles, Cuddles, Lap Sits and Co-Sleeping.
You'll know your cat is happy if they show affection to you and want to interact with you. A content kitty loves scritches, snuggles, head boops, and lap sits.
Your Cat Stares at You to Show Affection
Cats can use staring as a nonverbal way of communicating. Even though a long, unblinking stare may not be the best way for humans to show affection, when your fur baby does this, it may mean they're showing love to their favourite owner.
Catnip can calm and soothe some cats. As an herb, catnip is easy to grow at home. If you grow it, you may find your kitty indulging in it at intervals throughout the day and maybe even chewing on it. For the most part, it's a fairly harmless indulgence.
If your cat sleeps on your bed, he may choose a position that lets him see out your bedroom door more easily. If he's curled up in a ball under your bed or in a quiet corner, then he may be hiding. Cats who sleep under the covers might love being close to you, or they might be hiding to feel safer.
After year 1. The transition to adulthood ordinarily occurs from 1 to 2 years old. At this time, and possibly after neutering, a cat may retain a lot of energy but should be notably calmer with it reaching full maturity at 2. From 3 to 10 years old, a cat is relatively calm but remains active.
If you don't want your cat eating so early, spend a couple of months gradually pushing out the time on the feeder so they're eating just a little later each week. When you get to a point where it's going off around the time you wake up, try removing the auto-feeder and going back to manual feeding when you get up.
Frenetic Random Activity Periods, or FRAPs, occur when an animal has to express excess energy. Since cats sleep for most of the day, when they wake up they may experience a sudden and intense need to quickly move around. The zoomies may also be seen after a cat's satisfying trip to the litter box.
Tire your cat out.
There are several ways to do this: Play hard then rest, and play hard again. Cats are built for short spurts of energy and a good play session consists of several highs and lows. Play into this by tiring out your cat for a few minutes, letting it rest, and then restarting play again and repeat.
The best thing you can do is to leave your kitty to it - stop petting them, gently walk away and don't follow them around or try to console them in any way. Wait some time before approaching them again and of course, it goes without saying that you should never punish your kitty for their symptoms of overstimulation.
Certain times of day may elicit the zoomies more than others. 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.
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.
Cats are often quite independent creatures but if they have a strong bond with you, they may simply follow you around because they want to be near to you and see what you're up to. Or perhaps they're waiting for you to sit down so they can jump on your lap for a snooze.
Cats feel safest when they are somewhere up high as this keeps them away from any potential dangers at ground level and means they have a good vantage point to see their surroundings.
Where Cats Go at Night. It's natural to wonder where the heck cats go at night. At home, they're usually sleeping, playing, cuddling, eating, or sleeping some more.
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.