How To Calm Down Your Hyper Cat (13 Simple Ways)
Many of us love our cats because they provide us with companionship and never fail to make us laugh with their silly antics.
But there are times when our feline friends can be a little too much to handle – like when they’re bouncing off the walls with endless energy.
If you find yourself in this situation, don’t fret!
There are ways to calm down a hyperactive cat.
Keep reading to learn more.
Why is my cat being extremely hyper?
First, it’s important to understand that cats are natural hunters. They’re hardwired to stalk, chase, and pounce on their prey.
Secondly, you might end up with a hyperactive kitty if she gets bored. If your cat doesn’t have enough mental stimulation or physical activity, she may become restless and destructive in the home.
Thirdly, it’s often a completely normal behavior – both in adult cats and kittens. Certainly in young cats, “especially those under the age of 6 months,” owners should expect their furry friends to have “a ton of energy,” says veterinary behaviorist Dr. Nicholas Dodman. “They tend to run around and crash.”
Kittens need to play wrestle and learn similar skills so they can be prepared for their adult lives, as well as find a release for all that pent-up energy.
What is “Zoomies?”
The term “zoomies” refers to a burst of energy in which cats will often run around, jump, and play vigorously. It’s also known as the feline frenzy or mad half hour.
You may also see their fur standing on end, dilated pupils, and jerky movements as a sign of their arousal.
People often say that cats are nocturnal animals, but in fact, they are crepuscular. This means they are at their most active at dawn and dusk when their prey is most likely to be active. Cat owners report that Zoomies often occur during these times.
In the wild, cats are natural predators and spend a lot of their time stalking and chasing prey. It’s a hardwired behavior and can’t be changed. Nature gave cats a strong innate drive to hunt to ensure they stay alive, even if there is plentiful food (International Cat Care, 2019).
When cats are kept indoors, they may not have the same opportunities to hunt, but that certainly won’t stop them from trying. Some cats will stalk anything that moves, from bugs to balls of string!
While this hunting behavior is natural and can be enjoyable for cats, it can also be problematic for their owners if it happens in the middle of the night! So if you have a cat who likes to hunt, you need to make sure she has an outlet for her instinctive behaviors.
Other reasons for hyper behavior in cats
Other reasons for hyperactive behavior can include boredom, lack of mental stimulation, fear, stress, anxiety, and medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism (more commonly found in older cats).
Cats with hyperthyroidism “have an overactive thyroid gland, which is the control mechanism for their energy levels. Subsequently, you’ll have a cat with bursts of energy,” says veterinarian Dr. Erin Wilson, adding that the condition “generally occurs in senior kitties.”
If your cat’s behavior seems excessive or out of character, it’s always best to consult with your veterinarian to rule out any health problems before going down the behavioral route.
Why is my cat stressed?
A calm environment is essential for a happy cat. This means having a designated safe space that is quiet and free of stressors such as other animals or young children.
In this space, place some of your cat’s favorite things like their food bowl, litter box, bed, and toys.
Things like unfamiliar visitors, loud noises, a new pet, visitors, moving furniture or decorating in the home, or moving to a new home can be stressful for cats.
Cats may react to stress by becoming more vocal, urinating outside the litter box, avoiding their usual spot in the house, hiding, displaying aggression, or going overboard with the Zoomies.
Those are some of the more obvious signs. Less obvious signs can include your cat going off their food or overeating, hiding away, engaging less with their owners, and generally being less active (Youens, 2021).
How do I calm my hyper cat?
Now we’ve looked at the main reasons why you might have a high energy cat, let’s move on to some solutions.
1) Provide your cat with plenty of enrichment
Cats need mental stimulation and physical activity to keep them happy and healthy.
Enrich their environment with a variety of toys, climbing structures, a scratching post (a variety is best, e.g. horizontal vs. vertical, cardboard vs. sisal – each cat will have their own preference), cat trees, and cat towers.
Rotate toys to keep them interesting for your cat.
2) Schedule regular playtime
Set aside time each day to play with your cat using interactive toys such as a wand toy or feathers on the end of a stick. You can move the toys in a way that mimics the movements of prey.
A play session like this can help satisfy kitty’s hunting instincts and release excess energy in a controlled, constructive way.
Observe which types of toys your cat prefers. Some cats prefer to chase things along the ground. Others prefer to jump and swat at something flying through the air. And some cats like to stalk something that’s moving underneath a rug or trying to hide in some way.
By catering to your cat’s individual preference, you are well on the way to making sure her instinctive needs are met.
Note that if you use a laser pointer, make sure you allow your cat to “catch” something so she can complete the predatory sequence in her brain. Otherwise she’ll just end up feeling frustrated.
You can do this by throwing down a toy furry mouse now and again for her to grab at when she pounces on that little red dot.
3) Keep up with her exercise
Make sure your feline friend is getting enough exercise, especially if she’s an indoor-only cat.
This can involve playing with her or providing opportunities for her to run and climb in the safety of your home.
4) Make sure she has a balance of rest and activity
While it’s important for cats to have regular playtime and exercise, they also need time to rest and relax.
Encourage quiet behavior by providing cozy spots for your kitty to snooze in and limit excessive stimulation before bedtime.
5) Consider environmental factors
Excess energy can sometimes stem from stress or anxiety in the cat’s environment.
Evaluate your cat’s surroundings and make necessary changes, such as providing hiding spots and vertical space, or removing potential triggers, like loud noises.
You could also provide perches by windows for bird watching. If you have a bird feeder outside, kitty will have a ringside view.
6) Provide options for mental stimulation
Food puzzles are a good way to provide mental stimulation and keep your cat engaged while also encouraging natural hunting behavior. Rotate food and puzzle toys regularly to keep them interesting for your cat.
It’s been found that animals in the wild, given the choice, often prefer to work for their food than have it handed to them on a plate that requires zero effort.
This is known as contrafreeloading and is something we, as pet parents, might be able to use to our advantage when setting up an enriched environment for our feline friends.
Having said that, researchers investigating the concept of contrafreeloading in cats only found evidence for “some willingness to work for food when freely available food is present (weak contrafreeloading)” but no real evidence “that cats preferred to work for food.”
So that’s a definite maybe then?
7) Feeding schedule
A nutrient-rich diet is important for overall health and can also help manage your cat’s energy levels. Talk to your veterinarian about the appropriate diet for your cat’s age, breed, and activity level.
International Cat Care (2019) recommends feeding your cat “small, frequent meals throughout the day and night to mimic a [her] natural feeding pattern.”
A cat’s stomach is about the size of a ping-pong ball (about the size of the average mouse) and an outdoor cat can hunt “20+ times a day and eat 7+ meals depending on what they catch,” says Dr. Beth Turner.
If your cat gets active in the middle of the night, a timed feeder may be a good option.
8) Feed before bedtime
I’ve had the best results when our cats eat an hour or two before bedtime. After a busy day out in the forest, they get some of their favorite wet cat food that smells and tastes great.
By then they’re already super tired. Once they’re done eating they get settled in for a nice long wash and a deep sleep all night long.
9) Routine
Cats love routine. Feeling out of control and not knowing what’s going to happen next is stressful for anyone, including our cats.
We can make this easy by creating a daily routine for them. So as much as possible, stick to the same playtime, mealtime, and bedtime schedule for your cat.
10) Consider another cat
If your cat is the only feline in the household, she may be craving some company.
Consider adopting a friend for her to play with and help keep each other entertained. Just make sure you introduce them slowly and properly to prevent any potential aggression or conflict.
Note, not all cats enjoy the company of other cats, but some cats can and do like sharing their lives with another feline (or two, or three…).
11) Outdoor opportunities
If you have the option to allow your cat to safely go outdoors, it can provide them with a stimulating and enriching environment that may help expend some of their excess energy.
Remember to always keep your cat indoors at night for safety and to adhere to any local regulations.
You can also consider a cat enclosure such as a catio, or take your cat for leash walks.
If none of those are good options for you and your cat, you can always bring the outside in.
Pick up interesting smelling leaves or branches and bring them in for your cat to investigate.
12) Use a feline pheromone diffuser or calming collar
There are various pheromone products on the market, such as calming sprays or diffusers or calming collars. These can help reduce stress and promote relaxation in cats.
Talk to your veterinarian about whether these may be helpful for your cat’s specific needs.
13) The sound of music
Another option is to try playing some calming cat music such as Through a Cat’s ear, or even some classical music.
Our cat Loulou, who had a ‘peeing outside the litter box‘ issue for a while, loved a bit of Swan Lake to help calm her down.
What scents are calming to cats?
Some scents are known to be calming for cats. Here are some options suggested by renowned cat and dog author Amy Shojai (with a few of my own added in for good measure).
Fresh air
Open the windows an inch or two (make sure kitty can’t escape first!) and let your cat get a whiff of the outside world. Airborne scents change all the time depending on what else is in the area at the time, as well as the weather.
If you have insect screens, you can open the window a little wider, but be aware that some cats may be able to scratch holes in them and eventually escape.
Fresh vegetation
As I mentioned in #11, bringing the outside world into your home can be a great source of enrichment for your cat. These might include logs for burning, pine cones, or leaves.
When we first adopted Jasmine and Kasper and kept them inside for a few weeks to acclimate to their new home, I filled a plastic storage box with pine branches, blades of long grass, and a selection of leaves for them to investigate.
Flowers
Be aware that many plants and flowers are toxic for cats, so choose your flowers wisely. Shojai suggests roses (minus the thorns), sunflowers, zinnias, snapdragons, gerbera daisies, oat grass, and dandelion.
Catnip and silvervine
Catnip is often a big hit with cats.
“Catnip, part of the mint family, affects many cats with a scent-induced kitty ‘high,’” explains Shojai. “Silvervine has a similar effect. And valerian can energize cats. Fresh work best, but even the dried form may inspire kitty love.”
I often use catnip to encourage my cats to scratch in a certain place (rather than the sofa) or to drum up interest in a fancy new toy they’re ignoring.
Herbs
Some cats may like sniffing herbs such as “dill, oregano, parsley, and rosemary,” says Shojai.
Again, make sure any herbs you use are safe for cats. You can sprinkle them on the ground (although this makes a bit of a mess!), a towel, or even the cat’s bed.
Essential oils and scented candles
“While popular for people, essential oils can be dangerous for cats as they metabolize them differently,” says Shojai, adding that “only a few are considered safe for cats.”
These include lavender, “which has natural sedative properties [and may help soothe an anxious cat.”
Shojai also references copaiba, helichrysum, and frankincense as being “considered safe for cats.”
Be aware that cats have a sensitive sense of smell. Scents that are pleasant to us may be overwhelming or downright unpleasant for our house cats. And there may be no escape for her if she’s enclosed in the home without access to fresh air.
Before using essential oils, incense sticks, or scented candles around your cats, it’s always best to check with your veterinarian to make sure kitty will be safe.
Plastic
Okay, maybe not the safest option, and cats will need to be closely supervised, but many cats love the smell of plastic.
Our cat Oakley is especially partial to the plastic covering on the punnets of strawberries and tomatoes we buy at the supermarket.
Does Feliway® really work?
Feliway® is a product designed to be sprayed or diffused in the home. In a nutshell, it’s a synthetic version of a cat’s natural pheromones.
Pheromones are secreted or excreted scent communications that trigger a social response in members of the same species (Wikipedia; Feliway®).
The theory is that synthetic pheromones can help a cat feel more secure in her environment.
Cat behavior expert Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado investigated the current research into the efficacy of Feliway® in an effort to answer the question, “Does Feliway® really work?”
She sums it up like this: “What I can conclude right now is that we’ve got a pheromone mess, and it would be great for someone to clean it up with some decent studies.
Perhaps there are characteristics of some cats that make them more likely to respond to Feliway than others. Maybe some methods of application or use are more effective than others. But right now, it’s really hard to tell.”
So there you have it!
In my own experience, when we used Feliway® spray in an effort to help reduce our cat Loulou’s anxiety, I didn’t notice any discernible difference. We did fix the problem though, so who’s to say?
Final thoughts
If you have a hyperactive kitten who is bouncing off the walls with endless energy, don’t fret! There are ways to calm them down as we’ve discussed here.
Zoomies are normal behavior for cats and can’t (and shouldn’t) be completely eliminated. But by following these tips, you can help keep your kitty’s energy levels in balance and make sure she stays happy and healthy.
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Resources
- 5 Ways to Calm Down a Crazy Cat – Christina Chan
- Another study shows that Feliway™ doesn’t work – Dr. Mikel Maria Delgado
- Does Feliway really work for cats? – Lizzie Youens
- Domestic cats (Felis catus) prefer freely available food over food that requires effort – Mikel M. Delgado, Brandon Sang Gyu Han & Melissa J. Bain
- How Much and How Often You Should Feed Your Cat – Dr. Beth Turner
- Pheromone – Wikipedia
- Smell of Success: Scent Enrichment for Cats – Amy Shojai
- Through a Cat’s Ear – iCalmPet
- Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List – Cats – ASPCA
- Understanding the hunting behaviour of pet cats: an introduction – International Cat Care
- What Are Cat Pheromones? – Feliway®
NEED HELP FROM A CAT BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST? If you need more help dealing with a training or behavior issue, please find professional help from a certified feline behavior consultant. They will be able to offer you tailored advice for your cat(s) and situation. Good places to start are: - International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants - COAPE Association of Pet Behaviourists and Trainers - American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior
