Why Do Cats Get The Zoomies? An Explanation Of This Bizarre Behavior

Just like kids and dogs, cats also have a lot of pent-up energy.

Do you often notice your cat suddenly breaking into random periods of hyperactivity and excess energy around the house? This is called 'cat zoomies' and happens to every dog too!

Zoomies in both your cat and dog are completely normal as well as natural. If you don't know what zoomies are, they are periods of hyperactive behavior in your cats where you may observe them dash and zoom across the floor of the house. Domesticated cats, unlike cats in the wild who hunt for prey, don't have to hunt. As a result, they end up with a lot of energy that needs release. This behavior also goes by another name, which is 'frenetic random activity period' or FRAP.

Zoomies occur more frequently in younger cats than in older cats. With older cats, a health condition called hyperthyroidism can lead to them experiencing the zoomies. Cats get zoomies usually early in the morning, midday, or late at night. There are many reasons why cats get zoomies, and some of them have mysterious explanations. Nonetheless, cat experts and animal researchers state that cats get spontaneous bursts of hyperactive energy, or 'zoomies' for a few major reasons. One reason is that your feline is just having some extra energy that they want to shed off. In such cases, playing with your cat and making sure that it receives adequate exercise for mental and physical stimulation is crucial. Sufficient playtime helps your cat get rid of all its surplus stamina.

A cat also gets the zoomies because of its sleep patterns. Cats can sleep for many hours during the day as a way to conserve energy for hunting. As they wake up from their nap in the litter box, they can go into a highly active mode where they begin zooming around the house. As soon as your cat wakes up from its nap, and in the morning too, it might want to engage in play and may begin to act wild or crazy, dashing around the house. Purchase some automatic cat toys that will keep them occupied and attract their attention when they get these unusual energy bursts. Some cats are known for getting the zoomies at night when everyone in your home is fast asleep.

Your kitty can get the zoomies as a result of acute pain too. It is essential for you as a cat owner to be able to recognize when your pet is experiencing some sort of pain. Irritability, anxiety, skin rashes or itching, excessive licking, and scratching are some of the behaviors that indicate that your pet cat might be in pain. Anxiety is actually one of the biggest reasons cats get the zoomies. If you notice that your cat begins to get the zoomies when they never did before, it is probably out of anxiety and stress.

When you notice your pet cat in pain, get them checked at your local vet immediately for any potential medical conditions. If your cat's getting into a crazy or manic phase after using its litter box, take a look at the contents for anything that's not normal. Give your veterinarian a call for any veterinary-related advice if something looks unusual. There are some tips you can follow to reduce your cat's zoomies. Set aside playtime sessions for a brief amount of time each day and make them interactive too. This can also be done a few hours before you go to bed. Your cat's diet and health are also a sign of your pet cat's dash and zoom around your home.

Why do cats get the zoomies after pooping?

Cats, just like every other creature, do some strange stuff that often puzzles us, and it's very common among pet owners to wonder why exactly they do certain things. Zooming is one such hyperactive behavior that is present in both cats and dogs too but for different reasons.

If you're a cat owner, you'd have frequently noticed your cat begins to go into a euphoric phase right after they finish pooping. There is an interesting explanation for this. Dr. Anish Seth, a well-known veterinarian, and gastroenterologist coined a term called 'poo-phoria' which is a euphoric feeling an organism gets after they release a large stool! This feeling comes from a nerve called the vagus nerve, which is connected to our brainstems by way of our colon. This nerve is, strangely, present in our feline pets too! The vagus nerve performs various functions, like reducing inflammation, and also plays a vital role in impacting feelings of anxiety, fear, and stress.

Some experts claim that cats initially rely a lot on their mothers when it comes to pooping and being groomed. When they are finally able to clean up after themselves after they finish pooping, the euphoria that comes after is usually a celebratory gesture to show that they're now independent. Their zoomies can also be a sign from your pet cat to you to acknowledge the task that they did by themselves.

Some cats often get into their FRAP mode as a way of escaping from their stomach problems. Call your veterinarian for any veterinary-related advice when your pet's behavior suddenly looks suspicious to check for any underlying medical condition.

Why do cats get the zoomies after peeing?

Cats often go into random crazy spurts after they use their litter box, either after pooping or peeing. There is a wide range of reasons why cats go zooming around your home after a pee or poop break.

One reason could be the natural instinct of your pet to distance itself from the scent of their body waste. Suddenly switching into hyper mode could also be your cat trying to tell you to congratulate them as they can now perform this big task without any secondary help. Hence, the zooming of your pet is more or less like victory laps or a big win. The stimulation of the vagus nerve after peeing or pooping can also induce zoomies in your pet kitty. Your cat is highly susceptible to certain infections like medical issues that are related to urinating, such as urinary tract infections, stones in the bladder, and even inflammation or pain. Get your cat checked at your local vet immediately or call your vet as soon as possible.

What are some other ways cats burn excess energy?

There are many tips you can follow that will allow your pet cat to burn off their extra energy in a way that benefits them too. Here are some tips that you can follow.

Get an interactive cat toy. An interactive toy that can engage your cat in active play is very good for it and will have your pet panting like a dog. You can play with your kitty, providing them with lots of mental and physical stimulation.

Cats love a good chase. Have your cat chase you around your garden or your park. It is a fun exercise for both you and your pet! It will also effectively tire them out, reducing the occurrence of zoomies in them. Don't let your cat sleep too much either. Zoomies are more frequent when your cat wakes up from a nap, as it is a way for them to re-energize and let out their energy. Make sure that they go to bed on time and don't stay up too late. If they are still active at night, play with them for a bit till they get sleepy. Create an environment in your home that is almost like a separate play area that is filled with a bunch of soft and interactive cat toys to keep them engaged when you go to sleep. Make sure that the space is safe from health hazards too.

How Long Do Zooms Usually Last

Zoomies, just the way they occur in dogs, also occur in cats and are completely natural as well as normal. In cats, zoomies last for only a few minutes. The most they can stretch is for a maximum of about 10 minutes only and nothing more than that. Zooming is a unique behavior among cats and dogs where they get spontaneous bursts of energy and run around the house, almost going crazy! Zoomies are much more common in young cats and kittens than in older cats.

Why are zoomies called so?

Spontaneous bouts of energy are called 'zoomies' or 'frenetic random activity periods' where cats run around frenetically, mostly in circles, or they dash around. These zoomies are also called midnight crazies or scrambling. They generally last only a few minutes, and not for very long.

Zoomies can also occur in your cat if it is experiencing some sort of pain, stress, fear, anxiety, or any other medical condition. If you notice your cat's behavior is strange or suspicious, get it checked at your local veterinarian immediately.