Cats crazy time

Many cat owners will probably recognize the following: one moment everything is still calm and the next moment your cat is suddenly racing through the room, jumping on all kinds of furniture or suddenly hanging in the curtains. We often laugh about it, but of course we want to prevent the cat from unintentionally knocking over things in the house or hurting himself. Where does this crazy behavior come from and what can you do about it? In this blog, we take a closer look at what different causes there may be for your cat's crazy 5 minutes.

What does "the crazy 5 minutes" in a cat mean?

Regardless of the breed or age of the cat (although it is of course logical that it occurs more often in younger cats than older cats); every cat has a crazy moment from time to time. The "crazy 5 minutes" (also called "zoomies" in English) refers to the moment of the day when the cat runs around the house out of nowhere. It may appear as if the cat is being chased by something or is actually trying to chase something itself. The cat may also jump on or over the furniture. Often this crazy behavior lasts only a few minutes and stops as suddenly as it originated. So it may well be that afterwards your furry four-legged friend is snoozing delightfully again and acting as if nothing happened.

Cats are hunters by nature and, by instinct, hunt mainly during dusk. So chances are that the cat's crazy 5 minutes fall in the morning or in the evening, but it can also occur at any other time of the day. The reasons for this wild and crazy behavior vary. We discuss the various causes in more detail below.

Pent-up energy

The most logical explanation is that the crazy 5 minutes is a result of the cat's excess energy. Most (domestic) cats spend most of the day sleeping and indoors. Still, they have energy that needs to be burned, just like any other animal. In the house they can release part of their energy, but once in a while this energy really needs to get out. Running around could be a way to get rid of this pent-up energy; a literal release. The crazy 5 minutes in a cat we see therefore mainly in cats that are not or little outside.

On the hunt for prey

Cats are predators by nature. Domestic cats have retained this instinct to some extent, even though our pets no longer need to hunt to get their food. Therefore, sometimes a cat acting crazy will actually exhibit hunting behavior, chasing their imaginary prey. In this way, they can still satisfy their hunting instinct.

Fleas

Anyone who has ever had a flea bite knows what it feels like. A flea bite causes a sharp, short burst of pain and is an unpleasant sensation. So you can well imagine that flea bites can become very unpleasant very quickly. So a cat that is bitten by a flea can also feel comfortable about it. Especially crazy behavior that is in combination with meowing and scratching can mean that the cat is hypersensitive to flea bites or is itching in a place it cannot reach.

If you suspect your cat has fleas, it is important to treat the cat with a good flea control product that is safe for cats. In addition to treating the cat, it is also necessary to treat any other pets and thoroughly clean the entire environment where the animals live. Especially the pets' bedding areas should be cleaned regularly.

Once the fleas are treated, the cat should stop this behavior.

Age

As a cat ages, the brain starts to function differently. Changes can occur in the brain that affect the cat's memory, learning ability and behavior. This is also known as dementia or senility. Symptoms may include disorientation and personality changes (for example, the cat may suddenly be much more anxious). Old age in a cat can cause it to exhibit strange behavior for no apparent reason.

After a litter box visit

It is common for cats to have the mad 5 minutes after going to the litter box. This happens mainly after they have pooped (relief! 😉 ). If the cat is healthy, has no abnormal stools and the litter box is otherwise fine, this may be considered normal cat behavior. Do you suspect the cat is in pain or experiencing stress on the litter box? If so, contact your veterinarian.

Get to know your cat's body language

Cats are generally playful animals. So it's also perfectly normal cat behavior if your cat bounces happily around the house every now and then. But when your cat flies through the house more and more often in a day, it might be wise to ask yourself if something else isn't going on. For example, is your cat alone a lot? If so, it may be that he is bored during the day and doesn't have enough of a challenge. In that case, make sure you give your cat enough attention and also make sure he has enough distractions during the times he is home alone.

It is important to get to know your cat's body language well. In time, this will make it easier to tell if the crazy 5 minutes are due to playfulness and excess energy, or if there may be something else going on with the cat after all. In fact, when the cat suddenly tightens up, jumps or runs away, it can also be a sign of discomfort, pain and stress. There is also Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome (FHS), which is an umbrella term for sudden wild behavior in the cat. This is triggered by an underlying health problem. Symptoms of FHS can include epilepsy and back problems, but the animal also often shows unexpected and involuntary skin twitches and muscle spasms. Fortunately, this condition is not very common.

Do you notice a change in your cat's behavior? If so, always contact your veterinarian.

Lots of cats already enjoy Riverwood every day. Would you like your cat to enjoy our delicious kibble and are you curious which variety would suit your cat best? Answer a few questions here and order an inexpensive trial pack.