Do Big Cats Get The Zoomies Like Smaller Felines?

Domesticated cats can be pretty entertaining. They chase their tails, chirp at birds through windows, and sleep in strange positions. Some cats also run around like maniacs and bolt across the room for no reason at all after their "zoomies" button has been activated. It's definitely a sight to see, but have you ever wondered if their larger cousins get the zoomies, too? After all, they have many other behaviors in common, including stalking, pouncing, and ambush hunting. Yes, tigers, snow leopards, and other big cats do get the zoomies, more formally known as frenetic random activity periods (FRAPs).

Documentaries, movies, and social media reels often portray big cats hunting and killing their prey, leaving some viewers thinking they're angry predators who don't have any fun. On the contrary, these animals do play, and not just the cubs; adult cats enjoy playing, too, sometimes by simply running around as a small, lively house cat would. It's a natural behavior that many animals exhibit to release pent-up energy, and both zookeepers and pet owners have filmed these delightful moments.

A tiger at a San Antonio zoo was caught on camera running through its grassy habitat, splashing in some water, playing with a barrel, and tossing around a toy in the grass. ABC News shared the adorable clip on Facebook. The same zoo also shared a clip of what appears to be the same tiger sprinting through the grass in different directions and jumping up on a palm tree. Needless to say, this cat was definitely enjoying life.

Tigers aren't the only big felines that get in on the zoomies fun. Lions and snow leopards do, too. The Wildlife Sanctuary posted a clip on TikTok of a pride of lions playfully running around, chasing each other, and climbing. Northumberland Zoo captured footage on YouTube of a pair of its snow leopards zooming around, bouncing from rock to rock with bursts of energy.

@wildcatsanctuary

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Even a big cat raised in a home as a pet, with no other pets around, can get stung by the zoomies bug. A pet puma named Messi who lives with a couple in a two-story home in Penza, Russia, proved it in a YouTube clip. Shortly after greeting his dad at the door, he grabs his toy and immediately darts across the room before climbing up the stairs and calming down. About a minute later, the sight of the same solo-play cat toy triggers his zoomies yet again. Turns out big cats can have just as much fun as small ones.