Why cats get the zoomies

Zoomies are short bursts of fast running, leaping and wild play, and they are normal in healthy cats, especially young ones. They usually come from stored energy, a hunting instinct and the cat's natural dawn and dusk rhythm. You can reduce them with daily play, regular feeding times and safe space to run. See a vet if the bursts are new in an older cat, frantic, painful or paired with other changes.

zoomies go by other names, such as the night crazies, the evening mad half hour and frenetic random activity periods. The cat may bolt from one room to another, skid on a smooth floor, scale furniture or race up a cat tree, then stop and groom as if nothing happened.

Why it happens

No one knows all the reasons, and several probably apply.

• Stored energy. Indoor cats can spend many hours asleep. A cat that has slept most of the day may need to release energy. Kittens and young adults have the most.
• Hunting rhythm. Cats are crepuscular, most active near dawn and dusk. Wild cats hunt in those low-light periods. Many house cats keep the pattern and have their busiest time in the early morning and evening. That explains many sudden bursts around the time you get home or go to bed.
• The hunting sequence. Hunting involves watching, stalking, chasing, pouncing and killing. A predatory sequence left unfinished can leave a cat keyed up. A burst of running may release the urge.
• After the litter box. Some cats race out of the box. The reasons are not settled. Some cats may feel relief, and some may react to the smell. If the cat seems upset, anxious or in pain, ask your vet.
• Play or excitement. A game, a noise, a bird outside or a toy can spark a burst.
• Feeling good. A cat that is well fed, warm and relaxed may show it in bursts of play.
• Habit. Cats repeat what works.

When it is normal

Zoomies are likely harmless if:

• The cat is young or in good health.
• Each burst lasts seconds to a few minutes.
• The cat plays, eats, grooms and sleeps normally afterward.
• The body language is loose and playful: ears forward, eyes bright, tail up or puffed.
• The bursts have a pattern and are not new.

A puffed tail does not always mean fear. In play, it can show excitement. Read it with the rest of the body. See the guide on reading a cat's body language.

How to manage it

You do not need to stop the behaviour. You can make it safer and quieter.

1. Play before the usual time. Hold two or three play sessions each day with a wand toy or a toy that mimics prey. Let the cat chase, stalk, pounce and "catch" the toy. Finish with a small meal or treat, which mimics the hunt-and-eat cycle. Many cats then settle and sleep.
2. Use a regular routine. Feed at set times. A meal late in the evening can make some cats sleepier at night.
3. Offer enrichment. Cat trees, window perches, puzzle feeders, scratching posts and rotating toys give the cat things to do between play sessions.
4. Clear the track. Remove breakable ornaments, hot drinks and wires from the cat's usual route. Put a rug or non-slip mat on smooth floors.
5. Give high places and room to run. A cat tree near a window gives an outlet.
6. Stay out of the way. Do not chase the cat. Do not hold it if it is racing.
7. Do not punish. The cat cannot help it and punishment causes fear.
8. Avoid hand play. If a zooming cat grabs your feet or hands, stop moving and offer a toy.
9. Manage nights. If the cat wakes you, give a play session and a meal before bed, and do not reward night-time noise with attention. Tired owners often feed a cat at 4 a.m., which teaches the cat to wake them. Ask your vet if night waking is new.

Kittens need more activity than adults. See the guide on the first week with a kitten for how to pace play.

Common mistakes

• Expecting a cat to be calm all day without play.
• Using hands and feet as toys.
• Letting the cat zoom near stairs, balconies or open windows.
• Scolding the cat.
• Mistaking a medical problem for zoomies. Frantic running with crying, biting at the tail base or hind end, or a cat that looks distressed should not be treated as play.
• Ignoring changes in an older cat. Sudden bursts of activity in a senior cat are not just zoomies.
• Feeding at night to stop the noise.

Signs that a vet should look

Zoomies are a behaviour, and some medical conditions look like them. Call your vet if you notice:

• Zoomies that start suddenly in a middle-aged or older cat, especially with weight loss, a big appetite, thirst or restlessness. An overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) is one possible cause.
• Loud yowling at night in an older cat. See night howling. It can have medical causes and may reflect confusion or pain.
• Running that looks frantic or panicked, with dilated pupils, drooling, vocalising or a cat that seems to be fleeing from something invisible.
• Rippling or twitching skin along the back, biting or licking at the tail or back, or frequent, sudden attacks on its own tail. Skin problems, fleas, pain and other issues can cause this.
• Zoomies every time the cat leaves the litter box, if the cat strains, cries, passes blood, has diarrhoea or seems uncomfortable.
• Breathing with an open mouth after a burst. Cats do not pant as dogs do. Open-mouth breathing in a cat is a reason to call a vet.
• Collapse, a limp, a stumble or a bump.
• Not eating for a day or more.
• Sudden aggression with the bursts.

Any urgent signs, such as trouble breathing, collapse or a male cat straining to urinate, call for an emergency clinic.

Summary

• Zoomies are short, normal bursts of energy, often at dawn and dusk.
• Daily play with a wand toy and a meal afterward usually helps.
• Clear the cat's track and give high places and space to run.
• Do not punish, chase or use hands as toys.
• See a vet for new zoomies in an older cat, frantic running, pain signs or open-mouth breathing.