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.
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.
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.
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.
Sleep Habits
Cats often get the zoomies after a long snooze. Because cats sleep much of the day in order to conserve energy (your feline friend can sleep anywhere from 12 to 16 hours a day), when they're awake, they're really awake.
Buuuuut, zoomies are a part of the job and in most cases, it's a sign of a healthy, playful cat. “If cats are merely running and jumping around for five minutes, it's not necessary to stop the cat,” says Dr. Erin Wilson, a veterinarian and medical director for New York's ASPCA told PetMD.
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 science behind 'cat zoomies'
Increasing a cat's daytime activity by providing them with food puzzles, a bird feeder to watch, or some other kind of enrichment can all help calm a cat down before bedtime, Delgado explains.
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.
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.
Cats are crepuscular, which means that they are most active at dawn and dusk. However, some house cats that either started off as strays or spend a lot of time outdoors, may develop the habit of being most active at night due to the fact that night time is when their prey is most active.
How Do You Deal With the Zoomies? Consider setting a routine for your puppy that includes time for play, time for training, and time for activity, whether that's playing fetch in the yard or walking around the block. Be sure to get nap time in the routine too. Puppies need lots of rest spread throughout the day.
In much the same way you may find you're able to lessen the degree or frequency of zoomies by increasing physical exercise or challenging your dog mentally. This is a great way of releasing some of that pent up energy before it's channelled into one of these random bursts of energy.
Why do cats meow at night? Your cat might meow at night because they feel bored, unstimulated, lonely or just want to go outside. If your cat won't stop crying at night even when they have plenty of play time, other causes to consider are thyroid or kidney disease.
Why do cats have a 'crazy' five minutes? The domestic cat shares common ancestry with the African wildcat which has a number of hunting episodes a day, whereas our pet cats have a more sedate lifestyle so need to burn off excess energy.
In short: Yes, your cats can figure out the time without the need for a clock or an alarm. It's all down to their natural body clock, their observation of external cues such as daylight and your behaviour, and internal cues such as their own hunger.
Your cat is bored and wants to play. Cats, being nocturnal animals, are most energetic at night by nature. And just like humans, they sometimes want to have fun to the fullest. This is neither strange nor bad, except that it might sometimes keep you awake.
Crepuscular Hunters
Cats tend to be active during these times as they search for small prey animals. For some cats, the issue lies in their own sleep schedule. If your cat sleeps for a good portion of the day, chances are that they will be active during the night.
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.
The zoomies are a normal and natural dog behavior. Not all dogs participate, but those that do often seem gleeful, as if they are having a fabulous time. In fact, play bows often go hand in hand with the behavior. As dogs are finally letting out their pent-up energy, it's no wonder they seem to be having so much fun.
Cats who get frequent zoomies most likely need more exercise. Make sure your cat gets plenty of playtime during the day. Buy them fun, engaging toys and reserve at least two 15-minute periods each day to play with your cat.
When do dog zoomies stop? A:Dog zoomies typically strike puppies and young dogs more often than middle-agers and seniors. You may notice a decline in older dogs around age 6 or 7, and by age 10 or 11, many dogs have completely outgrown them.
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.
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.