Content
- The behavior of a kitten cat
- Activity of an adult cat
- When is cat hyperactivity a problem?
- Measures to Help a Hyperactive Cat
- Environmental enrichment
- Redirect your activity
- adopt another animal
- Bach flower
- Specific food
- Pheromones
- Medicines
Despite the time of coexistence between humans and cats, they still surprise us with aspects of their behavior. Therefore, in this PeritoAnimal article, we will focus on how to recognize and calm a hyperactive cat.
First we'll define the behavior we're going to refer to, then we'll explain what guidelines we can follow to help and understand our cat, and, above all, we'll differentiate between normal behavior for a healthy cat and that which might require professional consultation. Find out below how to calm a hyperactive cat, as well as other basic tips for your well-being.
The behavior of a kitten cat
First, it is essential to know what the habitual behavior of cats to know in which cases its activity can be understood as pathological and when, on the contrary, it is the usual activity of an individual of its characteristics. For this, it is important to know that the cat's behavior is related to its age.
This way, as a puppy it will be easy to watch him play with any object that can be caught, bitten or attacked. It is also not uncommon to run or jump at high speed, climb to considerable heights or even climb a wall. This intense activity of a very agitated kitten is completely normal and is a sign of your health.
It is at this stage that we should lay the groundwork for a "safe" game, that is, divert his attention if he tries to play at biting our fingers or grabbing our feet and offering him an adequate range of toys. This is the only way to help calm a hyperactive cat, as we'll see.
No need to buy anything too fancy. A ball of aluminum foil or a flashlight to light against a wall can guarantee hours of entertainment. It is also very important to provide a safe environment, taking into account your taste for heights and your ability to hide in the most unusual and hidden places. Therefore, we must examine our house with "cat's eyes" to eliminate any danger or reduce it, for example, using mosquito nets for windows and balconies.
Activity of an adult cat
Once the first years of a restless cat's life have passed, we will observe that, in a good number of cats, unrestrained activity and hours of play decrease, although this aspect also depends on the cat personality, which will be more or less playful and active.
Usually around the age of ten, we will notice that the cat spends almost all of its time sleeping and resting, leaving the game relegated to very specific moments. All cats, even the oldest ones, more or less frequently go through what we might call "the hour of feline madness", easily recognizable because the cat, suddenly and without the need for real stimulation, adopts an attack posture, with the bristly fur, walks sideways or jumps from side to side.
They often flee to a place only they know. After a few minutes of mad dash, they return to a calm state as if nothing had happened. This situation is completely normal and does not give any scope to classify this situation as a hyperactive cat. Therefore, the activity of kittens, although high, should not be a cause for concern either.
When is cat hyperactivity a problem?
When we have a hyperactive cat and it ends up affecting the feline's normal life, causing anxiety or stress, it's time to seek professional help. A hyperactive cat is one that, as an adult:
- It is extremely restless.
- Can't stay still.
- Meow excessively.
- It can damage furniture due to its constant activity.
The first thing we should do if we have an agitated and hyperactive cat is discard a pathology of physical origin, meaning you have to go to the vet for a checkup, especially if hyperactivity comes on suddenly and is accompanied by weight loss, even if he increases your feed and water intake.
It is known that thyroid gland disorders (hyperthyroidism) can cause us to have a hyperactive cat, so the cat has difficulty staying still. Diagnosis is made by palpating the gland in the neck (it will be enlarged) and/or measuring thyroid hormones through a blood test.
Measures to Help a Hyperactive Cat
While waiting for professional advice from an ethologist, if necessary, we can implement the following measures in order to channel the energy and thus calm our hyperactive cat:
Environmental enrichment
We can prepare our house so that it becomes a challenge for our cat, including the toys he must hunt for food. Scratchers of various heights, nets, shelves, catnip or catnip and, if possible, access to a controlled and secure exterior, can redirect hyperactivity of our cat.
Redirect your activity
Know how to stop and say "no" when, for example, your activity is harmful to us, in the form of scratching or biting. In these cases, we shouldn't scold or, much less, hit the cat, we just have to redirect its activity to another object. In this sense, it is also important that we learn to recognize the signs that our cat is uncomfortable with our contact or wants to end the game. THE insistence can provoke an abrupt reaction.
On the other hand, the caressing sessions and lots of affection can be a good solution for some hyperactive cats, being careful to stop if you feel they are being overstimulated.
adopt another animal
Sometimes it is very beneficial for a cat to have the company of another feline or even a dog. And while it's true that play between them can help a hyperactive cat, we may actually find ourselves with two problems instead of just one. Before making this important decision, it is necessary to emphasize that not all cats they tolerate the company of other animals and that it is normal that it takes a more or less long time to adapt between the two. It is essential that cats have the same energy to prevent the problem from worsening.
Bach flower
Bach flowers can be used in these cases according to the guidelines established by the veterinarian or flower therapy specialist, always after an evaluation of the cat.
Specific food
Specific feeds and prizes, as there are products on the market that contain tranquilizer substances that can help relax our hyperactive cat.
Pheromones
Pheromones are substances that cats naturally secrete and are, by themselves, tranquilizers. They therefore have a calming effect where prescribed. They can be sprayed or used in a diffuser.
Medicines
If we are facing a very serious case, it is possible to use medications such as anxiolytics that always have to be necessarily prescribed by a veterinarian.
Now that you know how to identify a hyperactive cat and have also learned numerous actions to help you, don't miss the following video where we explain five ways to calm a cat:
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