Does your cat suddenly start running and jumping all over the house, seeming to be chasing invisible prey? it even sometimes savagely attacks your hands or feet, as if it was possessed by the devil himself? We call this phenomenon the quarter of an hour of madness, or zoomies, and it is rather common among our feline friends. Explanations.
A way to release energy
Cats are most often victims of a crazy stroke when the sun goes down or rises. Indeed, especially at the end of the day, it is the moment when all the energy that they have accumulated during the day asks to be released. They then become uncontrollable: they run in all directions, jump from piece of furniture to piece of furniture, climb the curtains, stop and then leave again in a more beautiful way ... Then, suddenly, they become "normal" again, as if nothing had happened.
Thus, it is more particularly young cats, cats living in apartments and those who are often alone who adopt this strange behavior. That is, those who are subjected to a lack of activity!
Related: How to feed a cat that no longer eats?
Indeed, cats are predators who have always had the habit of hunting for food. And this activity required a lot of energy from them. Now, the life of our feline friends is often limited to eating without having to make any effort and sleeping.
How to react?
If your cat often has crazy quarters of an hour, it means that it needs to be stimulated more on a daily basis. Whether physically or intellectually. Thus, you will have to increase the playing time that you devote to it every day. This in order to allow him to let off enough steam.
Likewise, think about arranging your interior in order to allow your cat to take care of itself during your absence. For example, install high shelves, invest in a scratching post and a cat tree, hang toys hanging from door handles, etc.
But above all, don't scold your cat, even if it starts wildly scratching your curtains or knocking over objects in its path! Indeed, it obeys only its instinct and would not understand why it would be reprimanded. Especially since, if we think about it well, it's a little your fault if it acts like this…
What if this is a real problem?
If your cat suddenly starts going all crazy when it has never done it before, it may be because it is under intense stress. The fact of running like a deranged person for a few minutes is therefore its way of evacuating all the anxiety that gnaws at him. This can be triggered in particular during a move, the arrival of a new animal in the home or a change of routine.
In this case, don't panic, just make sure to give it a little more attention than usual in order to secure it. Once it accepts its new environment, everything should return to normal.
Related: A Guide to Helping Your Kitten Sleep Peacefully at Night
However, if this behavior does not stop, you may need to consider a medical problem. Indeed, certain ailments can cause crazy strokes in cats. This is particularly the case of hyperthyroidism, allergies and skin diseases, flea infestations and even blindness and deafness.