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Why Does My Cat Get The Zoomies

Play Throughout The Day

Why Your Cat Sleeps on Your Head and Other Odd Behaviors Explained

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. Try mixing up the types of play they do too, with different toys such as fishing rods, ping pong balls and kickeroos.

For more tips on how to play with your cat, watch our video.

Nourish Their Hunting Instinct

Playtime with your cat can effectively prevent energy build-up, but did you know that some toys can actually cause cats to become more frustrated?

The main purpose of cat toys and games is to satisfy the animals hunting instinct. As such, the type of playing that cats enjoy the most usually involves chasing and catching the toy, which triggers their brain to release feel good hormones.

So while you may successfully capture the attention of your cat with a laser pointer or a video showing mice or fish, the fact that the cat cant catch the prey can leave them frustrated with a lot of energy to spare.

Why Do Cats Get The Zoomies & When To Call Your Vet

Whether you call them cat zoomies or cat crazies, this feline behavior is unmistakable.

Zoomies is a word used to describe seemingly random periods of bursts of energy in cats. Cats with the zoomies might suddenly leap up and race around the living room or even the entire house, running, jumping, climbing and otherwise going crazy with activity.

Some cats punctuate their roomies with growling, yowling or meowing. Cat zoomies often seem to come out of nowhere and disappear after a while.

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Cats Have Fast Twitch Muscle Fibers

Most of your cats muscles are made up of fast-twitch muscle fibers. Fast-twitch muscles are better suited for short bursts of explosive energy. Dogs, for example, are the opposite. They have mostly slow-twitch muscles, and therefore are better at endurance exercises like long walks.

This means that sometimes your cat will feel the need to get a little exercise and give their muscles a workout. The best way to do this is with a short burst of energy. One of my cats likes running up and down the stairs a couple of times when he needs to blow off steam.

In Summary Why Your Cat Zooms Around And What To Do About It

Why Does My Cat Get The Zoomies After He Poops?

If youre looking for the short answer as to why your cat gets the zoomies and bursts around your house, its likely down to one of the following:

  • Its just their natural survival instinct kicking in
  • They are bursting off some pent-up energy
  • They are giving their muscles a workout
  • It might be poo-phoria
  • There might be a medical issue

Its worth investigating and trying to find out whats causing this behavior. If you can rule out any medical conditions and narrow it down to random bursts of energy, thats a good thing.

Or, maybe its better explained as its just a cat thing.

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Why Does My Cat Get The Zoomies After Pooping January 22 2019 36 Comments

We all know that cats have some peculiar bathroom habits! But perhaps one of the more perplexing litter box behaviors are the post-poop zoomies. You might be familiar with the concept of “zoomies” from your cat running up and down your hallways at 4 am.

But some cats have zoomies of a different type! Some of our fluffy friends have a funny little habit of using the litter box, only to dash like mad around the house. This leads many cat owners scratching their heads and wondering, “Why does my cat do this?”

Like most things with our favorite feline species, there are various theories and ideas behind why cats get the sudden urge to bolt around the house after using the litter box.

Some animal behaviorists link this post-litter box sprint to a cat’s innate survival instinct, noting that a cat might fear that a predator could track them based on the smell of their waste. This instinct often explains why cats bury their waste in the litter box. The sprint might be a way to get away from the location as quickly as possible to further avoid predator detection.

Others speculate that, as kittens, cats are used to having their rear ends cleaned by their mothers. As they reach adulthood and start using the litter box, they don’t need their moms anymore – so when they dash away from the litterbox, they’re showing off their independence by dashing away.

What Causes The Zoomies

Often, it feels like the zoomies are caused by absolutely nothing. Other times, it seems like the zoomies are just a reaction your cat has when its too quiet in the house. Or maybe its actually just trying to disturb your sleep! In truth, there are many reasons why cats get the zoomies.

Sometimes, it starts with a bug that your cat starts to chase. Youll also notice that the zoomies are infectious, so, when one cat gets the zoomies, other cats usually follow suit. Cats also commonly get the zoomies when theres unexpected movement, such as their person waking up in the middle of the night to visit the restroom.

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Why Cat Zoomies Happen

Remember: Cats are complex creatures, so it may be tricky to come up with a sole reason behind your cats sudden burst of energy. Its possible that it may be a unique combination of factors or something incredibly specific to your cat. But here are by far the most common culprits behind the always-startling, sometimes-annoying cat zoomies:

  • Your cat just woke up from a long slumber.
  • Your cat is tapping into its predatory side.
  • Your cat may have an underlying medical condition.
  • Your cat gets a high after going to the bathroom .

Provide A Calming Atmosphere

Kitten Zoomies | 4K

Creating a stress-free environment at home will help your cat feel more relaxed. Here are some suggestions for making that happen:

Offer cat-friendly grass and plants to encourage exploration.

For the same reason, provide hiding spots such as cardboard boxes. These can also help them feel safe and less anxious.

Provide them with window sills or empty shelves where they can survey the place while relaxing at a safe distance.

Consider using cat diffusers such as Feliway to help keep your cat relaxed. Such diffusers spread an odorless mimic of calming pheromones which felines produce, reducing stress and anxiety in cats.

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Your Cat Is Not Neutered

One of the reasons a significant number of cat owners decide to neuter their cats is to prevent some undesirable behaviors.

Cats that are not yet neutered are known to be restless. Some even wander away from home.

If your feline is yet to be neutered, you can expect some crazy behaviors from her.

One of such behaviors can include getting zoomies immediately after eating.

Why Does My Cat Love When I Poop

There might be various reasons cats like to join people in the bathroom, she tells Inverse. Cats also probably know that when we are on the toilet, we are a captive audience nowadays we are so busy and distracted that many cats are probably looking for an opportunity to have our undivided attention!

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When Are The Zoomies Bad

Even though the zoomies are a normal feline behavior thats generally caused by something innocuous, there are times when you should pay a bit closer attention to what your cats actions are trying to communicate. The zoomies should only be a semi-regular thing. Your cat shouldnt be suddenly zooming around the house a dozen times every day. If you start to notice that this behavior is happening a little too frequently, then it could be a sign to clue you in.

One reason that cats might start to have the zoomies all the time is that theyre not getting enough exercise. That excess energy is building up inside of them, and it comes out in the form of erratic energetic explosions. In such cases, interactive toys can often help, providing both a physical and mental outlet. These toys can keep your cat engaged mentally while also providing the exercise and stimulation your cat requires.

If it seems like your cat suddenly started experiencing the zoomies too often out of nowhere, then you might want to take it to the vet for a checkup. This is also the best bet if your cat seems to be stressed out by its zooming behavior. In rare cases, these bursts of energy are caused by underlying thyroid conditions.

Create A Calming Environment

What Are Cat Zoomies? And Why Do Cats Get the Zoomies ...

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. Having a few empty shelves or windowsills to sit on will also keep them calm as they can survey their surroundings from a safe vantage point.

If you would like to learn more about cat behaviour, then why not sign up for Cats Protections Feline Behaviour Conference. The online event will feature informative sessions and engaging Q& As with cat experts, covering topics such as how cats learn, how cats communicate and the future of cats!

Find out more and book your place here: Feline Behaviour Conference.

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Wondering Why Your Cat Gets The Zoomies After Using The Litter Box Experts Explain

Cats are pretty well-known for their unique behaviors. Whether they are trying to eat tape , scratching mirrors around the house, or repurposing your blanket as a pacifier, cats always seem to march to the beat of their own drum. This is why it was no surprise to me when I began noticing both of my cats acting hyper after using the litter box. To learn more about this interesting feline habit, POPSUGAR spoke to two experts.

Help Your Master Relax

If your kitten is too anxious or nervous to lie down and sleep at night, you can help her feel more secure by sitting down with her for a while, holding her closely, and gently petting her. Some kittens are also comforted by a softly playing radio tuned to an all-night talk show or soft music station. Others are comforted by having a toy or blanket from their former nest so that the smell from that familiar place is present where they sleep. Once your master is soothed, put her in her own bed and praise her when she stays there.

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Here Are Some Of My Favorite Products For Cats

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope you found it helpful whether you own a cat or are considering it. I thought Id share a few of the cat products I love which you might find really useful too.

The following are Amazon affiliate links, and if you decide to use them, Ill earn a small commission from Amazon at no cost at all to you.

An indoor cat tree: This is an excellent item to satisfy a cats urge to climb and scratch. There are several sizes to choose from so you can pick the right height for your home. Our cats love this with multi-levels, scratching posts, and a little hideaway.

Drinking fountain: Cats love to drink from flowing water. Many dont seem to drink enough so a fountain is a good way to get them interested. This Orsda Fountain is quiet, has a large capacity, and looks stylish too.

Scratcher Lounger: The more cat scratching posts you have the better. Many cats like to claw horizontally which is why we chose the PetFusion Ultimate cat scratcher. It has seen quite a bit of action from 4 Maine Coons but still looks great.

Ways To Calm Down A Crazy Cat

Cat Zoomies | 4K

If youre a cat owner, you likely know that the picture-perfect idea of a cat purring and laying calmly at arms length while you pet her is inaccurateat least some of the time. Cats are known for getting the kitten crazies, or bursts of energy that range from running and jumping around the house at high speeds to animated play-fighting with other household pets.

This type of behavior can be alarming or frustrating for cat owners, but, according to Dr. Nicholas Dodman, a veterinary behaviorist in Westborough, Massachusetts, it is their natural behavior.

Dodman describes these sudden bursts of energy as the zoomies. The behavior is hardwired into cats for a few reasons. Cats will tend to sleep when its pitch-dark. But at dusk, theyre most active. Instinctive behavior they might exhibit outside, such as prey chasing, translates into activity that is within a confined household.

When we put cats into conventional homes, were really limiting their ability to explore their habitat, Dodman says. The cats ancestors lived in much larger territories.

If your kitty suddenly exhibits a high level of activity, here are a few methods you can use to help calm her down.

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Need More Sleep Here’s How To Prevent Cat Zoomies At Night

Cat parents everywhere know the problem all too well. Cats spend 1520 hours a day resting or sleeping, but it seems like the only time they’re awake and ready to play is when you’re trying to get your beauty rest. If your cat is notorious for waking you up with a late night zoom around the house, it’s time to find a solution.

“If a cat frequently engages in the zoomies, it’s probably an indication that the cat needs more exercise,” Johnson-Bennett says.

Make sure your kitty is getting enough exercise with regular playtime. Break out the feather and string , because Johnson-Bennett suggests engaging in at least two 15-minute interactive play sessions per day.

“It’s also important to provide mental exercise and satisfaction so don’t just exhaust the cat, but instead, play in a way that allows kitty to stalk and plan,” Johnson-Bennett says. “Playtime is just as much mental exercise as it is physical.”

To help tire your kitty with mental stimulation, test out a few interactive toys that allow cats to play and get a reward for their efforts. Setting out your kitty’s favorite interactive toy before bed will help get that extra energy out and hopefully result in a full night’s sleep for you.

How Do You Get A Cat To Shut Up

If your cat continues to meow, try a time out. Shut the door to the room you are in, and when they stop meowing they can come out to play. If they meow again, back outside the door they go. Eventually, a new behavior chain will form for them, and theyll realize that meowing gets them shut out of the room.

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Why Do Cats Get Zoomies

Sleep Habits Cats often get the zoomies after a long snooze. Because cats sleep much of the day in order to conserve energy , when theyre awake, theyre really awake.

Why do kittens have zoomies? Kittens and young cats naturally have lots of energy and generally experience zoomies more frequently than older cats, though inspiration can strike cats of any age. Even my 17-year-old cats get inspired to run around like kittens when they experience the zoomies. Cat zoomies/FRAPs are caused by many different things.

Why do cats get zoomies all the time? Why Cats Get the Zoomies 1 Sleep HabitsCats often get the zoomies after a long snooze. Because cats sleep much of the day in order to conserve2 Hunting InstinctDespite getting all the food they need from their pet parents, cats are innate hunters and have a3 Bathroom Issues More

Why do cats zoom? Many different things cause FRAPs. Cats may start zooming if another cat in the house has the zoomies, cats might zoom if theyre chasing a bug, and cats can zoom in the middle of the night when their human gets up to use the bathroom. Sometimes it feels like cats get the zoomies out of nowhere, or it seems like theyve seen a ghost.

What are zoomies in cats? The zoomies in cats is more frequently seen in kittens and cats that live in small spaces or that are alone a lot. Its the release of pent-up energy that hasnt been spent on hunting or playing throughout the day.

How Can I Stop My Cats Zoomies

Why Is It That My Cat Gets The Zoomies?

The occasional zooming episode from your cat can often be entertaining to witness and isnt anything too much to worry about. However, if you suspect your cat might be frustrated or his behavior is a problem, there are a few things you could try.

Playing with your cat is not only a way for him to burn some excess energy but also forms a great bond between you and your feline companion. Try and take advantage of his active times in the morning and evening, as well as short bursts of play throughout the day.

If you are playing games that mimic hunting, then allow your cat to catch and kill the toy occasionally as this is the part of the game that your cat will enjoy the most. Laser pens and videos of moving prey on a screen are frustrating for your cat as he is not able to exhibit normal hunting behavior by catching and killing.

You could also try feeding your cat little and often throughout the day to try and keep his energy levels more stable. Puzzle feeders and lick-mats are a great way to slow down his eating and also provide some mental stimulation for your cat, something that is especially important for indoor cats.

Another great way to mentally stimulate your cat is to teach him a new trick! Cats can be taught to sit, rollover, and to give paws the same way that dogs can. Always use positive reinforcement such as treats or play when training your cat and never ever punish him for getting it wrong.

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