Does your cat suddenly turn into a little tornado, racing around the house like it’s on a mission at midnight while the rest of the family is blissfully sleeping? This scenario is familiar to many cat owners, especially those with younger cats!
Cats are naturally nocturnal or crepuscular animals, and their playful behavior often peaks just as you settle down for the night. But what triggers this late-night energy burst? Explore the fascinating reasons behind your feline’s midnight madness and learn how to manage those wild zoomies.
10 Reasons Why My Cat Runs Around at Night
Here are the primary reasons your cat sprints around the house at night!
1. Natural Instincts
Since cats are crepuscular, they are most active at dawn and dusk. This behavior aligns with the activity patterns of their prey, such as birds and rodents. These times are ideal for hunting in the wild, as most prey animals are also on the move. This activity pattern usually doesn’t align with a typical household schedule, with many owners leaving for work early in the morning, spending all day at work, returning home in the evening, and sleeping at night.
According to research, free-ranging domestic cats show activity patterns that correspond with the circadian, lunar, or seasonal cycle. Roaming cats reached the peak of their activity in spring and were most active in low-light conditions. Moreover, wandering cats tend to be more active around the new moon since it is the darkest time of the lunar cycle.
2. Pent-up Energy
Bored Pablo hides inside the planter box, ready to pounce on his owner. Melina Grin / Cats.com
Cats can accumulate a lot of energy during the day, especially if they spend most of their time indoors and don’t get enough stimulation. If you work long hours and your cat is bored and doesn’t have opportunities for play or exercise in the daytime, they may resort to burning off excess energy at night.
Cats experience what are known as Zoomies, scientifically referred to as frenetic random activity periods (FRAPs). During these episodes, cats may sprint laps around the house, jump up and down the stairs, or leap onto your bed. Our home resembles the “Cat Zoomies Olympics” as my three cats dash effortlessly from one room to another. These bursts of energy are typically short-lived; just as quickly as they begin, they subside, and all our cats return to their relaxed state.
3. Medical Problems
In some instances, increased nighttime activity may indicate underlying health problems. Infections, diseases, and pain can alter a cat’s sleep habits and activity patterns. Conditions such as arthritis, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, feline hyperesthesia syndrome, and neurological problems can lead to restlessness and heightened nighttime activity.
4. Attention-Seeking Behavior
Cats are social animals and may become more active at night to seek your attention, especially in a single-cat home. If you work long hours and don’t have the opportunity to interact with your cat during the weekdays, they may leap on your bed and gallop around at night to engage with you.
5. Age-Related
A cat’s age also impacts a cat’s nighttime antics. Kittens and junior cats have higher energy levels and are usually more active at nightfall. When cats age, their activity levels decrease, although some senior cats, like my cat Serafina, may still experience bursts of energy during the dead of night.
Cognitive dysfunction syndrome, an age-related deterioration in brain function similar to dementia in people, can also cause confusion, disorientation, and increased midnight activity in cats. It’s estimated to affect 28% of cats between 11 and 14 years old and more than 50% of cats over 15 years old.
6. Stress and Anxiety
Stress and anxiety can disrupt a cat’s sleep, often leading to nighttime restlessness and sudden bursts of activity following household changes. Melina Grin / Cats.com
Stress and anxiety can lead to increased agitation and sleep inhibition. Changes in the household, such as moving to a new home or altering daily routines, can disrupt your cat’s sleeping patterns, resulting in distress and galloping activities at nightfall.
7. Hunger
A hungry cat may roam and whizz around the house at night, searching for food because its stomach is empty. Feeding your cat an early meal in the evening might wake you up in the middle of the night due to cravings.
8. Environmental Factors
Alterations in your environment can contribute to your cat’s nocturnal activity. For instance, if some outdoor animals or cats are active at dusk, your feline may react to their presence by remaining more active and running around the house to catch them. A new pet can also cause your resident cat to stay vigilant throughout the night, manifesting in disturbed sleep and roaming around the house.
Moreover, the tranquillity of the night can help skittish or rescue cats feel more comfortable as they explore and play after dark. During the day, the noise and activity associated with new people and daily life can be intimidating for them.
9. Inquisitiveness
Cats are naturally curious. The silence of the night provides them with opportunities to explore their environment without disturbance. Your cat may investigate new areas, race around the house, play with toys and enjoy the twilight peace.
10. Breed-Specific Characteristics
Certain cat breeds are more prone to nighttime shenanigans than others. Breeds like Bengal, Siamese and Abyssinian are known for their high energy levels, which can extend into midnight crazies.
Managing Your Cat’s Nighttime Activity
Set up a simple agility course in the evening to engage your cat physically and mentally, helping to tire them out before bedtime. Melina Grin / Cats.com
It may not be possible to eliminate all your cat’s nighttime shenanigans. However, there are several strategies you can apply to manage or reduce the night antics:
Create an exploratory and stimulating indoor environment.
Design an engaging and dynamic internal environment to reduce monotony, enhance activity, and prevent behavioral issues. Enriched settings should provide ample opportunities for exploration, play, climbing, and problem-solving without the owner’s involvement. An ‘obstacle or agility course’ with boxes, ramps, chairs and passageways is an excellent way to tire your kitten. Toss kibble or treats for about ten minutes to tire them out before bedtime.
If your cat sleeps most of the day, offer scent enrichment with cat grass, silver vine, valerian and catnip-infused toys. Engage all their senses with treasure hunts and entertain with “Cat TV”. Ideally, your cat should have plenty of social interactions with people and animal companions during the day.
Enhance the frequency of interactive play sessions.
Engage your cat in an interactive play session during the morning and evening to help them burn off excess energy. If you notice that your cat still experiences the “nighttime zoomies,” consider increasing the frequency of play to three times a day by varying the types of enrichment activities. Avoid playing with your cat on your bed, especially if they tend to jump on it at night.
To keep your cat mentally and physically stimulated, use various toys, food puzzles, and hunting games for at least half an hour before bedtime. If you have multiple cats, play with each one individually and then together to help them expend their energy. Then, followed by a meal to keep the natural cycle of hunt-eat-groom-sleep.
Adjust the feeding schedule.
Most cats usually fall asleep after eating. Adjusting the food amount and feeding schedule to small, frequent meals can keep your cat active while you’re not home. Leaving food in a puzzle feeder or setting an automatic feeder can be helpful when you work long hours.
Altering the type of food and moving evening meals to later in the night can also help them fall asleep faster before bedtime. Set an auto-feeder for early morning if your feline companion wakes you early for breakfast. Avoid feeding your cat in the middle of the night since this will set a precedent and cause your cat to wake you up nightly.
Consider incorporating special enrichment activities for nighttime.
Set up enrichment at sunset for night owl cats by introducing engaging, independent play opportunities. Melina Grin / Cats.com
If your cat is a night owl, set up enrichment that only comes out at sunset. Bring out containers, tunnels, bags, toys, or anything your feline loves to explore independently. Put all the items and toys away in the morning or replace them with different activities for the daytime.
Keep an outdoor light on at night to attract insects and moths, and place a comfy bed near the window with a view of the light.
Moreover, place a bird feeder near a window where your cat enjoys watching outside to keep them entertained, stimulated, and out of mischief.
Introduce solutions for households with multiple cats prone to fighting overnight.
Provide plenty of separate resources and vertical space to prevent catfights and bites overnight. Ensure that all cats have appropriate outlets for their natural predatory behaviors. If you see a scuffle about to happen, interrupt it with a loud clap to distract the cats. Consider using a Feliway diffuser to help reduce competition for resources and promote calm interactions. If fighting is severe, you need to seek a veterinarian’s help.
Keep a calm environment for your cat if it’s disturbed by outside noise, lights, or vibrations.
At sundown, a cat disturbed by streetlights, car headlights, squirrels, birds or outdoor moggies should have the blinds closed to block the cat’s view and minimize distress.
Play classical music or consider music for cats at low volume to help obscure noise from garbage trucks and doors slamming if you reside in an apartment block to promote tranquillity. Play the music in one part of the house so your cat can relocate to a different area if they don’t like the sound.
Turn outdoor lights off at dusk and bring inside bird feeders to decrease attracting other animals to your home.
Successful solutions for a senior cat that roams and runs around at night.
For older cats that roam around the house yowling at night, ensure your cat’s essential resources, such as food, water, and litter box, are conveniently located near their sleeping area. To help your senior cat navigate around, add a night light in the areas where these resources are placed and along commonly used pathways.
Place steppers leading to higher spots so your cat can access favorite perches and resting areas. For comfort, consider adding heated cat beds near your cat’s usual resting spots.
Refrain from disciplining or punishing your cat at nighttime.
Avoid using any form of discipline or punishment, as this can make your cat frightened of you. Such actions may also lead your cat to express frustration through negative cat behaviors directed towards you or other pets in the household. Additionally, refrain from closing your cat out of the bedroom, segregating it in another room at night, or using deterrents. These practices can create unnecessary stress and result in further behavioral issues.
To Wrap Up
Understanding the reasons behind your cat’s nighttime activity can help you implement successful strategies to manage their behavior and ensure a peaceful night’s sleep for you and your feline companion. If your cat’s sleep problem is too much to handle and you have tried everything and are still sleep-deprived, consult a cat behaviorist.
