If your cat scratches you when you walk by you might be wondering why and what you can do about it. This post will show you a number of possible causes and what you can do about them.
So, why does my cat scratch me when I walk by? Possible reasons why your cat scratches you when you walk by are that it is playing, it sees your feet as prey or that it is intimidated.
Your cat might scratch you, when you walk past it, for many different reasons and it might be due to a combination of them. However, there are some things you can do about it and there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main cause.
Why does my cat scratch me when I walk past it?
Below are some possible causes and what would make them more likely.
Intimidation
Cats will often scratch when they are intimidated, and the reason why yours has been scratching you might be that it is intimidated. This would be more likely if it scratches you when you walk towards it loudly and if it also hisses and tries to back away from you. In this case, it could help to try to tread more lightly when walking near it.
It sees your feet as prey
Your feet move about like a mouse might. The reason why your cat scratches your feet might be that it sees your feet as prey. This would be more likely if your cat chases your feet when you are walking past it.
Related: Why does my cat bite my fingers?
Playing
It might also be the case that your cat is playing. This would be more likely if your cat also does things such as roll on its back and it does not show signs of being intimidated.
Related: why does my cat scratch my bed?
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.
If your cat has always scratched you when you walk by
If your cat has not always scratched you when you walk past, it would help to consider if anything else happened when it first started. For example, if it started doing it after you stepped on it once, it could be the case that it started getting intimidated.
What is different when your cat scratches you
It would also help to consider what else is different when your cat scratches you. For example, if your cat scratches you when you are walking past it and your cat also chases your feet, it would be more likely that your cat is playing or it sees your feet as prey. Whereas, if it does it when you walk directly towards your cat, it would be more likely to be because it is intimidated.
The body language it shows
It would also help to consider the body language your cat shows when it does it. If it shows signs of being agitated such as wagging its tail and moving away, it would be more likely that it scratches due to being intimidated. Whereas, if it does things such as chase you and roll around, it would be more likely that it is playing.
What to do about your cat scratching you when you walk by
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Wear shoes
A quick fix you could make use of would be to wear shoes when you are walking around the house. By doing so, the scratches will be less painful.
Give it distractions
Another option would be to give your cat things such as toys to be distracted by so that it is less likely to want to chase your shoes.
Redirect its focus
It would also be an option to redirect your cat’s focus when you are walking past it. One way to do so could be to wave another toy around that it likes to chase when walking past.
Avoid intimidating it
If your cat seems to be doing it due to getting intimidated, it could also help to walk around it more carefully. It would also be an option to get your cat to sit and sleep somewhere that is not in the way of where you tend to walk.