If your cat claws your feet, this post will show you a number of possible reasons why and what you can do about it.
So, why does my cat claw my feet? Possible reasons why your cat claws your feet are that it is showing pleasure, playing, it wants you to stop touching it, it sees your feet as prey or it is intimidated.
Your cat might claw your feet for a number of reasons and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.
Why does my cat claw my feet?
Below are a number of possible causes and what would make each of them more likely to be the main reason.
Pleasure
When cats are happy, they will start to do something called “kneading” which is where they pat their paws up and down and extend their claws. If your cat does this to you, when you are petting it, it would be likely that your cat is doing it because it is happy. This would be more likely if your cat does it when you are petting it, and it is purring.
Related: Why does my cat claw my hands?
Intimidation
The reason why it does it might be that it feels intimidated. This would be more likely if it does it when you are touching your cat with your feet and your cat seems to pull away from you and if it also scratches, or hisses. In this case, it could be the case that you are not being gentle enough or you are approaching it too boldly.
It’s playing
The reason why your cat does it could also be that it is playing. This would be more likely if your cat does it when you are walking or when you are moving your feet while sat down.
It wants you to stop touching it
If your cat does it when you are touching it, with your feet, the cause could be that it wants you to stop touching it with your feet. This would be more likely if it also tries to move away from you and it starts doing things such as flick its tail.
It sees your feet as prey
Your feet move about like a mouse might. The reason why your cat grabs your feet might be that it sees your feet as prey. This would also be more likely if it does it when you are moving your feet around.
Things to consider about your cat clawing your feet
Below are some things to consider when figuring out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.
If it has always clawed your feet
If your cat did not always claw your feet, it would help to consider what else happened when your cat first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it might have something to do with a change in the way you have been touching your cat with your feet.
What is different when it does not claw your feet
If your cat does not always claw your feet, it would also help to consider what is different when it does not claw your feet. For example, if it only does it when you are moving your feet, the cause would be more likely to be that it is playing and sees your feet as prey.
What to do about your cat clawing your feet
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Get your cat to sit somewhere else
If your cat claws your feet when you are sat down, one option would be to get your cat to sit somewhere else. One way to do so would be to put a cat bed somewhere for it to lay down in.
Wear shoes
If your cat has been clawing your feet at a specific time, another option would be to simply wear shoes at that time.
Give it distractions
Another option would be to give your cat toys that it can be distracted by so that it is less likely to attack your feet.
Why does my cat claw my ankles?
Your cat might claw your ankles for any of the reasons mentioned above. It would help to consider the timing of when your cat does it.
Why does my cat scratch my feet?
If your cat scratches your feet, would make it more likely that it is doing it because it sees your feet as prey because of the way your feet move around. However, it could also be due to other reasons such as being intimidated by the way you’re touching it with your feet.