One moment, your cat is quietly sitting there, looking calm and well-behaved,and the next moment, it’s like they’ve been switched on with a motor—suddenly zooming crazily around the house. Does your cat ever do this sometimes?This naturally makes us wonder: why do cats suddenly sprint wildly indoors?Could it be that they’ve gone crazy?In fact, when cats suddenly bolt around like this, they’re not crazy at all—it’s usually due to several real reasons.
1. Instinct
The ancestors of domestic cats—the African wildcats—are fierce survivors that have struggled and thrived in the wild.On the African savannah and desert edges, these wildcats must constantly hunt for survival, chasing rodents, birds, and other prey. This requires powerful hunting skills.Even after thousands of years of domestication, and despite domestic cats no longer needing to hunt for food, their hunting genes remain embedded in their bodies.Research shows that a cat’s hunting behavior consists of four stages: locating, stalking, chasing, and pouncing.When your house cat suddenly starts racing around wildly indoors, it might be mistaking a piece of furniture for prey. The wild running is actually part of the chase and pounce sequence.Animal behaviorists have conducted experiments playing videos of mice moving for house cats. The results showed that over 80% of cats reacted excitedly, displaying chasing and pouncing behaviors—some even scoured the house looking for mice.This clearly proves that even domestic cats retain their hunting instincts.
2. Celebration
Cats spend a huge portion of their day sleeping to conserve energy.When awake, cats release this stored energy. Studies show that an adult cat needs at least 20 to 30 minutes of active exercise daily to burn off energy.If this exercise isn’t met, the leftover energy may be released through sudden bursts of crazed running.Just like humans feel the urge to move after sitting still for too long, cats need physical activity to maintain their body functions.If your home is small and lacks toys, your cat is even more prone to these “crazy sprints.”
3. Release
Cats have emotions too—and they’re quite sensitive.Any slight changes or disturbances in the home environment can trigger a cat’s nerves and cause stress.When stress builds up, cats might release it through frantic running, scratching, or other behaviors.A study observing cats’ behavior and hormone levels found that after environmental changes, cortisol (the stress hormone) levels rise significantly.After a period of “crazy running,” cortisol levels decrease.It’s similar to how some people choose to go for a run to relieve stress; after running, they feel better.
4. Sensitivity
What looks like sudden crazed running might actually mean your cat has noticed something you haven’t.Cats have much sharper senses than humans—their sense of smell and hearing are far more powerful.While you think the house is calm and quiet, your cat might already hear the rustle of a bug in the corner or smell an unfamiliar scent.Research shows that about 30% of a cat’s sudden wild runs are triggered by subtle sounds and smells that humans can’t detect.
Now you know—the reason your cat suddenly races around the house isn’t because it’s gone crazy. There are other specific reasons behind this behavior.So, has your cat ever done something like this? What do you think causes your kitty to act this way?