Zoomies!

Does your cat ever go straight from napping to crazily running around the house? It's a common trait of cats that is often called zoomies! So, what's up with cat zoomies? Why do cats get zoomies?

Catster.com says zoomies in cats is more properly called FRAP or “frenetic random activity periods”, and a lot of cats exhibit this behavior, although some more than others! Kittens have a lot of energy and may get zoomies more than adult cats, but the zoomies don't necessarily stop at a certain age. 

One reason for a zoomies cat might be that it is an extension of their hunting instincts. Cats in the wild will run after prey, and while your cat doesn't need to hunt to feed itself, the instinct to hunt is still there. So, if your cat suddenly starts zooming around, it might be acting out that hunting instinct! This is actually a good opportunity for you to join in on the fun! Playing with a stuffed mouse or wand toy with your cat when they are full of energy is a good way to mimic hunting and let them sharpen their skills. In the wild, the cat is rewarded with a meal, so it could be satisfying to your cat to let them "kill" the mouse toy and maybe get a treat afterwards too. 

As we mentioned in our article about how much cats sleep, cats spend a good part of the day snoozing, so zoomies cats might just be cats that have a lot of pent up energy after their long nap. It could feel good to use their muscles again and get the blood flowing after a period of inactivity. 

Another time when you might see zoomies in cats is right after a trip to the litter box. Rover.com offers some reasons why your cat might exit the litterbox at top speed. One reason might be that your cat is a clean freak and wants to get away from a dirty litter box as quickly as possible. Cats are super sniffers and probably don't want to spend more time than they have to smelling their own poo! Another reason for the post-poop sprint might be that they have an instinct to distance themselves from the scent that might attract predators to them. It could also be that cats feel good after a big poop! Rover.com explains that, like humans, cats have a vagus nerve that runs from brainstem to colon. Activating that nerve can cause a lowering of blood pressure, which can decrease blood flow to the brain and give cats a high feeling that could then result in zoomies! 

So, it's normal for cats to get a case of the zoomies after using the litter box, but if your cat has suddenly started getting the zoomies after a litter box trip and didn't before or has started pooping outside of the box, it's probably time for a trip to the vet to make sure there isn't an underlying condition like constipation or diarrhea that is causing your cat to suddenly want to try to outrun the discomfort of using their litter box. 

By why do I get a zoomie cat at night when I'm trying to sleep? Well, cats are crepuscular, which means they have the most energy at dawn and dusk, so it's natural for them to have night time and early morning bursts of energy. You might never completely stop their zoomies, but you might be able to redirect them by spending time playing with them while you're awake, making sure they have toys to play with during the day when your away so that they can use up some energy that way, and maybe trying an exercise wheel for cats to see if they might like to run on it, instead of across your sleeping body! 

Cover photo by Cara Fuller on Unsplash