How to calm down a cat who’s in a hyper mood

Nicky Trevorrow - Article expert
Nicky Trevorrow
Behaviour Manager
Cats Protection
Does your cat ever get a case of the crazies after a long day of doing nothing? Check out our advice below, which will explain what’s at the root of these wild antics and what you can do to help calm your cat when they’re feeling hyper

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Does your cat ever get a case of the crazies after a long day of doing nothing? Check out our advice below, which will explain what’s at the root of these wild antics and what you can do to help calm your cat when they’re feeling hyper.

As a cat owner, you’re probably already familiar with your cat’s calm and crazy moods. One behaviour you’ll likely know well can have many names, including the zoomies, hyperactivity, crazy time or the mad half-hour. But its official name is frenetic random activity period or FRAP.

FRAP is when your cat has a sudden burst of intense energy, which manifests as running around, playing, jumping, yowling, pouncing on things or attacking toys. But, due to its intensity, this behaviour usually only lasts for up to 30 minutes.

In the wild, cats need plenty of energy to hunt their prey and keep vigilant to stay safe. As predators, cats need that quick boost of energy to catch their prey, kill it and digest it.

But, of course, your domesticated cat doesn’t need to do any of that. They’re safe and warm in your home, and their food is given to them regularly. Our cats sleep a lot – up to 16 hours per day – and many cats are ‘house cats’, who never go outside. So, they don’t always have many opportunities to use up the excess energy.

That said, when you see your cat sprinting around the house and climbing the curtains, it’s usually because they’ve got extra energy to use up.

Keeping your cat mentally and physically stimulated can help to satisfy their instinctive need to be zoomie.

One way to help calm a cat down is to actively play with them. Use a fishing rod or something for them to catch and ensure they always have access to toys and a scratching post. Your aim is to help them burn off their excess energy, so ideally you want to play with them until you notice them getting tired. Do make sure to let them catch their ‘prey’ regularly during play sessions to release endorphins – those feel-good hormones.

After a good playtime hunt, your cat’s endorphin levels will increase, leaving your cat calm, happy and content. They’re far more likely to curl up for a nap and dream of bigger things.

Most of the time, the zoomies are funny and endearing. However, if your cat’s crazy time happens in the middle of the night or if they bite or scratch when they’re wired, it can feel disruptive.

If your cat usually likes to zoom around while you’re asleep – or while you’re trying to take part in an online work meeting – you may need to be proactive about playing with and calming your cat earlier in the day. This will allow them to burn off some energy before they exhibit loud behaviour.

Likewise, if your cat’s behaviour is consistently aggressive or destructive, it might be a sign of a problem. This is especially true if your cat is a few years old and if they don’t calm down after playtime. It might be time to change their food or environment (for example, letting your indoor cat outside), but start by speaking to your vet to rule out possible medical causes.

As cats age, they experience the zoomies much less frequently, as they slow down and their general energy levels decrease.

Last updated: November 14, 2023
Nicky Trevorrow - Behaviour Manager
Behaviour Manager

Nicky leads the development and implementation of behaviour-focused initiatives at Cats Protection, ensuring that policies and strategies support the highest standards of cat welfare across the charity’s volunteer teams and centres.

She is passionate about educating others on the connection between behaviour and cat wellbeing, particularly in a shelter environment. Nicky also provides guidance to adopters, helping them understand their cat’s behaviour and fostering successful pet-owner relationships to reduce cats being returned to the charity.

Her academic background includes a BSc in Animal Behaviour from Anglia Ruskin University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling from the University of Southampton. Before joining Cats Protection in 2010, she worked as a registered veterinary nurse. Nicky is actively involved in the field, representing the charity on the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC), contributing to International Cat Care’s feline wellbeing panel, and holding full membership with the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (APBC).

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