Why does my pet...?
Why does my cat get the zoomies at night?
Short answer: Cats are most active around dusk and dawn, and an indoor cat may store up energy during a quiet day. A short burst of running, pouncing and chasing at night is common and usually normal.
Updated
The wild side
The black-footed cat of southern Africa does most of its hunting around sunset and through the night.
Try this
Play like prey before bed: move a wand toy like a mouse, let your cat catch it, then finish with a meal or treat. Put string toys away after play.
See it in the episode
Why Your Cat Goes Wild at 3 A.M. (Wild Cousins, episode 1)
Questions people ask
Why does my cat get the zoomies at night?
Cats are most active around dusk and dawn, and an indoor cat may store up energy during a quiet day. A short burst of running, pouncing and chasing at night is common and usually normal. If the zoomies suddenly change, or come with crying, limping or hiding, ask your vet.
Sources
If the zoomies suddenly change, or come with crying, limping or hiding, ask your vet.