November 24, 2023, 4:49 am | Read time: 5 minutes
As you walk unsuspectingly past the sofa, suddenly a paw shoots out and swipes at your feet. Or you’re lying in bed and get startled when the cat launches a surprise attack on your toes. But what is it about our feet that cats find so fascinating? PETBOOK editor and cat behavior expert Saskia Schneider has the answer.
Almost all cat owners have been ambushed at some point. We all know the situation: You sit down to relax or go to bed, and the cat suddenly pounces on your feet for no apparent reason. Toes are also a favorite target for the little hunters–especially when they peek out from under the blanket. But why does the cat love to attack our feet? There are actually several reasons for this.
Play Behavior
Young cats, in particular, love to attack anything that moves. Our feet are the perfect target for them. They move frequently and are at the cat’s eye level. It’s even more exciting when they move under the blanket.
You can usually tell it’s play by the exaggerated movements cats make during the attack. They hop around with their arms spread wide, launch mock attacks, and have wide-open eyes and a funny facial expression. Unfortunately, not all cats use their claws and teeth gently, so the attacks, even if meant playfully, can still be painful.
Boredom
Cats that are bored often find their own entertainment. Feet that suddenly move through the little hunters’ field of vision are just right. Some cats have also learned that if they bite their human’s toes or socks, suddenly there’s action in the room.
So the cat attacks our feet to initiate a game. However, boredom can also lead to frustration, which brings us to the next reason.
Frustration
Similar to humans, frustration can lead to aggressive behavior in cats. This can also be directed at their humans. For example, my neighbor’s cat bit her heel after her 2-year-old grandson visited.
For the cat, these visits meant loud noise and little attention, regularly causing frustration that eventually erupted. A cat usually attacks feet because they are within reach.
Fear
For fearful cats, feet can seem very threatening–especially if they belong to strangers. It can happen that cats that are insecure or scared try to keep anything that comes too close at bay, not just by hissing but also by swatting with their paws.
Our cat Maja, whom my parents found on the street when she was just a few weeks old, was shy all her life and afraid of strangers. During birthdays or parties, she often sat under the sofa and attacked the guests’ feet.
Also interesting: 7 species-appropriate games to keep cats entertained
Overstimulation
When cats receive too many stimuli, it leads to what’s called overstimulation. Then the animals can react quite impulsively and suddenly scratch or bite. This happens, for example, when cats are petted very intensely for a long time. But also when the animals are exposed to one or more stimuli like loud noises or strong smells, they can become overstimulated. It can then happen that the cat attacks its human’s feet out of overstimulation when they are nearby.
Hunting Instinct
Cats are born hunters. This behavior is so deeply ingrained in them that cats can get a kind of tunnel vision when they focus on a hunting object. This hunting mode is triggered by suddenly moving objects, which can include feet.
Attention
Especially indoor cats need a lot of activity, which they often demand themselves. The animals quickly figure out which behaviors get their human’s attention. So it may be that the cat initially attacks its owner’s feet out of play behavior and learns: Every time I bite a toe, there’s action.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s positive (the human laughs and initiates a game) or negative attention (the human scolds, stands up, and chases the cat away). The main thing is that it livens up the place!
How to Stop the Attacks
Most cats attack their human’s feet out of play or because they are bored. Rarely is aggression behind it. However, even playful attacks can be painful, and especially if the cat also attacks guests’ feet, this behavior should be stopped.
Depending on what’s behind the behavior, there are different ways to address it:
- Ignore the behavior: Especially if cats want to grab attention with this behavior, it should be ignored or not reacted to, and the cat should no longer be given the opportunity (e.g., by sitting on your feet).
- Regular play sessions: If the cat regularly gets playtime with its humans, it doesn’t have to create its own action.
- Redirect behavior: Often, it’s a play invitation when the cat attacks feet. Here, the playful hunting instinct should be redirected to more suitable objects like a play wand.
- Create resting places: If the cat attacks feet to keep them at bay, it should be given retreats and resting places that are elevated.
- Keep the cat appropriately occupied: When cats are mentally and physically occupied, it not only boosts their confidence but also prevents frustration and boredom. In addition to regular play sessions, puzzle boards or clicker training are suitable here.
- Observe and learn to read behavior: Only those who can correctly interpret their cat and its body language can react before something happens.
Cat Attacks Out of Nowhere? Here’s What’s Behind It
Cats Bite When Stroked for These 4 Reasons
6 Reasons Why Cats Get Annoying at Night – and What Can Be Done to Help
Sources
- Catster.com, “Why Does My Cat Bite My Feet? 6 Vet Approved Reasons for This Behavior” (accessed on 11/22/2023)
- Dierenkliniekrivierenbuurt.com, “Help! My cat attacks my hands and feet” (accessed on 11/22/2023)
- Cats.com, “Why Does My Cat Bite My Feet?” (accessed on 11/22/2023)
- Hillspet.com, “Why Does My Cat Attack My Feet?” (accessed on 11/22/2023)