Are Zoomies Destroying Your House? How to Cat-Proof Your Home

• Author: Faye Cormier
• Posted: 2024-07-21

Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night to see a cat rocket past your bedroom door and bowl over a potted plant? Do you leave the house for a few hours and come back to find cabinets open and bags of bread torn to bits? If these sorts of situations sound familiar, you've probably experienced "the zoomies." Pet behaviorists characterize the zoomies as a sudden burst of intense, hyperactive behavior. Though it can be hilarious to witness, it often signals doom for your belongings.

Though extra playtime can help to tire out your busy buddy, zoomies aren't really something you can entirely prevent. Cats are natural predators who are prone to random bursts of energy, intense curiosity, and surprising bouts of intelligence. Being shut in a small home all day can make them a little bored no matter how much enrichment and love you provide. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to minimize damage during these hyperactive frenzies.
 

Take Advantage of Child Locks for Cabinets

Cabinets and drawers are often very easy for a curious kitten to figure out. Their paws are very dextrous, so pushing a simple latch or pivoting a doorway is quite easy for cats. This can spell disaster if you need a safe place to keep cat food. Even if your cat isn't on the prowl for snacks, a bored cat can easily destroy your entire coffee mug collection or spill oil all over your kitchen.

If your fur baby is constantly getting into cabinets and messing with their contents, it can be helpful to turn to solutions meant to keep out little humans. Child locks are helpful devices that hook onto existing cabinets and doors. Different styles work differently, but usually, you have to press specific buttons or hold the latch in a specific way to open it.
 

Add Citrus to Houseplants

If your cat keeps digging up your plants and scattering soil everywhere, your first instinct might be to just put the plants on a higher shelf. However, you should never underestimate your cat. As famed cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy says, "cats are like toddlers who can reach the ceiling." Because houseplants are such an interesting blend of texture and movement, they look like a toy to a bored cat.

To cat-proof your plants, start by changing what you grow. Some popular houseplants like lilies are highly toxic to cats, so make sure you only grow things that won't harm your pet. Next, use citrus to make the plants far less exciting to cats. Cats have a very sensitive sense of smell, and strong citrus oils are enough to make them entirely avoid your plants. If you use a lot of oranges or lemons, the cost-effective option is just dropping your used peels into your plant. However, if you don't have any handy citrus peels, you can get essential oils that have the same effect.
 

Install Cord Protectors On Your Electronics

To you, your phone charger or TV cable might just look like a boring electronic, but to a cat with the zoomies, it can look like a snake to fight. This comes with a lot of risks. Your cat can accidentally damage the cord or yank the attached electronic around, and especially aggressive cats can even risk electrocution.

Luckily, there are a lot of cord protectors to choose from. Some can just wrap around your cord and protect it from bite marks. Others let you firmly attach your cord to the wall or ground, so your cat can't yank on them and knock a heavy TV down.
 

Put Sticky Putty on Items on Shelves

If you have a hyper cat, you don't have to resign yourself to empty, boring shelves. There are a lot of great products that can firmly attach your knick-knacks to the bottom of the shelf.

One of the most effective options is sticky putty. This putty goes on the bottom of items, so it's completely invisible. Though you can still apply firm pressure to remove the vase, picture frame, or other items, the putty will provide enough traction that a bored cat can't push it toward the edge.

Ultimately, these simple moves can help redirect your cat to safer and healthier ways of burning off excess energy. By taking the time to cat-proof your house, you can avoid frustrating scenarios and focus on having fun with your furry friend.