Most cat owners deal with strange cat behavior at least once in their lifetime. And if your quest for ‘why is my cat jumpy all of a sudden’ brought you here, you’re in the right place.
The shortest solution to why a cat becomes jumpy or starts acting weird is: It is scared! A scared cat might start jumping on walls and acting strangely. But why are they scared? Let’s dive into it.
Why is My Cat So Jumpy All of a Sudden?
The most common reasons your cat is so jumpy all of a sudden is because of a change in environment, separation anxiety, illness, new people, new pets or wild animals, or loud noises.
Below is in depth descriptions of each cause:
#1- Change in routine/environment
You have to admit the fact that a change of place, environment, or introduction of new animals in the house can be really unsettling for your cat. Cats get nervous about small things and usually become very sensitive whenever they feel a sudden change in their routine or environment. In order to deal with this anxiety or fear, your cat might become very jumpy. The key is to make subtle environmental changes instead of making a big change at once.
If you change your cats environment, I suggest you check out this cat calming diffuser. It costs around $20, and you plug it into the wall. It emits calming spray into the air to help calm down your cat.
Another option is to try out CBD treats or oil.
#2- Cat went through trauma
A traumatic experience might possibly be the reason for adopted cats from the shelter. Who knows how badly the previous owners treated them. The kittenhood memories can also turn into fearful thoughts. Experience with other animals, shortage of food, negative human behavior, negligence of the caretakers can result in loss of trust toward human beings. Your cat might even have flashbacks or be triggered by some of your behavior. This scenario can urge the cat to behave weirdly and jump as well.
A lot of patience is required to calm such cats and build a trustworthy human-cat relation. The key is to take small steps, and don’t try to interact with your cat while they feel uncomfortable.
#3- Lack of experience
Your cat might be afraid of things she never experienced when it was a kitten. Introduction to a new world and objects or even food can trigger nervousness. For example, outdoor settings can scare the cat. If you offer a certain food to your cat for the first time, your kitty may turn its head away and start jumping or hiding behind the wall. Your cat might also become jumpy when they eat olives. To learn more, you should check out my article on why do cats like olives?
#4- Poor socialization efforts
Lack of human interaction in the initial phase of a kitten’s life may lead to uncomfortable experiences for the rest of their lives. If they never played or spent time with human kids, sudden exposure can urge them to jump, hide, or become fearful as well. It is important that you make an effort to socialize the cats with other pets and fellow kittens at an early age in order to avoid such behavioral issues.
#5- Pain and illness
A stressed or anxious cat starts jumping when in pain. It can be an internal infection, parasitic attack, or any other health condition that can boost the depression within the animal and urge her to jump and show abnormal behavior. One common issue in cats is when your cat’s claw is growing in their pad. So, one must look into medical and psychological cures to deal with such fears.
How to calm down a jumpy cat?
There are a few methods to calm a nervous and jumpy cat. As an owner, it is your responsibility to help the poor animal get out of their scared emotional mindset and live a happy life. Here is how you can help them calm down:
a. Stress relief
Always try to be gentle, even if your kitty does something wrong. Keep your voice calm and never scold or punish them. Talk with a peaceful tone and if it still shows signs of anxiety, take them to the vet.
b. Exposing to a new environment
Shifting your cat to a new home means they have to learn to live in a new setting. Introduce the new place gradually by limiting their movement for some time. Provide them a place to hide like empty boxes or crates where they can feel safe and secure than alone. You might also want to try keeping them enclosed to certain rooms of the house. This can help them from becoming overwhelmed from the large size of a house.
c. Connecting to a new companion
A new pet in your household can result in a clash of two creatures. Cats are possessive, and they sometimes don’t like it when they have to split your love with another cat. It is very important to gradually introduce new pets to your kitten during play sessions. This way, your cat might not mind the addition of a new pet.
Conclusion
A jumpy cat is due to behavioral change. Some cats hide, become shy, attack, or shun eating, while some start jumping for no reason. Cats release the fear factor by doing such movements. While it usually is harmless behavior, it can be dangerous if your cat is jumping after surgery.
