“The number one reason why they bite your feet is simply because they are prey animals,” said Jackson Galaxy, renowned cat behavior and wellness expert, host of Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell, and New York Times best-selling author. Because cats in the wild are predators, they have a strong desire to hunt, climb, and scratch, even for enjoyment. “If there is something moving under the covers, that triggers what I call the ‘raw cat,’ which is the primal cat that lives inside all cats,” Galaxy said. “It’s in their nervous system, and their entire DNA comes to life when something is moving like prey.” He explained that this is why your little panther might grab your ankles when you walk by. “Your cat is not attacking you,” he said. “Your ankles may as well be a squirrel. Same thing!” Cats simply mistake your feet as prey or play toys.
Galaxy further explained that another reason cats find the lure of feet so irresistible is because they think it’s a fun game, especially when you react by moving or making a sound. Galaxy noted that this does depend on the cat, but in general, “hunting” is more common in younger cats.
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It may also be due to the age-old excuse: boredom. “If your cat has a lack of other opportunities for play, they’ll likely seek out other outlets for their energy, including attacking your feet,” said Jennifer Coates, DVM, serves on the advisory board for Cat Life Today. She also explained that cats may bite their owner’s feet to show affection. Additionally, some cats might bite your feet to get your attention. “They may have an empty food bowl or want somewhere that the door is closed,” Sara Ochoa, DVM, a small animal and exotic veterinarian in Texas and veterinary consultant for doglab.com said. Lastly, cats may attack any part of your body in an effort to stop an interaction that they’ve had enough of. “If your cat bites your feet then runs away after you have been playing with them, this may be their way of telling you to leave them alone,” Dr. Ochoa said. “Some cats will bite when they have had too much attention or are tired of playing.”
Your cat may also attack your feet due to some psychological reasons. For example, your cat may have been separated from its mother too early or your cat was never reprimanded by its mother for biting too harshly, said Gallant’s Vice President of Medical Affairs, Dr. Shelly Zacharias, DVM, VMP, BCMAS. Dr. Zacharias further explained that medical concerns, such as hyperthyroidism, might also be at play. “Medical issues should always be the first thing to rule out,” she said. “They are often the easiest to rule out as well.”
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Dr. Coates recommends trying to ignore the behavior and distancing yourself from your cat when it exhibits inappropriate behavior. She also notes that a pair of slippers or thick socks might help. “If you can’t ignore it, remove yourself from your cat’s vicinity with as little fuss as possible and close a door between the two of you,” she said. “Once everyone is calm, play with your cat using a feather wand or by tossing a stuffed toy that they can attack.”
Galaxy stressed the importance of staying consistent. “We don’t like it at 6 a.m. when it wakes us up, but we encourage it during the day when we’re awake because we like to see them wiggle their butt and attack in a cute way,” Galaxy said. “If you encourage it once, they’re going to come back twice, regardless of the time of day because it’s now a game to them.” In order to break the habit, you have to ignore the behavior completely. “Don’t squeal, don’t move your toes, don’t give them the satisfaction that this is a predictably wonderful game.”
Dr. Zacharias agrees that not running away or moving your legs when your cat is attacking you could deter the behavior because that is exactly what they want their prey to do. “Instead, either lean down and gently push your cat away or, more safely, lean down and gently clap, snap, or make a curious sound to get his attention, and say ‘no,'” she said. She also stressed the importance of not punishing your cat as it just makes your cat fear you and often be more defensively aggressive.
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Category: WHY
