Why Is My Cat Running Around Like A Maniac
I’ve watched my cats run around like maniacs for years. I’ve also watched their behavior change over the years (we have a new kitten), and it seems to be directly related to their age. This is not to say that there aren’t medical causes, but they seem less common than simply acting like a cat!
Cats are naturally active hunters
Cats are natural predators and hunters. They’re genetically predisposed to be active, curious, enthusiastic, energetic and playful.
Cats are naturally curious because they are meat eaters and their survival depends on it. If a cat can’t get food out of curiosity or playfulness, then it will eventually starve to death.
Cats need to get their ya-yas out.
Cats are naturally active hunters. They need to be able to run and play, explore, hunt and chase. You may have noticed your cat running around madly like a maniac for no apparent reason. This is often referred to as “frenetic behavior” or even just “crazy.” Cats need to get their ya-yas out: When they are young kittens they were able to do all the things that cats do—they could climb trees, jump over things and run really fast so they can catch birds in their whiskers (that’s why some cats look like they’re smiling). As they got older they had fewer opportunities to satisfy these instincts so now when there’s nothing else going on in your home that satisfies them—they become quite frantic!
This is why it’s important not only for your own sanity but also for the happiness of your feline friend that you provide plenty of stimulation outside of the house so she can expend her extra energy before coming back inside where it’s safe for everyone involved…including you!
Timing is everything
The best time to play with your cat is when they are the most active. The best time to play with your cat is when they are least active. The best time to play with your cat is when they are sleeping. The best time to play with your cat is when they are eating. Just kidding, that’s not true! But you do want to choose a time of day which suits both yourself and your feline friend, so that neither party feels like they’re missing out on something better elsewhere (or at least looking forward to it).
While there can be medical causes, they’re less common than simply acting like a cat.
While there can be medical causes for a cat’s behavior change, they are less common than simply acting like a cat.
Seizures are the most common medical condition that could cause running around like a maniac, but they rarely do. In fact, seizures in cats are so rare that it’s not worth ruling out this possibility just by virtue of its rarity. Cats may have heart disease or liver disease, but these conditions are also extremely rare in otherwise healthy cats and can also be ruled out based on age alone (older cats tend to get heart problems). Cats can also have brain tumors or hyperthyroidism—but again these are unusual causes of hyperactivity in cats and you should think about other explanations before assuming that your vet will tell you what your cat has when she gets home from work!
There is no way to stop such frenzies.
With all of these running, jumping and scratching going on, what can you do?
It is not a good idea to try to stop the cat. It will only make things worse if you grab it or try to hold it down. This can result in injury for both you and your cat. The situation will ease once the excitement has passed.
There are some things you can do to mitigate the excitement.
First, make sure your cat has a safe place to run. Cats need room to move around, play with toys and chase their own tails (and possibly yours). They also need a place where they can hide from humans or other pets if they feel threatened.
Second, make sure your cat has a safe place to hide. Cats have small bodies that allow them to squeeze into tiny spaces very quickly—this is why even though we love them so much, we often find cats hiding in the weirdest places! You’ll want to provide these hiding spots so that when things get hectic around your house (like when you’re trying to clean), there’s still somewhere for kitty-cat to go until the storm has passed.
Thirdly, while it may seem counterintuitive at first glance because we’ve talked about how important exercise is for our furry friends earlier in this article, one way you can mitigate any excitement brought on by being let out of confinement is by letting them stretch their legs every once in a while throughout their day without going outside or engaging in other activities like playing with toys or eating food–these things just won’t be enough for some cats who are already running amok inside due simply because they’ve been cooped up all day long!
The key to surviving these events is preparation and patience!
The key to surviving these events is preparation and patience!
- Prepare your cat’s favorite toys
- Prepare your cat’s favorite treats
- Make sure your cat has plenty of water
- Make sure your cat has a safe place to hide (a box or under the bed works well)
- Have a camera ready, so that you can capture the hilarity of this situation for posterity. There will be many hilarious moments here. We promise. But also make sure you have a comfortable place to sit, because you’ll be doing it for quite some time.
From what we can tell, the best way to handle this situation is to prepare yourself for it and try not to panic. This is normal behavior for cats, and it’s something that every cat owner has had to deal with at some point in time. The good news is that there are ways you can reduce the frequency of these episodes by taking care of your cat’s physical and mental health!
