You’ll have no doubt seen the thousands of cute cat videos online of cats zooming around in circles or zooming around the house.
But, why do cats get the zoomies? And, are the zoomies a warning sign of a deeper issue?
There are several reasons why your cat may suddenly get the zoomies and fly around like a possessed soul. We take a look at the most common reasons below.
What Are Zoomies?
Unless you avoid all things cute and pet related, you will probably have a fair idea about what the zoomies actually are.
Zoomies are when your cat, though it’s not exclusive to cats, seemingly randomly charges around either in circles or the whole room or even bounces between rooms.
Zoomies are fast. Zoomies are fun. Zoomies can be dangerous.
Think, roadrunner charging away from the coyote. That’s the same energy your cat has when it decides to dive into a zoomies session.
Cats are even known to climb up walls in particularly energetic sessions.
Now, zoomies upon occasion are perfectly fine and normal. Cats do this all the time for a number of reasons.
But, they can also be a sign that something is not 100% right with your cat.
It can be a strong indicator of excessive boredom and under-stimulation. It can also be a sign that your cat might be in pain.
Why Do Cats Get The Zoomies?
Stretch Their Legs
Have you ever woken up from a nap and felt on top of the world? Like you could go for a run, for instance.
Well, sometimes, it can be as simple as your cat needs to stretch out after a long sleep. They can feel refreshed and revitalized by a nice snooze.
This can give them a bit bout of energy that they just don’t know what to do with. Enter, the zoomies.
If your cat ever charges around like a giddy child who has eaten too much sugar, they are just letting off some steam and feeling good after a successful nap.
Boredom
Similarly, if your cat is stuck for something to do, they may fly about to kick off some of their funk.
Boredom is a big factor in the zoomies. As, zoomies are essentially a game most of the time, your cat is playing to entertain themselves.
If boredom is the cause, you can always join in and make it an even more fun game. You could throw in a toy or pretend to run around with your cat.
They may completely shut you down, but they also may appreciate the companionship.
If your cat is doing this several times a day, every day, all week, then you may have a cat that needs more in its life.
Cat’s don’t need much, but the more intelligent breeds do require certain stimulation to avoid them becoming over bored and depressed.
A bored cat can lead to an anxious and depressed cat rather quickly.
Bathroom Requirements
Zoomies can sometimes be a sign that not all is well with your cat.
The biggest factor is if your cat is having bathroom problems.
They may have an upset stomach or a Urinary Tract Infection that is causing them discomfort and an increased need to go to their litter tray, or outside.
One way that cats sometimes deal with this pain and discomfort is by zooming around to try to distract themselves, or as a distress response.
It can also happen after they have had a bowel movement.
Night Time Zoomies
Unfortunately, cats like to be awake at night.
It is their natural instinct to hunt at night, play at night, and feed at night. This can sometimes also mean nighttime zoomies sessions.
Which, can be disturbing to you and anyone else in proximity.
There is not a whole lot you can do about a cat being awake in the hours that you’d like to sleep. That’s just in their nature.
Strictly indoor cats may grow out of this habit after a while, but if your cat lives between your house and the outside world, there’s a good chance that they will always be a night creature.
Zoomies And Medical Issues
Zoomies tend to be a younger cat’s habit.
If your older cat suddenly starts zooming around, especially out of the blue, then it’s an indicator that something is wrong.
The first thing to rule out would be hyperthyroidism.
Hyperthyroidism can make your cat lose weight despite them eating more, and cause big bouts of energetic zooming around.
It is a condition that requires medication.
Secondly, zoomies can be caused by fleas. Fleas are really uncomfortable for your cat, and it can cause them to act out in crazy ways.
One of those ways is zoomies. They zoom around to try to alleviate their whole body discomfort.
Thirdly, a cat with allergies or one suffering from an allergic reaction may be forced to zoom around out of discomfort also.
Allergies, especially skin allergies, can cause itching, rashes, and an overwhelming sense of being uncomfortable.
And lastly, if your cat is doing zoomies they may have been scared by something.
Though being scared is not a medical issue, it can be a sign in older cats that their hearing or their eyesight is beginning to decay.
If they are losing a grip of their senses, naturally they will become more disorientated with their surroundings.
This can lead to them jumping and setting off a zoomies session on pure adrenaline response.
Are Zoomies Dangerous?
No. In general, zoomies are not dangerous. Unless they are because of the medical reasons above, zoomies are a perfectly natural and normal thing for a cat to do.
There is only the risk of the cat crashing into something in the house and becoming injured that needs to be thought of.
There is also a risk that your cat may break things in your house!
So, if you notice that your cat is on a zoomies agenda, move anything out of their way that may break them or become broken.
Conclusion
So there you have it. Now you know everything there is to know about cats and zoomies.
Zoomies might just be a fun way for your cat to blow off some steam. They might be trying to lure you into a game to kick their boredom to the curb.
But, there can also be some medical problems that are a direct cause of zoomies too.
If you notice any strange behavioral changes in your cat, it’s always worth going to a vet to rule anything sinister out.
I’m Courtney Trent and I hope that I can answer some burning questions that you have about cats, as well as some questions that you’d never have thought to ask before.
I am aiming to shed new light on these amazing pets and hopefully change some people’s opinions on them. Also, let’s talk about wild cats - they’re just as awesome as domestic cats!
So, stay a while and learn more about domestic and wild cats from Windhaven Ocicats.
