“why is my cat doing parkour at 3am? (send help)”

dear tired soul,

i, too, have been deep in slumber when my cats have decided it’s the most perfect time to leap from the couch allll the way to the kitchen counter, bounce off the wall (literally), and ceremoniously knock over my car keys and a forgotten glass of water.

why must they do this to us?

sometimes they just get spurts of energy and need to let it out. other times it’s definitely spite. but there’s another reason that has more to do with us than it does with them: we didn’t pay them enough attention.

i know! it hurts. we love our cats, but life gets busy. hope is not lost though. here are small (but impactful) things you can do to make sure your cat is getting enough love. 

1. play with them everyday

seriously. even if it’s 15 minutes or multiple mini sessions throughout the day. play fetch with a toy mouse or run around the house with a ribbon wand toy. every cat has their quirks. you may go through many different toys until you find the right one (i’m eyeing my bag of 50 plastic springs sitting in a box right now). 

cats have natural hunter instincts. and since there isn't much going on inside, save for a clump of fur floating around the room, they’re gonna need some extra stimulation.

2. get creative with treat time 

this is what we call *enrichment*. we all need it, but your cats especially need it. this can look like using a treat puzzle (we love using freeze-dried chicken for that), or lick mats paired with a creamy purée. even tossing treats far into the next room gives your cat something interesting to do. or you can do hide and seek! place treats in weird places, and your cat will get to tap into their detective side to find them.

3. give your kitties a sleepy time treat

just like drinking a hot cup of tea to wind down, your cat can prep for bedtime too. 

try giving them something to indulge in, like this chill out tube treat. it has a gentle chamomile flavor mixed with wild caught tuna. talk about fancy.

a full belly will lull anyone to sleep, but you get some extra peace of mind with a treat specifically made to help your cat find a moment of zen. plus, you can use it with a lick mat for enrichment or hand feed your cat for some nice bonding time. a win-win if you ask us. 

you can’t stop zoomies entirely, and that’s okay

cats are animals! so they need to run around and play. zoomies are a natural part of their lives, and honestly, a big part of what makes cats so silly and loveable. just make sure you spend enough time with them and provide fun activities to keep their mind sharp. your cat will appreciate it. even if they still run six laps around the house at dawn.