What does it mean when a cat runs around like crazy?
Have you ever had this experience?
You’re not doing anything, and your cat suddenly starts running like crazy.
Not the kind where they trot to dinner, but the kind where they jump for joy…
It’s not like I was frightened and panicked…
Instead, he was full of energy, his eyes were shining, and he suddenly ran around the room:
The master who usually would never stand if he could sit, and would never sit if he could lie down, seemed to have suddenly burst into a huge energy and began to run around the house like crazy:
Jump up and down around the house, even playing tricks on other family members:
Faced with cats suddenly “going crazy”, many cat owners are confused
Both domestic and foreign netizens are very curious about the mysterious behavior of cats.
There’s actually a term for cats’ frenetic running behavior in English-speaking countries: frenetic random activity periods, or FRAPs. This refers to short bursts of frantic activity.
Other less common names include: zoomies, scrumbling, and midnight crazies.
In German, the Germans call it “Wilden fünf Minuten” (Wild Five Minutes).
In Russian, the Russians call this phenomenon that happens to cats “тыгыдык”:
The general meaning of “тыгыдык” is “galloping horse”.
So why do cats suddenly run like crazy?
Behaviorists speculate:
Cats are releasing energy.
This phenomenon was first noticed in dogs.
Applied animal behavior expert Jill Goldman believes that dogs exhibit this behavior because they need to release accumulated energy.
Cats’ running behavior has a similar reason: sleeping 16 hours a day and eating freely more than ten times a day are all ways of accumulating energy. After accumulating so much energy, they need an opportunity to release it.
So why do cats suddenly run like crazy?
Behaviorists speculate:
Cats are releasing energy.
This phenomenon was first noticed in dogs.
Applied animal behavior expert Jill Goldman believes that dogs exhibit this behavior because they need to release accumulated energy.
Cats’ running behavior has a similar reason: sleeping 16 hours a day and eating freely more than ten times a day are all ways of accumulating energy. After accumulating so much energy, they need an opportunity to release it.
Is intervention or concern necessary?
It’s normal for cats to run around for about five minutes each day. During these times, owners should stay put, put away sharp objects, and make room for their cats’ daily exercise.
In multi-cat households, sometimes one cat’s frenzied exercise can draw the rest of the family into it. As long as no serious conflict breaks out, these are minor issues. Owners can simply watch with a smile and their phone raised.
Things to watch out for
Some behaviorists suggest that frequent running (meaning more than twice a day) may indicate stress in cats. If this is accompanied by excessive grooming, prolonged lethargy, or a loss of appetite, this is cause for concern.
If your cat frequently runs after defecation, you should also check for any abnormalities in their bowel movements or any signs of pain during defecation.
