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Cat zoomies at night can be a real challenge for many cat owners. Cats typically experience their highest energy levels at dawn and dusk, but some cats may exhibit zoomies later at night.
This phenomenon is often linked to the cat's natural hunting instinct, which can be triggered by changes in light or the presence of prey-like toys.
Cats may also get zoomies at night due to excess energy or pent-up activity from the day.
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What Causes Cat Zoomies
Cat zoomies can be triggered by various situations.
Increasing a cat's daytime activity can help calm them down before bedtime. This can be achieved by providing food puzzles or a bird feeder to watch.
Exercise and a meal can help your cat settle down for the evening. A nice interactive play session with a feather wand or other 'fishing pole' style toy in the early evening can be beneficial.
Cats may get the zoomies due to a variety of situations.
For another approach, see: How to Calm down Puppy Zoomies
Solutions and Prevention
The nighttime zoomies can be a real challenge for cat owners. Encouraging your pet to exercise a bit more in the daytime can sometimes calm the nighttime zoomies.
Providing new toys or even one of the new devices that makes your cat work to get a treat can help keep them occupied during the day. Try to keep your cat's environment engaging and stimulating.
Some pheromone products on the market, such as Feliway, can help calm wild kitties and reduce the likelihood of zoomies. These products come in sprays, diffusers, and collars that your cat can wear.
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Nighttime Solutions
The nighttime zoomies can be a real challenge. They're usually a result of a sudden burst of energy.
You might be losing sleep over the sound of racing paws and items falling off shelves, but rest assured that the zoomies are almost always normal. However, if the zoomies have begun suddenly or are accompanied by other unusual behavior changes, schedule an appointment with your vet.
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Zoomies can also be a cat's way of calming their anxiety, triggered by loud noises or visitors that give them anxiety. Some cats zoom after a bath or visiting a litter box that they've deemed too dirty.
To calm the nighttime zoomies, try providing new toys or one of the new devices that makes your cat work to get a treat. This can help channel their energy into something more productive.
Some pheromone products on the market can also help calm wild kitties. Feliway products, in particular, have been found to work great for cats.
They're Bored
If your adult cat frequently gets the zoomies, it could mean that they need some more interactive playtime with you. Cats are predators at heart, relying on hunting or play hunting to stimulate their mental instincts and desires.
Cats that get the zoomies late at night might be releasing pent-up energy that hasn't been spent throughout the day. You can try taking 15 minutes to play with your kitty when you get home from work or a few hours before bedtime.
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Try a few toys to see what type your cat likes best, such as a wand, teaser toy, or laser pointer. The goal is to find a toy that's fun for both you and your cat.
The Mouse Hunt Cat Toy is an interactive toy you can control from your phone while your cat does all the work, making it a great way to play with your cat after a long day.
Understanding Midnight Zoomies
Cats are naturally crepuscular, meaning they're active at dawn and dusk when their natural prey is active.
Cats aren't really nocturnal, despite what you might think. Their internal rhythm tells them it's time to get active and start hunting.
Their internal clocks can get a little wonky because kitties spend a lot of their day snoozing while their humans are at work.
The Science Behind Cat Zoomies
Cats can expend pent-up energy through play and exercise, which might be the cause of the zoomies.
Providing cats with food puzzles, a bird feeder to watch, or other enrichment activities can help calm them down before bedtime.
Increasing a cat's daytime activity can help them settle down in the evening.
Giving your cat a nice interactive play session with a feather wand or other "fishing pole" style toy in the early evening can help them calm down.
The combination of exercise and a meal usually helps cats settle down for the evening.
We might never know the one true cause of the zoomies, but at least we have some good ideas.
Discover Why Your Cat Has Midnight Zoomies
Cats are naturally crepuscular, meaning they're active at dawn and dusk, which is when their natural prey is active.
This internal rhythm tells them it's time to get active and start hunting, but it's not related to black magic, as some might think.
Since cats spend a lot of their day snoozing while their humans are at work, their internal clocks might be a little wonky.
They tend to be more active when we're more active, and since many cat guardians are gone all day, when they get home there's more going on in the house.
Cats have all that energy stored up from lounging all day, making it a good time to blow off some steam!
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Why Cats Run at Night
Cats are naturally crepuscular, meaning they're active at dawn and dusk when their natural prey is active, so their internal rhythm tells them it's time to get active and start hunting.
Their internal clocks can be a bit wonky because they spend a lot of their day snoozing while their humans are at work.
One reason cats run around at night is because they have a lot of energy stored up from lounging all day and need to blow off some steam when their humans get home.
Cats tend to be more active when their humans are more active, which is why they often get the zoomies when their humans come home from work.
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Increasing a cat's daytime activity can help calm them down before bedtime, so try providing them with food puzzles or a bird feeder to watch.
Giving your cat an interactive play session in the early evening with a feather wand or other toy can also help them settle down for the night.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does zoomies mean cats are happy?
Zoomies" in cats can be a sign of happiness, but excessive zooming may indicate under-stimulation and frustration. Understanding the underlying reasons behind your cat's zoomies can help you provide the right environment for their happiness and well-being.
When should I be concerned about my cats zoomies?
Be concerned if your cat's zoomies are unusual or persistent, deviating from their normal behavior. This could be a sign of underlying health issues
Should I ignore cat zoomies?
Yes, it's recommended to ignore cat zoomies, as they are a normal and harmless behavior. If you're concerned about your cat's zoomies, it's best to consult with a veterinarian for personalized advice.
Sources
- https://www.inverse.com/science/39459-why-does-my-cat-run-around-at-night-according-to-science
- https://www.fourpaws.com/pets-101/cat-corner/cat-zoomies-explained
- https://temeculavalleyanimalhospital.com/what-to-do-about-the-nighttime-zoomies/
- https://www.meowingtons.com/blogs/lolcats/why-cats-get-those-late-night-zoomies
- https://www.maupets.com/blogs/mau-cat-and-dog-blog/blog
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