Why do cats suddenly run as if chasing something?

Wild cats are genetically programmed to sleep for 22 hours and save up energy to hunt. Since cats hunt by stalking, waiting and then chasing down their catch with one huge burst of speed, they rest all day to save up for that great burst. These instincts are still prevalent in domestic cats and manifests in a cat just randomly running around the house at a breakneck speed for no reason other than they simply need to. I've never had only one cat, so I can imagine how strange your first cat experience must be when you only have one and it just randomly runs every once in a while lol.

I have 2 indoor cats and both of them do that. Sometimes at the same time and other times at diffrent times. When 1 is running arround and the other is resting they look at eachother like they are crazy. Personally I think it is funny. My kids tend to get nervous when they climb the chair and they are sitting in the chair. Most of the time the kids end up moving to the couch. The other thing I think is funny is when they are on the back of the chair in my living room and someone walks into the room they tend to play peek-a-boo with you by batting you on the arm and then giving you that playfull look and I cant help it but play with them cause they are too cute when they look at me like that.

Check out this article on cat body language: www.tidbitsandstuff.com/articles/pet/cat_bodylanguage.shtml. It might give you some insight as to why cats behave the way they do.

I only have two cats now and it is my indoor cat that does that. The outdoor cat doesn't do that. It freaks me out when she does it when I am laying down to go to bed. It never fails I think she has found a mouse or something but then there is nothing there*L* My daughter loves to mess with her with she does that and they play chase. When the cat is in this mood my daughter will then run after her and then suddenly run away from her and hide. The cat will run to find where she ran off to and the chase is on. It is really funny to watch. My daughter will jump out and scare her and the cat will run around really fast then again my daughter will catch up with her and it starts all over again. I think it does have something to do with a burst of energy like your first poster wrote because just as quickly as it starts it ends. She will just decide she is done and no matter what my daughter does she will just sit and look at her like she is crazy for running around like that*L* Cats are so funny to watch.

ive had cats since i was 8 yrs. old, and they are always shifting moods, being laid back sometimes and then being hyper active at another moment, they are really just playing when they do that, they are imagining chasing something, try throwing a crumpled piece of paper or a string at them and make it move, then you'll see what i mean, when they chase something invisible, its just a means for them to amuse themself, since they have no other cats or a toy to play with, and they are feeling playful at that time, so they play with themselves.

Oh its fine! My cat does it all the time! He just glares at the mirror, gets into attacking mode, and BANG...he runs into the mirror at full speed. The thing about it is, he continously does it! What do you do? Just sit back and laugh!