What Are ‘Zoomies’?

Image courtesy of Osman Arabacı

You know those startling sounds you hear late at night? Like the garbage can tipping over, or the couch getting clawed into shreds, or—if you’re really unlucky—that glass you left on the counter shattering onto the floor?

It’s probably your cat, wreaking havoc on everything.

Like many cats, your fellow feline may become more active at seemingly random intervals, especially during those unsuspecting hours of the night. Seriously, what’s the deal?

Well, we’re sure you’re familiar with the culprit’s name: the “zoomies”. You’ve probably heard of it somewhere on the internet, or from another cat owner with plentiful of experience dealing with these so-called zoomies.

So… what are the zoomies, exactly?

For starters, it’s nothing to be concerned about! If anything, your cat’s abundant energy is a sign of a happy, healthy feline. Just like humans, cats accumulate energy throughout their day, and much of it becomes expendable. When they eat, for example; there’s a lot of expendable energy there, and it has to go somewhere!

The zoomies are how your cat releases this pent-up energy. They’ll pounce, sprint, jump, and meow—and this is where all that nighttime clattering comes from. In essence, your cat may utilize the zoomies to tire themself out for bed. Imagine trying to go to sleep when you’ve got a bunch of pent-up energy inside of you. It’s not easy!

Aside from the above, pouncing and sprinting is often how a cat plays. They may just want to show you their personality!

However, we totally get it: the nighttime zoomies can cause restlessness for both our cats and ourselves. If you’d prefer to eliminate the zoomies as much as possible during the night, try engaging in playtime with them during the day! This can ensure your cat uses up that energy before bedtime. That way, your cat will be ready for bed when you are.

Remember to play safe, and definitely don’t leave anything fragile in a precarious spot for your cat to knock over!

Written by Anna.