Every cat parent on this planet Earth is familiar with his cat’s sudden outbursts of energy. I believe even the calmest cats, like Persians, have their moments of completely absurd and frantic behavior. But what to do when our fluffball is too kray kray? How to calm down a hyper cat? For the longest time, I believed my cat was the craziest of them all. She had a habit of behaving so inexplicably hyperactive, and all I could do was stand by and let her be.
I used to come back home tired from work, looking forward to rewatching The Office and cuddling with my cat. But, she would soon mess up my plans with her sudden energetic outbursts. She would jump all around, frantically run from room to room, chase imaginary air monsters and sing songs of her kind very loudly. My toes were her usual prey, and she would wiggle her bottom before swooping in and catching them. And on several occasions, she would even climb on top of my head.
Until I found a way to calm her down and reduce her hyperactivity at least a little. After countless google searches and many vet consultations, I am finally able to keep my cat’s sudden bursts of energy under control (for the most part). Wow, this sounded like an awful advertisement. Anyway, if you are struggling with the same thing, and you want to know how to calm down a hyper cat, I’m ready to share all my knowledge with you!
So, if you have a hyper cat, and you want to learn how to calm her down, here are 8 amazing tips and tricks you should definitely remember.
1. It’s playtime, baby!
Since your cat is hyperactive because she has all that excess energy, you should have quality playtime with her every day. Depending on the breed you have, the amount and type of playtime will vary. But, you should spend at least an hour playing before bedtime.
There are plenty of games you and your kitty can play. There’s the good old throw-and-catch game with small balls or snacks, cat teaser wands, and laser pointers that land on a treat, so you can mimic the hunting of prey with your cat.
Speaking from experience, my cats love playing with a cat wand. They could chase after it for hours so you can order it and check if your fur buddy likes it as much.
You can also spend this time teaching your cat some tricks. The possibilities really are endless! A good play session will most definitely calm down your hyper cat.
Not only will this serve as a great way for your kitty to use up her energy. It will also be a great opportunity for you two to bond and form a better connection.
2. Take your hyper kitty outside to calm her down
It’s not that bad if your cat is mostly inside your home. That’s actually the safest option, especially if you live in a city where the traffic is heavy. But, if your cat is spending the majority of her day inside, her territory is limited. She needs to occasionally explore what’s beyond the window she’s always looking out of.
So, you could provide some safe alternatives by putting a harness on your cat and taking her outside to a park or a terrace. She would love this new space, and after sniffing every corner, will be more than happy to calm down near you on the couch.
Don’t worry about what your neighbors are going to say. Embrace the crazy cat lady in you, put your little fluffball on a leash and take her for a walk outside.
3. Do a good job with her meal schedule
Your cat could be hyperactive because she is hungry. She could be acting up because she wants to draw your attention to the empty food bowl.
You should organize the main meals for your kitty during the day, so you would not only know what to feed her but also when to feed her. A good thing for a hyper cat is to feed her at least one or two hours before bedtime.
By doing so, you will make sure her belly is full which will result in her being a bit sleepy (Who doesn’t like to sleep after a good meal?). But also, she will be less likely to wake up hungry during her night zoomies. A well-balanced meal before bedtime will surely calm down your hyper cat.
Another thing you can do is invest in automatic cat feeders with which you would be able to schedule time for her night snacks.
4. Allow your kitty to be hyperactive
You will never be successful in calming down a hyper cat by being angry or punishing her. You have to let your cat be a cat and not stand in her way. By playing various kinds of games with her, you can help her spend the energy she has, and she will surely pay it back to you by letting you rest at night.
Her outburst of energy can be annoying and hard to handle, I know. But you have to let her be. As long as she’s not misbehaving and causing trouble, you’ll be fine.
5. But, don’t let it go too far!
With that being said, if she does start to cause trouble, you cannot let her indulge in her misbehavior. And never give in to her bad temperament. If you give in to her once, you will give in again. Which will only result in her thinking that there’s nothing wrong with the sofa scratching and the glasses breaking.
Instead, you should teach her how to behave properly and fix her bad habits. Or even better, make sure they never become habits. It’s harder to calm an overly hyper cat if she doesn’t understand what’s good and what bad behavior.
6. Create a calming atmosphere in your home
Everyone needs a calm atmosphere from time to time, and so does your little troublemaker. If you want to calm down your hyper cat, make sure her surrounding is not overly stimulating to her senses.
After playing with her, try using lavender essential oil since it possesses calming properties. You can even try using herbal calming sprays, feline pheromone diffusers, and cat-friendly CDB oils. Also, talk calmly and with a soft voice since she is highly sensitive to sounds.
7. Get your hyper cat company to calm her down
If your cat is overly energetic, you can always opt for getting her company. Toys are usually not enough, and sometimes, because you’re busy with life, you are unable to fulfill her playful needs.
So another feline buddy will be a worthy playmate for your hyper cat and will calm her down for sure. Their energies will undoubtedly match, and after they pass the careful introduction procedure, they’ll become besties.
And, of course, you don’t have to stop at two cats! You know what they say: Two’s a company, but three’s never a crowd!