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My young cat acts super hyper and crazy at night. Is this normal?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | spayed | 7 lbs

My kitty who is about 8 months old, we are unsure exactly how old due to her being from a shelter but for a little while we notice that at night she will just act nuts and what I mean is she will start chasing at things that aren't there , her eyes get huge and she jumps after everything , it just seems she gets really hyper and hard to handle at night. She has a very but they are closed right now and I was hopeful to find out something sooner. Please let me know if you need more details.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Davis

Veterinarian

Published on August 25th, 2017

If she's alone during the day she probably has excess energy. I do not think this is a medical problem. Try having her play with a laser pointer, throw toys or treats for her to chase and try to get her to exercise earlier in the day. As she ages she will outgrow this behavior. Cats often sleep all day then are active at night. Don't try to catch her or control her as when they are like this she may scratch or bite. Remember she is just a teenager acting up, and this stage will pass. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Katy.

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    Answered By Dr. Heidi DVM, CVA, CCRT, CVTP, CVSMT, CVCH

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist, Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

    Published on

    I have the same problem at my house. Cats are nocturnal animals, so they sleep most of the day, then are ready to play at night. I agree that kittens can look crazy when they play. When they get stimulated, they often act like they are hunting even when there isn't anything there. It sounds like this is normal kitten behavior if it is only occurring at night and is temporary. I normally take advantage of this time to play with my cats and get their energy out so I will be able to sleep. Try tossing some cat toys or crumpled paper for Katy to chase. since that behavior sounds like she wants to hunt something. One of my favorite toys for that type of play is called a Cat Dancer. https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Dancer-101-Interactive-Toy/dp/B0006N9I68/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1503708319&sr=8-3&keywords=cat+dancer I hope that helps. Thanks for using PetCoach.

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