If you’ve witnessed your cat suddenly have a mad half hour, where they’re literally climbing up the walls, you’re probably wondering whether it’s normal. This behaviour is referred to as cat zoomies. But why do cats get zoomies, and are cat zoomies good for them? Let's find out...

Cat Zoomies Meaning

Zoomies are also referred to as a frenetic random activity period or FRAP. During these sessions, your cat may frantically run around, pounce, bop, claw, climb, or excessively meow without any obvious cause. Zoomies in cats can happen at any time of day, and all ages and breeds may display this comical behaviour.

Why Do Cats Get the Zoomies?

Zoomies are caused when your cat experiences a build-up of excess energy. They can be a sign that your cat isn’t getting enough physical or mental stimulation. This is most common in indoor cats as they’re not able to be outside practicing their natural hunting skills. Try to incorporate hunting and chasing games in your play sessions, like using cat toy fishing rods for them to chase.

Needing a wee or poo can make a cat fidgety and may lead to cat zoomies, so make sure your cat always has easy access to a clean litter box. Cats getting a case of the zoomies after going for a poo is common too, and there are many possible reasons.

Their zoomies could be because they want to get away from the scent that may attract predators - this is why cats tend to bury their poop. It could be due to the drop in heart rate and blood pressure that occurs when a cat goes for a poo, which causes a euphoric feeling. It can also be a sign of pain if your cat had trouble passing the poo. Speak to your vet if you notice litter box aversion, blood in stools, constipation, straining or other unusual toileting habits.

Your cat may have a zoomie session before mealtimes or just after finishing a meal. This is due to them getting excited in anticipation of food.

Stress, anxiety, fear, and pain can also cause cat zoomies. Keep an eye on your cat's body language – a lowered tail, exposed claws, and flat ears are all signs of distress. A visit to the vets or a car journey can cause an adrenaline rush that may lead to a zoomie session. If you can’t work out the cause of your cat’s distress, or suspect they’re in pain, speak to your vet.

Why Do Cats Get Zoomies at Night?

Cats are most active at dawn and dusk as this is when they would hunt. They spend most of the hours a day napping, so by nighttime they’re full of energy and ready to hunt or play. To help prevent your cat from causing chaos in the house in the middle of the night, make sure you fit in lots of play sessions throughout the day and one just before you go to bed.

How Can I Prevent Cat Zoomies?

There are things you can do to help reduce this hyperactive cat behaviour, but it may not be possible to stop all cat zoomies. If the cause of your cat’s zoomies are due to pain or stress, finding the cause and treating it will help stop the zoomies from occurring.

Playing throughout the day will burn off excess energy. Try to mix up the types of play so your cat doesn’t get bored. Some cat play can be frustrating, which can lead to a zoomie, so if you’re playing a chase game, make sure you let your cat catch the toy every now and then. Laser pens are great for getting your cat moving, but cats don’t get much reward from the game as they’re never actually able to catch the light.

Cat zoomies at night can be reduced with play sessions, but the best thing you can do is to give your cat access to an outdoor space so they can move about a bit more and get plenty of exercise.

Feed your cat smaller meals at multiple times throughout the day, rather than one big meal. This will mean they don’t have a such a big build-up of energy from anticipating their meal. Puzzle feeders are great way to slow down your cat’s eating too.

Training can help to reduce or stop zoomies. Teaching your cat a ‘stop’ or ‘enough’ command may be helpful, especially if your cat decides to manically claw at your carpet or furniture during a zoomie. You can also try to redirect their attention using their favourite toy or treat.

Zoomies aren’t harmful to a cat, but they can lead to accidents. Cats running and climbing quickly can lead to slips and falls, which may result in sprains, fractures, or breaks. Try to move your cat to a safe space during a zoomie by encouraging them with toys and treats. Don’t try to touch your cat or pick them up as they may scratch or bite you.

It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to fully stop cat zoomies, but rest assured, they cause no harm to your cat and are often a sign of happiness. Zoomies are more common in younger cats as they’ve got higher energy levels than older cats. The frequency of zoomies reduces as they mature, but many senior cats will still occasionally need a zoomie to release some pent-up energy.

Are cat zoomies normal? Yes, they’re very common and usually nothing to worry about. They’re caused by a build-up of excess energy that your feline friend then needs to release. This is often due to excitement or lack of mental stimulation.

Sometimes cat zoomies are the result of stress or pain, so keep an eye on their body language and speak to your vet if you’re concerned.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Felis - www.vetlexicon.com/felis

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.