Why Does Your Cat Bite Your Ankles—and What to Do About It · Kinship Leave a comment

On this widespread cat guardian situation, one second you’re strolling barefoot throughout the lounge ground, the following a fur ball streaks out from beneath the sofa and sinks its enamel into your ankle. This painful occasion often called ankle-biting doesn’t imply your cat is inherently aggressive and can sever your jugular within the evening. It simply means you would possibly wish to cowl your ft with a thick pair of socks till you’re not a shifting goal. 

Seasoned cat dad and mom perceive ankle-biting as a part of regular playful, predatory cat conduct. New cat dad and mom nonetheless can expertise alarm, to not point out ache. 

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Sylvie Sterling, the CEO and founding father of Feline Soul Academy, is a cat skilled and licensed cat psychologist and behaviorist and says there are numerous causes your kitty could also be into biting your ankles, “and it’s normally not what individuals assume!”

Widespread causes your cat is biting your ankles

Deepak Shukla, founding father of Pets Let’s Journey and cat guardian to Jenny, understands how complicated it may be when your cat begins biting your ankles. “I’m a cat proprietor myself, and my cat Jenny has undoubtedly had her moments of mischief, together with a couple of ankle-biting episodes! Primarily based on my expertise, there are a couple of widespread the explanation why cats like Jenny interact on this conduct.”

Searching instincts

Cats have pure looking instincts, so they could be chasing after your ankles as a result of they wish to train a few of that hunting-style play. “Cats are a predatory species,” Dr. Marci Koski, licensed feline conduct and coaching advisor at  Feline Habits Options, informed Kinship in a earlier interview. “They’re barely domesticated and programmed to hunt, so if we don’t give them these alternatives by means of play, they’ll get bored, which may result in melancholy, damaging behaviors, stress, home soiling, aggression, and extra.”

Primarily based on her personal expertise, Shukla is aware of that cats typically simply see their dad and mom as a shifting goal. “Whenever you stroll round, particularly when you’re shifting shortly, they could see your ankles as a goal. “It’s one thing that’s virtually instinctual for them,” Shukla says. “Jenny, for instance, would usually pounce on my ankles like they had been prey, particularly when she was youthful and extra playful.” 

Playtime

Sterling advises making your own home a cat-friendly surroundings the place your cat can exert themselves, each bodily and emotionally. “At all times make certain your cat has sufficient toys and issues to play with or climb on or scratch on or do any sort of bodily exercise,” she says.

Consideration-seeking or boredom

Sterling provides that when cats appear to “need consideration,” they’re speaking one thing shocking. “They’re actually making an attempt to indicate us people that we are wired! That we aren’t comfortable. That we’re stressed, or that we are indignant,” she says. “Cats are very empathetic and so they at all times really feel our emotional states and our moods. So, once we people are going by means of emotional ups and downs with out noticing that we’re in a sure state, then our cats will come to us and alert us to the truth that we have to chill out or destress or simply discover that we aren’t comfortable. By clawing us or biting us, they’re making an attempt to get us to concentrate to that reality!”

Boredom can play a job as nicely. Cats are curious, playful creatures who want common stimulation, particularly in the event that they dwell indoors. Construct in day by day playtime, arrange a cat tower or set up a window shelf to maintain your cat entertained and mentally engaged.  Cristin Tamburo, cat behaviorist, informed us that 10 to fifteen minutes a day of play is an effective basic guideline.

She provides: “Youthful cats and kittens typically have much more power and can keep engaged in play longer than older cats, so I like to recommend, each time potential, to play along with your cat till they tire out.”

Stress or nervousness

Sadly, many kittens are taken too early from their mom and littermates, which Sterling says leads to poor socialization. “Their mom couldn’t educate them not to be tough or not to chew the people.” Or, she says, “They don’t have a sibling to play with or socialize with, so that they’ll take your ft for playtime and stimulation of their senses.”

Stress and nervousness contribute to aggressive conduct like biting (which once more doesn’t imply your cat is aggressive by nature). Take into consideration latest modifications in your cat’s surroundings or routine. Do you’ve got a brand new pet? Visitors within the bed room with the litter field or loud noises from development subsequent door? 

Sterling says simply as people launch stress with a punching ball or different objects, so do cats. “Generally they should launch stress,” she says, which works again to constructing an surroundings that meets their wants.

Medical situations

Medical situations like arthritis could make cats irritable, main them to chew.

Behaviorist Karen London wrote for Kinship that ache in cats usually causes cats to carry out behaviors chances are you’ll not have seen earlier than: “If a cat abruptly reveals conduct that has by no means been seen earlier than, the explanation for the brand new conduct may very well be ache. It’s commonplace for a damage cat to turn out to be agitated, and even aggressive — particularly if touched or startled. Generally, a cat who’s struggling bodily ache will uncharacteristically start  eliminating outdoors of the litter field. That may be as a result of it hurts them to enter the field or as a result of they skilled ache whereas in there.”

In case your cat can be biting if you decide them up, think about a visit to the vet to rule out bodily points.

Teething or dental points

Kittens and puppies have the urge to chew once they’re teething. Shukla says when Jenny was youthful, she went by means of a teething part the place she bit all the pieces in sight. “This pure course of could cause some non permanent chewing behaviors, so if in case you have a kitten, ankle-biting would possibly simply be a part they develop out of,” he says.

When Jenny received older and commenced experiencing dental points, she was additionally extra more likely to chew. “ Dental ache or joint issues can typically trigger cats to behave out, and it’s at all times a good suggestion to get them checked if the conduct feels uncommon,” Shukla says. 

The right way to forestall your cat from biting your ankles

Right here’s some homework for cat dad and mom: Keep away from overreacting to random assaults. Don’t ever lash out at your cat once they chew your ankles (that features elevating your voice, pointing a sprig bottle at them, or chasing them). That may result in fear-based aggression, which is a bigger downside than episodic ankle-biting. As a substitute, say “ouch” loudly, then gently transfer away out of your cat. Of their thoughts, they didn’t get the eye they could have been in search of. 

Shukla redirects Jenny’s consideration to a toy or engages her in play periods. “Interactive toys, resembling feather wands or laser pointers are nice for maintaining them entertained and off your ankles,” Shukla says. “I’ve additionally discovered that offering sufficient psychological stimulation and optimistic reinforcement when she performs gently has labored wonders in curbing the ankle-biting conduct.”

Present sufficient playtime

In an effort to get your cat to cease habits you don’t need (like ankle-biting), you could interact with them extra. Mikel Delgado, animal behaviorist,  cat conduct advisor, and writer of The right way to Play With Your Cat, informed Kinship that most individuals don’t even perceive that their cat likes and desires to play. She recommends setting time apart each day to ensure you’re partaking along with your cat (or encouraging solo play) to allow them to use their power that approach, and never for turning your ankles into chew toys.

“I noticed this potential challenge the place both individuals didn’t perceive methods to play with their cats, or they didn’t acknowledge play of their cats, or they didn’t know methods to play,” she informed us in an interview. “To me, a pure antidote to that’s encouraging play and exercise in our cats. Identical to once we train, we get an endorphin rush, and it type of takes our thoughts off our issues; I would like individuals to do the identical factor with our cats.”

Behavioral coaching

Behavioral coaching with optimistic reinforcement is one of the simplest ways to encourage your cat to ask for issues with out biting your ankles. When your cat appropriately asks for meals and a spotlight (like by meowing, sitting and taking a look at you calmly, rubbing towards your legs), reply with treats, playtime, and any reward your cat understands to be optimistic.

LeeAnna Buis, animal behaviorist and cat conduct advisor at Feline Habits Options, wrote for us that it’s necessary to begin your cat’s coaching as younger as potential. However working with optimistic reinforcement all through their life is simply an necessary: “Whether or not in a proper coaching session the place you’ve given a cue and so they’ve adopted it, otherwise you occur to catch your kitten doing one thing you wish to encourage, like utilizing the scratching submit as an alternative of the sofa, reward it! Rewarded behaviors usually tend to be repeated. That is one of the simplest ways to coach your kitten (or cat of any age).”

Making certain a stimulating surroundings

This goes again to creating positive your cat has sufficient to maintain them from losing interest if you’re away from dwelling or busy. That is particularly necessary for indoor cats. Catnip toys, scratching posts, puzzle feeders, a window perch, or perhaps a cardboard field will interact and entertain them in your absence.

When to get skilled assist from a vet or coach

As we talked about earlier, it’s necessary to take your cat to the vet when you assume any of your cat’s conduct may very well be simply manifestations of their ache. By no means wait to speak to somebody when you assume that is the case; it’s necessary to rule out any well being issues or underlying points.

Persistent or aggressive conduct

Cats will briefly exhibit aggressive conduct for a number of causes. If the biting persists or seems to be linked to well being points, it’s finest to seek the advice of a veterinarian for a check-up.

Stress or nervousness indicators

In case your cat reveals different indicators of stress (resembling litter field avoidance, extreme vocalization, and hiding), ankle-biting could also be yet one more approach their nervousness is displaying itself. In case you’re internet hosting a celebration, or your own home is filled with individuals and your consideration is diverted at a time once they usually anticipate consideration, your cat will really feel confused and anxious and should chew your company’ ankles. The kindest factor you are able to do to your cat is to provide them a quiet place behind closed doorways and reconnect when the company depart. 

FAQs

Why does my cat like my ankles?

Your cat likes your ankles as a result of your ankles are the correct peak to chew. As complicated as it might be, ankle-biting occurs for a lot of causes, resembling playfulness or boredom (see above). Nevertheless, if this turns into persistent conduct, you must search recommendation from a vet. 

Why does my cat randomly assault my ankles?

Cats randomly assault ankles as a result of they’re most likely in a looking temper, feeling bored, or are being playful. For all these causes, your ankles function irresistible shifting targets. Bear in mind to remain calm, and redirect the conduct. Your ankles will thanks.

References

Kate Boatright, V. M. D. “Behavioral Indicators of Feline Ache.” Dvm360, vol. 52, 6 July 2021, www.dvm360.com/view/behavioral-signs-of-feline-pain.