A cat acting out might run around the house or experience a nightly jolt of energy that is accompanied by a cacophony of meows. While a “crazy” cat can be entertaining to watch, the behavior can also turn destructive, increasing the risk of someone getting bitten and the cat accidentally knocking things over. The cat may simply be following its nocturnal or predatory instinct, in which case you can take measures to support it and reduce the risk of mayhem or physical harm, or the erratic behavior could also be an indication that something is seriously wrong with their health.
Why Do Cats Act Crazy?
All cats, regardless of breed, occasionally behave as though they are being pursued on a racetrack by running across a room and yowling furiously. They look everywhere as they dart about ever-faster before stopping abruptly in their tracks. When it occurs at night, this bizarre behavior is sometimes referred to as “midnight crazies.” Your cat might jump on your bed and paw at your feet, elbows, hair, or face to entice you to join in the fun, or it might engage in wild behavior to amuse itself. This bizarre and occasionally entertaining behavior has a variety of causes.
Predatory Instinct
Domestic cats still have some of their natural instincts as predators. Sometimes, a cat that appears to be acting irrationally may actually be engaging in hunting behavior, fighting techniques, or escape routes. Even though a house cat doesn’t have to go hunting for food, it still needs to release its pent-up energy, which may manifest as bizarre behavior. Cats are naturally prone to grabbing, chasing, and jumping, so toys like catnip mice, laser pointers, food puzzles, and feather wands encourage this behavior. Your cat needs this exercise more than ever if it doesn’t spend much time outside.
Nocturnal Instinct
The fact that some cats are nocturnal and become more active at night may be another explanation for your cat’s bizarre behavior. Cats who don’t get enough exercise during the day may exhibit particularly bizarre behavior. Many domestic cats stay inside by themselves during the day while their owners are at work. The cat may be very active and eager to play when its owner gets home in the evening. The cat might act erratically if it doesn’t have a way to release all of its energy. Particularly spirited are kittens.
Senility
If you have an older cat, it may be acting strangely as a result of senility or cognitive impairment. A pet’s brain may begin to function differently as it ages, leading to strange, seemingly random behavior. 1
Fleas
When a cat has fleas, it may occasionally act erratically and appear as if something is biting it irregularly. Your cat might be overly sensitive to flea bites or simply have an itch it can’t get to, especially when meowing is involved.
If you think your cat may have fleas, treat your entire household’s furry members with a prescription-only, flea-killing cat product. Additionally, you should visit your veterinarian to find out if your pet has any flea-related allergies or secondary skin infections that need to be treated. Additionally, you’ll need to treat the environment by vacuuming, doing laundry, and, if your vet advises it, using flea bombs or area sprays. Your cat should cease acting in this manner once the fleas are gone.
Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome (FHS)
Feline hyperesthesia syndrome (FHS) is a rare condition that most frequently affects mature cats and for which there is no known cure. 2 Consult your veterinarian about the possibility of FHS if you observe that:
- The skin on your cat’s back appears to be rippling while it’s running about.
- Your cat frequently bites at its back above its tail, even after you’ve properly treated it for fleas.
- Petting at the base of your cat’s tail or back triggers it to groom, scratch, or bite the area excessively and then run around the house crazily.
Next Steps
Sometimes it’s challenging to pinpoint exactly what made your cat suddenly act a little wild. Cats, in general, are tricky to understand! Many people are aware of basic canine vocalizations and behaviors, but they are unable to identify basic feline behaviors.
Dogs’ expressive faces and body language are fairly simple to decipher. In order to communicate their moods to others, they wag their tails, make various noises, and frequently obediently carry out simple instructions. On the other hand, cats are typically known for their aloofness and ambiguous emotional responses. But there’s a growing consensus that cats can express themselves just as well as dogs do. 3 The issue is that people frequently misinterpret or fail to recognize the messages that cats are trying to convey.
Learn to Read Your Cat
Meows and tail waves from cats can signify a variety of things depending on the circumstance. Your cat is actually attempting to communicate with you with every purr, yowl, or even blink. Finding out what it is saying is difficult. According to experts, there is something to be gained from these communication efforts. For instance, becoming adept at reading your cat’s body language can help you develop a closer bond with it and make it easier for you to respond to its needs.
Since each cat is unique, the best place to start is by simply watching your cat. Make a mental note of the circumstances and surroundings at the time the “crazy” behavior occurs. Pay attention to your cat’s most recent actions, body language, vocalizations, and the time of day. Was your cat just grooming, eating, or scratching its back? Your cat may have given a playful meow before rushing into the adjacent room. You’ll probably start to piece together the circumstances that set off your cat’s craziness with time and careful observation. This will make it easier for you to know what is typical for your cat and when any unusual behavior might be a sign of a health problem that needs to be looked into by your veterinarian.
