Dear Critter Corner: My cat gets the zoomies right before bed. She sprints around the house and even climbs up my bedroom door. What can I do to help her settle down?
It sounds like your kitty might have some pent-up energy that she needs to get out, and she ends up getting it out right before bed. Cats tend to be most active during dawn and dusk, and if your kitty is spending most of the day napping, then all of her energy is saved up for these times. Outdoor cats would be hunting during dusk and dawn, expending their energy and receiving plenty of physical and mental stimulation in the meantime.
Set up regular daily play schedules with your cat, preferably a few times a day: before you go to work, once you come home, and before bed. Even just 15-minute play sessions that really engage her can help reduce some of the pent-up energy. It helps to determine what types of play your cat really enjoys, whether chasing after small toys, jumping in the air, or zooming after a toy on a wand. As you’re playing with her, see if she’s tired and let her rest for a few minutes. Then try to engage her again, as she may have rested enough to regain her energy. You’ll know she’s truly tired when she lays on the floor and is no longer interested in the toy. This is also a good time to feed her breakfast and dinner, as it will help her complete her hunt, chase, eat cycle.
For some cats, providing them with enrichment throughout the day also helps. This can be done by hiding her favorite treats around the house, placing her kibble in puzzle toys, or even offering her food in an automatic feeder spaced around different times of day.
Incorporating regular playtime, particularly right before bed, will really help increase her exercise and mental stimulation, and reduce the pent-up energy you’re seeing. Also, provide her with appropriate cat trees or cat shelving to help her attain that height and vertical space she’s looking for when she climbs your bedroom door. If she has enough high perches spaced around the home near windows where she can look outside, she’ll most likely seek these out instead of your bedroom door.
Mary-Ann Fernandes is a Trainer for the Behavior and Training Department at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. For more information, please call 650-340-7022 or email behavior@phs-spca.org.