Why does my cat act like a crackhead?
Cats, they seem to just go crazy for no reason. One minute they are sleeping soundly and the next you find them at the top of the window screen. I have a very active large cat who thinks it’s fun to try to climb everything including my curtains and even gets on my fridge.
He also really loves to chew on cords, so much so that I ended up writing this post: 13 tips to stop your cat from chewing on cords. Those tips helped stop that behavior, however, I still had a crazy cat.
As I watched my cat run around one day I started to wonder if there was a reason behind his crazy behavior. I was surprised at some of the things I found and just had to share them with you.

Fleas
This one did not surprise me. Fleas would be awful to have. Just the few times I had trouble getting rid of them was horrible for me. Just imagining my cats having to deal with fleas crawling all over them all the time? I would probably go a bit crazy too.
If fleas are your problem then you need flea medication. However, not all flea meds are the same. I didn’t have a lot of money so I figured the cheap stuff would work just fine. However, it didn’t and I thought it was something I was doing. I just couldn’t get rid of the fleas
I found the solution when one day I had to take Pumpkin to the vet for another issue he was having. During this visit, my vet saw the fleas and discussed what I was doing. I explained my situation and she told me to figure out a way to get Advantage II.
Luckily I listened and cut out a couple of things that month to invest the $100 needed to buy a 6 month supply for both my cats. Within a week of giving them the medication, the fleas were gone and Dixie went back to normal behavior. Pumpkin calmed a bit, but he also had another health issue that was causing him to go crazy so I’m not surprised it was only a bit.
If your suffering from fleas you can buy Advantage II from Chewy.com here. This is what I recommend to anyone with a flea problem. It worked well and fast and made my cats very happy.
Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome
Not much is known about what causes Feline Hyperesthesia syndrome but it can cause your cat to act strange at times. You may notice that they react when you are petting or scratching them. It may be as simple as they always runoff or a bit more complicated such as scratching themselves like crazy and then after a few seconds going right back to sleep.
You may also notice your cat salivating, being alarmingly vocal or they may even have uncontrolled urination. Your cat could also be involved in self-mutilating behavior. If you notice any of these symptoms it is time to make an appointment with your veterinarian.
You can learn more about Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome here.
They are an older cat
You have an older cat, so they should just be laying around and sleeping all day right? However, your cat does not. They have strange streaks of energy and you sometimes wonder if you miscounted how old they are.
If this sounds like your cat you are not alone. Many older cats suffer a decline in functioning this includes cognitive functioning. Cognitive functioning covers awareness, sight, and hearing perception.
Because as cats age they have these issues you may find that they react to things differently. They may be more aggressive because they don’t know where things are anymore, things like their food dish or litter box. I know I would be anxious and lash out a bit if I couldn’t find the bathroom or food. In fact, there is a reason for the word hangry (hungry/angry).
The good news is with a visit to your vet you can treat most of the issues your cat may have from loss in cognitive functioning.
Signs to look out for:
- Eliminates outside of the litter box, including sleeping/eating areas.
- Gets lost in familiar locations
- Stares at an object or into space
- Less interested in petting or other interactions
- Needs constant contact
- Grooms or eats less
- Is restless or agitated

Natural Instincts
Your cat may just be well in tune with its basic instincts and very active. They may just be responding to noises we don’t hear. Cats may go crazy just because it is built into their DNA.
Humans have lost many of the instincts we once had to live in the wild. Cats however have not and they will respond to the smallest noise or disturbance. Have you ever seen your cat’s ears perk up just before lightning strikes? My last cat did this every so often and she would run and hide under the bed before the thunder even sounded.
We forget that our pets have increased hearing and senses that we just don’t have anymore. This may be a very simple explanation for why your cat goes crazy.
Digestive Problems
Your cat could be having tummy issues. When you don’t feel good you do things differently and so does your cat. If you think this may be the issue you can talk to your vet or try changing to a food that helps with stomach issues.
I recently switched to Rachal Ray Inner Health because my brother’s cat who is living with us has stomach issues. I’ve noticed since the switch that he is a nicer cat and even Pumpkin has shown more energy. However, that may not be a good thing.
Sometimes though the problem is more than a simple food switch fix. If you notice the following issues with your cat you will need to make an appointment with the vet.
- Bloody Stool
- Constipation
- Severe Vomiting
- Respiratory issues
- Weakness
- Loss of appetite
Don’t forget to check out:
They need more active time
Owning a very active cat can make it seem like you choose the most physio cat on the earth. I feel this way about Pumpkin a lot. He just has so much energy and needs to get it out.
A year ago I started taking him for walks and that seemed to help a lot. If you’re interested in walking your cat you can read my post 5 Great Reasons You Should Walk Your Cat. Walking your cat is a great way to help them get some energy out and you get a nice relaxing walk in. Just know, walking your cat is different from walking a dog.
Another great way to help a cat with too much energy is to invest in good toys. Recently I bought the YVE LIFE Cat Laser on Amazon, this is one of the best investments I have ever made. It turns on randomly or you can turn it on yourself and will entertain your cat without you needing to be around. I use it a lot working from home.
Investing in good toys will help your cat get rid of pent up energy and keep them calmer and less crazy.
There may be pest in your home
You may not hear them or see them, but your cat does. Cats hear much better than humans do. That means they may hear mice, rats, and bugs in your walls that you have no idea about.
If you notice your cat watching the wall and have no idea why you may want to have someone come in and check your home for pets. Muy cat Dixie is amazing at sporting spiders. She meows at me to let me know it’s there, however, she won’t kill it.
If you notice your cat staying in one area and watching one area in your home, you may have a mouse. Your cat is a natural hunter and even if they don’t actually try to kill it, they are going to hunt it.
Hunting pest in your home may be the reason your cat just goes crazy at random times. After all, pests don’t have a routine they follow. They just appear and cause problems.
They may have a illness
Your cat may have another illness not mentioned above. There are many things that can cause your cat to act out that are illness-related:
- Urinary infection
- Rabies
- Ringworm
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Heartworm
- Worms
There are other illnesses that can cause your cat to just go crazy at random times. Pumpkin suffered from worms for a while, due to a flea problem I was dealing with. Once I dealt with that he calmed down a bit.
If you think your cat is acting crazy because of an illness or parasite you need to contact your vet and have your cat looked at.
Your cat going crazy may be as simple as built up energy or could be a more concerning problem. Some cats are just very active and may use that energy in bursts. Other cats are not active and lay around all day.
As long as you know what is normal for your cat, there is no issue. A cat that goes crazy at random times is perfectly normal, just make sure you pay attention to other signs of an issue and talk to your vet about any concerns you have.

