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Why your cat gets the zoomies

26.3.2025

Translation: Veronica Bielawski

Much of what cats do is shrouded in myth. In the series «Why does my cat do that?» I decode some of our feline friends’ mysterious behaviours. This time, I’m shining the spotlight on zoomies.

If you have a cat, you’ll know the following scene all too well: seemingly out of the blue, your cat will race through your living room chasing invisible ghosts, scramble up your furniture and walls, jump back down, and then do it all again. These five minutes of boundless energy, also known as zoomies, affect almost all cats. For anyone watching, it’s five minutes of entertainment that ranges from funny to almost grotesque.

But what’s behind these sudden bursts of energy? Are they a sign of something good or bad?

What are zoomies?

In short, zoomies are pent-up energy (linked page in German). Out in the wild, felines save it until the moment is right to hunt prey. Our domesticated four-legged friends, especially indoor cats, hunt less often. But the surplus of energy has to go somewhere. If it doesn’t get released while playing and romping around, zoomies come into play.

The thing about the litter box

The trigger for zoomies isn’t necessarily boredom. Some cats take excessive pleasure in a toy or an infatuating scent – or the opposite of it, having just relieved themselves. It’s not uncommon for cats to zoom about after pooping. This may be due to the flight instinct, a feeling of relief, nerve irritation in the anus, illness or a dirty litter box (linked page in German). The smell of poop is particularly concentrated in closed litter boxes, and this makes some cats go crazy.

Zoomies after going to the toilet are a well-known phenomenon in cats.
Source: mashanmn/Shutterstock

These cats really zoom about

Kittens are the most prone to frequent bouts of the zoomies. It’s how they train their motor skills, most commonly at dusk, which is when they’d instinctively set off to hunt. In older cats, hyperactivity can sometimes have a serious underlying cause. Cats with hyperthyroidism, for example, sleep little, have a voracious appetite – and an excessive zoomie frequency.

How many zoomies is too many?

But how many zoomies are too many zoomies? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. On Reddit, most cat owners mention one to two bouts of zoomies each day for adult animals, and three to five for kittens. All this to say, occasional bursts of energy are no cause for concern. However, if they increase in frequency and intensity, and your cat seems really stressed or frightened afterwards, it might be a good idea to take them to the vet.

While it’s perfectly normal for cats to get the zoomies in most cases, they can drive owners crazy. Want to curb the insanity? Then take charge and makes sure your fur baby gets plenty of exercise. It may sound counter-intuitive, but the more you have your cat chase around a piece of string, for example, the less overexcited it’ll get.

I had my cats Jasper and Joy test some of the toys from our range:

Guide
Cats test toys: reviewing the butterfly, spinning top and ball track
by Darina Schweizer

Zoomies

How many times does your cat get the zoomies in a day?

0
12%
1-2
73%
3-5
12%
More than 5
3%

The competition has ended.

Header image: Casey Elise Christopher/Shutterstock

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Darina Schweizer

Senior Editor

Darina.Schweizer@digitecgalaxus.ch

I love anything with four legs or roots - especially my shelter cats Jasper and Joy and my collection of succulents. My favourite things to do are stalking around with police dogs and cat coiffeurs on reportages or letting sensitive stories flourish in garden brockis and Japanese gardens.

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