Mary Allen
Cats are wonderful animals – but some behaviors puzzle their owners. An example: is the violent kicking with the hind paws that occasionally occurs when playing with furry friends.
Sometimes cats are actually reminiscent of rabbits: Both animals occasionally kick around with their hind paws when playing. But when exactly do cats do this? And can this behavior be prevented? Here you can read how you can deal with your house tiger.
Cats Kick With Their Hind Paws: Play or Serious?
Cats that kick with their hind paws often do so out of sheer cockiness. Many cat owners play with their velvet paws by rolling them around with their hands – the animal will respond by enthusiastically reaching out for their hands with their paws, possibly even digging their claws into the skin at one point. The difference between play and seriousness can be fluid here: because in the wild, potential enemies move toward the cat in a similar way to the human hand. Accordingly, the animal reacts with paw slaps and kicks in order to be able to defend itself as well as possible.
This Is What You Can Do Against the Cat Kicks
There are several actions you can take if your cat kicks with its hind paws. For example, don’t touch their stomach – even if it’s tempting. Cats roll onto their backs to protect themselves in combat situations. Accordingly, the cat feels provoked by touches on the stomach and tries to defend itself by kicking. If your cat kicks while playing, you’d better use a cat toy instead of your hands to keep your pet occupied. This is how you protect your skin from claw hits.
A special toy for a cat that kicks with its hind paws is occasionally available in well-stocked shops: This is a kind of long cloth bag that the cat can punch with its hind paws almost like a punching ball – the filling is often special tempting for your pet because it contains catnip.