Why do cats and dogs have crazy quarter hours?
Does your cat or dog suddenly have a boost of energy and perform athletic feats that would make an Olympic medalist jealous? Welcome to the world of Crazy Quarter Hours.
Crazy Quarter Hours are intense periods of high-energy activity, where the animal may run, turn, jump or roll on the ground. All at top speed.
It has been proposed as a scientific name for this phenomenon “period of random frenzied activity”. (FRAP, for “frenetic random activity periods”). Rabbits are called binkies. But many cat and dog owners call them zoomies, or quarter-hour craze.
So why do our pets have quarter-hour craze? Should we be worried about it?
Where do the quarter-hours of madness come from?< /h3>
Think back to the times when your cat or dog indulges in their crazy 15 minutes.
It can happen after the bath, in the dog park, in the middle of the night and, of course, often, we have no idea of the cause.
The trigger can be excitement or a sudden increase in stimulation.
In cats, a common trigger is going through the litter box. This is called “poo-poo”, a feeling of euphoria after defecation. This phenomenon may be due to the fact that passing stool stimulates the vagus nerve, which leads to positive feelings and a drop in heart rate and blood pressure.
The quarter hour of madness can be considered playtime, as the two behaviors share many characteristics. These moments would therefore be inherently enjoyable, or in other words, a real party.
If crazy quarter hours are part of your pet's play routine, it means that he is happy and having fun.
Although we do not yet know if this phenomenon is more common at certain times of the day, or if it occurs more often in certain breeds than in others, we generally consider it to be an indication of a level high in excitement and, probably, in a good mood.
Humans are animals too and some people also have what could be like quarters of insanity.
Have you ever suddenly experienced intense excitement and overflowing energy? Maybe you felt the urge to jump, jiggle or dance, before that feeling faded and you went back to how you were.
This can be caused by a multitude of things – an exciting or new situation, a spike in energy after a long period of rest, or a change in your internal chemistry. You may have experienced an adrenaline rush caused by excitement, overstimulation, or stress.
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The quarter-hours of madness are- they always a sign of happiness?
We must not forget that animals are individuals and that, like us, the reason why they behave the way they do is complex and multifaceted.
When you assess your animal's behavior, it is essential to consider the context.
There is a lot of talk online about quarter-hour insanity, but there is a lack of scientific research on their causes and frequency, and there is no there is not even an official definition of the phenomenon.
Ask yourself: am I invited to the fifteen minutes of madness?
In dogs and cats, quarter hours of madness may include an invitation to join in – in dogs this is most often a bowing position, where the dog appears to bow to another to indicate that he wants to play, followed by a pause often seen in dyadic play (play between two or more individuals).
In cats, the prompt may be to physically interact with you or to roll on the floor repeatedly. If so, your pet is probably excited and wants to play with you.
What-to-do-when-my-pet-goes-crazy crazy?
Unless there is an element of immediate danger (for example, if it happens on or near a road), there is no reason to prevent your cat or your dog to have fun.
Cats and dogs are adept at avoiding obstacles, even at high speeds. If you are lucky enough to receive an invitation to participate in the frenzy, please join the game.
Sharing activities such as playing with your dog or cat may involve many benefits for the human-animal relationship. It's also a lot of fun for you!
When should we be worried?
Fifteen minutes of madness are an integral part of life of a dog or a cat and are totally normal (and funny).
Sometimes, however, it can be a symptom of stress or a health issue.
As always, it's the context that matters. You should consult your veterinarian if your dog or cat exhibits the behavior in question for long periods of time (particularly, if they run around in circles or if the behavior occurs during confinement). These may be signs of a repetitive behavior disorder.
If you have trouble deflecting or stopping this behavior, or if it results in injury, talk to a veterinarian.
Even if you don't feel like participating in the binge, take the time to stop and watch your dog or cat having fun.
Sometimes we all need a crazy moment…
Susan Hazel, Associate Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide; Ana Goncalves Costa, PhD student, University of Adelaide and Julia Henning, PhD Candidate, University of Adelaide
This article is republished from The Conversation under Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
