What do you do about a cat with too much energy?

Question

I'm not sure letting him outside is a good idea.... we live in an apartment complex with lots of other cats and when I let him outside for the first time since my fiance and I found him (he was a stray), he attacked another cat. When he has built up energy, he ends up shooting back and forth across the apartment at high speed and trying to touch him when he is like this is dangerous because he might bite you or scratch you. When he's not crazed, he's a very nice cat and he has a great personality, but apparently he's not good around other cats and he did seem to go a little crazy when we let him out. Also, he was neutered when we found him, so don't tell me I need to neuter my cat...

to the person who suggested getting another cat: What about the fact that I saw him attack another cat? I don't think he likes other cats...

Answer 1

get lots of toys, cats entertain themselves most times, so if you get lots of toys that move, that could help keep him happy and reduce his energy level. its also possible that its just his personality, casue he may be a feral cat. and they are very wild and full of energy

Answer 2

This is normal behavior for cats. They get these energy bursts.
I don't think there is anything you can do but try to stay out of your cat's way. When my cats do this, it doesn't seem to last long.

It may help if you play with the cat. I have lots of cat toys and I try to play with them at least once a day with a mouse on a string/stick. They love it. I tease them with it and they try to catch it. That might ease your cat's energy bursts. I don't think my cats run back and forth every day, unless they do it when I'm at work.

Answer 3

Indoor cats seem to do this a lot. I have 10 cats in my house, and every evening (sometimes during the day, too), they all get a case of the "crazies". It's just pent up energy from being asleep or lying around all day. Outdoor cats roam, climb, chase leaves, etc and no one really notices. But, when a cat is confined to the inside, whenever he runs around it causes attention. Don't try to pick him up when he's like this... just get something for him to play with. Almost anything will do....tied socks, fly-swatter (that you swish back and forth on floor), balled up paper....just something for him to chase around. Who knows, he might surprise you and "retrieve" it and bring it back to you. He just needs to burn off the excess energy that's built up. You know how people are, when they've sat too long (office, school, etc), they need to "move around", too. Don't worry......he's not crazy, he's an indoor cat! Good luck...........

Answer 4

You don't say how old he is. He may settle down with age. In the meantime, get interactive toys for him to play with and engage him in play every day (he could be bored). You can get remote control mice, etc to help him expend his energy. If he has access to catnip, try taking that away, too.

Don't let him outside unless you are closely supervising him. It just isn't safe for him. As far as another cat, he could get used to one if you introduce them the right way. Go online to experts like Purina and read up on what kind of cat to get, how to introduce them.

Answer 5

My most energetic cat is 14 now and every once in a while she has bursts of mad energy and races all over the place, up and down etc.

So your cat may be perfectly happy and you don't really need to do anything about it. He has found his way to "work off steam" and just let him do it.

Answer 6

I have a male siamese that is a bundle of energy - what I do sometimes is run through my house with a string - he gives chase and it burns off a lot of energy. If you have children make this their assignment or even consider getting another cat so he has a playmate.