Most pet owners will have, at some point, experienced zoomies. We’ve all been there; settling down for a nice cup of tea, watching TV, maybe reading, you’ve got your feet up, your beloved pet calmly by your side – all is right with the world, and you are at peace.
Until suddenly all hell breaks loose, and your little furry friend – seemingly out of nowhere – sprints off into the distance and the next few minutes are a blur of miaows, barks and crashes. They’re jumping and spinning, running up the stairs before immediately running down again until it just…stops, as quickly as it started, leaving you wondering what just happened. Have they been possessed? Is your house haunted?
It’s all very exhausting, for everyone involved, and even a bit worrying for new pet owners, so what actually are the zoomies? And are they something we should be worried about? We deal with pets every day here at The Insurance Emporium, so we thought we’d take a look at this mysterious, hilarious (and often frustrating) phenomenon.
WHAT ARE ZOOMIES?
Zoomies aren’t just your pet deliberately annoying you, there is actual science behind it. The technical term is Frenetic Random Activity Periods, or FRAPS for short, and typically these are short, intense periods of energy and excitement. They can last from a few seconds to a few minutes and are mostly associated with younger animals. Despite how it might seem, it is perfectly normal behaviour.
WHY DO CATS AND DOGS GET ZOOMIES?
- To release excess energy – pets might suddenly get a burst of energy after being inactive for a while; for example, a dog who’s been inside all day, or a cat after one of its (many) naps.
- To relieve stress – animals might have zoomies to shake off tension – after a visit to the groomers, for example, or after a bath.
- Sheer joy – zoomies are often how animals express their emotions.
- Development – zoomies are more common in younger animals, it’s part of the developmental process and can be a way for them to explore their physical abilities and coordination.
HOW DO DOG ZOOMIES COMPARE TO CAT ZOOMIES?
Dogs tend to get zoomies in open spaces, often in the evenings, when they can channel their inner greyhound and get some speed up. In comparison, cats tend to do it indoors, so they can leap across furniture and tear up and down the stairs. It often happens around the time they’d be off hunting and being more active generally, so at dawn and dusk.
WHAT ABOUT HORSES?
Horse can get zoomies too! As with dogs and cats, it often happens when they’re excited, or after being confined for a while and it’s a way to release pent up energy. It’s known as ‘rebound behaviour’ and can include running, bucking and kicking. It helps them stretch their muscles after being confined and is perfectly normal. And while you don’t have to worry about your horse tearing around your house (we hope!) it is important to give them space to let off steam, so keep your distance and make sure their surroundings are safe and secure. You can help reduce this by making sure your horse gets plenty of exercise.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY DOG OR CAT GETS ZOOMIES?
- Help your pet burn up some energy through the day with plenty of exercise, walks, playtime and toys, and try to avoid situations where they might become over excited or have lots of pent-up energy.
- Make sure there’s nothing in the vicinity that can harm them, so clear sharp objects and breakable items from their path so they can safely zoom about without hurting themselves, or your precious ornaments! Make sure they’re not on slippery surfaces or, if they’re outside, not near traffic. Monitor them and know when to intervene.
- If your pet’s zoomies seem excessive or coincide with other changes in behaviour such as aggression, weight changes, restlessness, pacing, increased licking/chewing, or anything else that seems out of character for your pet, talk to your vet.
Zoomies can be a really fun part of owning a pet; it can be really entertaining to see them expressing sheer joy and excitement for seemingly no reason at all, after all, we all want our animals to feel happy and safe.
While we can’t predict the future, we can put things into place so that if the unexpected were to happen, we know we’re making decisions based on what’s best for our animals and this is where pet insurance – or, in the case of our larger four-legged friends – horse insurance, comes in. It gives you peace of mind and our choice of policies and optional benefits means you can tailor your policy to suit you, your pet and your budget. Visit our website today, or call us for a free, no-strings quote today.
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