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.
Playing Through the Zoomies
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
At what age do kittens calm down? Generally, by 9 to 12 months old, the massive amount of enthusiasm has begun to settle, and a personality has become more apparent. Each cat differs individually with some being more playful and some lazier.
Create a calming environment
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.
Zoomies don't last long.
Most of the time, a case of the zoomies lasts less than a few minutes. Although they have been known to extend upwards of 10 minutes, that is not typical.
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.
This is a phenomenon referred to as many as “the zoomies,” but it has a scientific name too: Frenetic Random Activity Periods or FRAP for short.
"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 a natural dog behavior that is most often no cause for alarm, so long as your pup has room to run without injuring themselves. However, constant zoomies may be a sign of a larger behavioral problem, so its a good idea to keep tabs on how often your dog is zooming and for what reasons.
Most cats react to catnip by rolling, flipping, rubbing, and eventually zoning out. They may meow or growl at the same time. Other cats become hyperactive or downright aggressive, especially if you approach them. Usually these sessions last about 10 minutes, after which your cat loses interest.
With this in mind, you can expect your cat to start calming down once they hit around 6 months of age, with there being a gradual but predictable drop in energy levels up to the first year of their life.
Cats have different sleep-wake cycles than other animals and are often busy at night. 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.
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.
Baths aren't the only thing that can trigger dog zoomies. Some dogs also do this after grooming or swimming, and they sometimes get triggered during play. But giving dogs a bath seems to be a frequent trigger for dogs who are prone to zoomies.
Toys that can be chased, swatted, and batted should be provided. Species appropriate punishment such as “hissing” or the use of punishment devices such as a water sprayer, can of compressed air, or hand held alarm are better than using any physical techniques since they are less likely to lead to fear and retaliation.
Before bedtime, make a general sweep of the house and pick up anything that rolls, bounces, or makes noise. If your cat isn't tempted, it's a lot more likely he'll sleep. If you have the rare cat who plays quietly, you can leave the toys out.
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.