What’s cuter than a dog, cat, bunny, or other pet getting a case of the zoomies and sprinting around the house or yard?  It’s fun to see our pets having those sudden bursts of energy.  Did you know they have a scientific name?

Technically speaking, zoomies are known as frenetic random activity periods (FRAPs).  José Arce, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association told Live Science that zoomies are just our pets having fun.

What triggers zoomies?  Triggers can be different for different animals.  For dogs, a case of the zoomies can happen when:

• Your dog is let out of her crate
• You arrive home from work
• After getting a bath

For cats, zoomies can occur when:

• They are most active, at dusk and dawn
• After grooming
• After using the litter box (your humble FACE blogger can confirm this one!)
• If you are preparing to feed them

Other animals have FRAPs too.  Rabbit owners are familiar with bunny “binkies” when their pets are happy and excited.  Binkies can include jumping as well as running!  Ferret owners may see FRAPs too.

Some pet owners may confuse FRAPs with obsessive compulsive disorder, but this is rarely the case.  OCD has different signs in pets, such as tail chasing, self-biting/licking, circling, and pacing.

Do your furry friends get the zoomies?  What’s their trigger?