star won't stop zooming

Hi everyone. I am struggling a bit with Star lately. She is a 3-year-old grey cat and very energetic. I am a librarian so I am home most of the day, but the house feels like a war zone in the evenings.

She will start zooming around at 11 PM and again at 5 AM. It is not just running, she is attacking the tail of my other cat, Shadow, and biting at the curtains. I have tried to play with her more during the day, but she seems to have unlimited energy. I am worried I am doing something wrong with her routine.

Hi Ruth. First off, 3 years old is young energy, so you are not doing anything wrong. The 5 AM start is a classic biological clock issue. Have you looked at 5am zoomies? It usually helps to wake the cat up before they wake you, so you can tire them out early.

Regarding the tail biting, that is a specific behavior. I wrote about it in tail biting during play. It is often a sign that the play is getting too rough or the cat is not getting enough of their own 'prey' drive satisfied. Also, make sure you have ruled out any medical issues. If the energy levels are sudden, check hyper behavior vet check to see if it is time for a blood work.

I had a similar issue with Bandit when he was younger. The trick for me was spreading out the food. Instead of two big meals, I switched to four smaller ones using a puzzle feeder. You can find some good options in puzzle feeder recommendations.

Also, I found that having a specific 'play session' right before bed helped. I would use a wand toy for 15 minutes, then feed, then let them sleep. It gave them a clear start and stop signal. Does Star have a specific toy that she loves? If not, maybe try something that simulates prey movement rather than just static toys.

Thank you both. I will look into the puzzle feeders. I have been using a standard bowl, so that might be why she is so frantic. I will also try to wake her up at 4:30 AM to play before the 5 AM start.

I am not sure if she has a favorite toy. She chases the laser pointer but I have heard that is bad for them because they never 'catch' it. Is there a better alternative? I want to make sure I am not making it worse.

I agree with the laser pointer concern. I use a feather wand with a bell on it so I can hide it and she can 'catch' it. It gives her that sense of accomplishment.

For the 11 PM zoomies, I have found that calming scents help. I started using some catnip alternatives a while back. You can read about them in catnip alternatives. I use a spray on her bed and the curtains. It seems to lower her heart rate a bit before she starts the evening runs.

Also, have you checked daytime enrichment ideas? I think the lack of mental stimulation during the day is carrying over into the night.