If you share the house with a cat you’ve probably been surprised by an ankle attack, for many tutors this behavior is worrying because they see it as a possible symptom of aggression, however, in general, a cat chasing his ankle is boring and finds no other way to positively exercise his lost natural hunter.
Wondering why cats bite their paws? Therefore, we invite you to continue reading this article in Animal Expert to learn more about the possible causes of this “sneak attack” and how to avoid it so that the game does not end in injuries.
YouTube – Bad Cat Chris
Although cats have been “domesticated”, their hunting instincts are innate, like all cats. However, unlike their wild parents, ours have not been able to exercise their hunting skills noticeably, as they no longer need to hunt for food.
While home life protects them from many environmental diseases and adversities, when the environmental enrichment a feline needs to stay healthy and in balance does not matter, different behavioural problems arise.You have to ask yourself why your cat attacks you for no reason, however, all the behaviors manifested by the felines have a reason and aim to achieve specific goals: feed, de-severe, attract attention …
Most cats that bite their owners’ ankles have some of the five symptoms that bother them, because they spend a lot of time alone and do not have a stimulating environment, or because they do not receive proper attention from their guardians, a cat ends up considering chasing the ankles of its owners as a perfect opportunity to exercise their natural instinct.In addition, it is important to remember that a bored and sedentary cat becomes vulnerable to a number of diseases and behavioral problems.
We may not even realize it, but when we play with our own, we give them the opportunity to exercise their natural instincts, for example, the classic fishing rod game aims to mimic a bird’s movement to stimulate the hunting instinct of cats.If we stop playing with our pets or if we don’t provide toys and accessories to keep us active when we’re away from home, they’ll most likely consider attacking their ankles or legs as an outlet to their monotony.
While biting the ankles of the guardians may show the boredom of a cat that does not have the toys necessary to exercise their instincts in a positive way, without hurting their guardians, cats can bite for different reasons, depending on the circumstances, a cat can bite as a sign of social interaction, have been very excited during a game , show affection, for lack of socialization, for mistrust and for a sense of vulnerability, among other reasons.
When a cat bites you gently when you eat its food or when you play with it, it probably shows your affection and appreciation, it is very important not to reinforce this behavior and ignore it and teach your cat to express its affection in a safe and quiet way, using positive reinforcement to recognize only the desirable attitudes of your.Remember that keeping him away, punishing him or scolding him are also ways to reinforce his behavior, because if the cat catches our eye, he gets what he wants.
To eliminate a behavior you have to ignore it completely, it is the only way that the cat has to stop repeating itself, because it does not get an answer, on the other hand, if a feline is sick or feels vulnerable to any situation, it can bite as a form of self-defense, to avoid possible damage to its well-being.
If you notice that your cat has symptoms such as weakness, hiding for a long time, or isolated, and using the bite as a defense, it’s very important to see a veterinarian quickly, some conditions can cause behavioral changes, and pain makes you more vulnerable.
In a nutshell … Because cats have a unique personality, there is no exact interpretation for every sound, gesture or expression that cats use in their daily lives to express their feelings, desires and mood.Your cat is a unique and unique being, so there is no previously established definition of your personality.Therefore, in order to interpret the meaning of bites and the different forms of expression of your person, it is very important that you spend your time discovering their personality and unraveling their body language.
However, if you notice that your cat has become aggressive or has negative changes in its behavior, it is important that you consult with a veterinarian specialized in feline ethology, with this professional you can discover the causes of these changes and establish a treatment.according to your cat’s specific needs.
While we can understand that attacking our ankles is a natural instinct of ours, the truth is that the bites in this sensitive area can be very uncomfortable and painful, so we have gathered some practical tips to avoid these attacks of your cat and achieve a healthier coexistence in your home.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Curiosities section of the animal world.