If your cat has been darting in front of you a lot, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my cat dart in front of me? The most likely reason why your cat darts in front of you is that it is playing and that it is feeling full of energy.
There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat darts in front of you and it could be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my cat dart in front of me?
Below are likely reasons why your cat has been doing it and what would make them more likely.
Your cat is playing
A likely reason that your cat darts in front of you is that it is excited and playing. This would be more likely if it does it when it is running around with a toy and if it also runs around the house at the same time.
Nature
It is common for cats to become more lively during the early morning and late evening because it is the time cats would normally be on the hunt. If your cat tends to do it more at around those times, it would be more likely that your cat has been doing it due to naturally having more energy at those times.
Diet
The reason that your cat starts darting in front of you could be that there is an issue with its diet. This would be more likely if it does it soon after being fed and if it started doing it more after you changed its diet.
Excess energy
The reason that it darts in front of you is also likely to be that it has some excess energy left over. This is known as “zoomies” which is where it sprints around in order to get rid of the energy. This would be more likely if it does it when it has been sedentary for a while such as in the morning.
Anxiety
Another reason that it might be doing it is that it is releasing some nervous energy that it had built up. This would be more likely if it does it right after something, that could cause it to be anxious, ends such as guests leaving or a noise going away.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.
If your cat has always run in front of you
If your cat has not always run in front of you, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it could be due to something causing it to get anxious or a change in its diet. Alternatively, it could be the case that your cat has become more comfortable around the house, if you have not had your cat for long.
The timing of when your cat darts in front of you
It would also help to consider the timing of when your cat darts in front of you since the timing likely has a lot to do with it. If your cat tends to do it in the early morning or late evening, it would be likely that it naturally has a lot more energy at those times.
What to do about your cat darting in front of you
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Give it ways to wear itself out
One option would be to give your cat other ways to wear itself out such as by giving it toys to play with and things such as a scratch pad to use.
Ensure it is getting the right diet
As mentioned above, the cause could be due to an issue with its diet. It would help to ensure that your cat is able to get the right diet and that it eats the right amount of calories.
Get help
If your cat has been doing it excessively, it would help to take it to a vet. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular cat and to rule out medical causes.