I have just adopted an (approx) 2 year old cat called Lily from my local
Cat's Protection League shelter.  I've had her for a week now and am
becaming increasingly worried about her behavior.  It seems that everytime
she eats anything, immediately afterwards she becomes absolutely
hyperactive.  She will pounce on shadows, try to attack curtains / cushions
and then immediately run away, roll onto her back as if she want's to be
stroked then run away if I go anywhere near her.

This behaviour persists for about an hour after she has eaten and then she
calms down and will come and sit with me.  The problem is that although,
during the day, I find this behaviour cute, she has started getting up about
4a.m., eating some of biscuits she has left from her dinner and trying to
attack me whilst I am in bed.  I have tried removing the food at night, but
she just sat in the kitchen and cried (I live in a flat so I can't ignore
this noise), likewise I have tried shutting the bedroom door so her manic
behaviour doesn't disturb me, but again she cried and scratched the bedroom
door for about an hour until I let her in.

Is this behaviour normal, is she just practising her hunting skills?  All
the other cat's I've owned haven't been manic after food.  Will she calm
down once she is allowed outside or once she gets a bit older, or is this a
settling in problem? I am very tired as I haven't had much sleep for 4 days
now so any help would be much appreciated.

Jeannie