Cats can be rather peculiar creatures. These elegant and graceful—yet sometimes extremely awkward and hilarious—beings are beloved parts of many people’s homes. As anyone who’s owned a cat can attest, cats are independent creatures, and their behavior is often unpredictable and sometimes downright mystifying
Fortunately, there are some common and strange cat habits that animal behaviorists and veterinarians do understand. Here, learn the secrets to 20 common cat behaviors
According to the Oakland Veterinary Referral Services , zoomies are more formally known as frenetic random activity periods (FRAPs), and both cats and dogs can experience them. These periods are completely normal, and they can have a number of causes. The most common catalyst for the zoomies, of course, is pent-up energy; some cats just need to burn off some steam, just like some people need to go for runs or dance it out on occasion
Zoomies can also be caused by boredom, hunger, or latent hunting instincts that surge and cause cats to chase after imaginary prey. They often occur at dawn or in the evening because cats are crepuscular creatures, meaning they are most active at twilight but typically sleep intermittently throughout the day. They can also occur after a cat uses their litter box due to a sense of relief after going to the bathroom, which might result from vagus nerve stimulation after a poop