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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Elderly cat suddenly swiping at feet

5 replies

Gertrudetheadelie · 10/09/2023 13:30

Hello all! My elderly cat has suddenly decided that my feet (but mostly my husband's) are fair game for a full bodied pounce. Luckily he has no teeth but his claws are leaving my OH with little puncture marks all around his ankles! We do play with him regularly (toy on a stick), have a laser pointer, he has access to the outside etc so I don't think he's bored per se. Anyone have any idea why he's suddenly turned into yet more of a dick???

OP posts:

twinkletoesimnot · 10/09/2023 13:47

Hello
I can't help with this but our old boy has started doing the same! (He's 16 and a 1/2)
Especially to my 9 year old.
We were thinking he can't really be bothered to chase / hunt much these days but when something is within easy reach he can't resist it.

Original poster

Gertrudetheadelie · 10/09/2023 14:19

Well I'm glad it's not just us at least! We're taking him to the vet this week for bloods just in case there's something wrong so I'll report back! The thing is, it isn't necessarily nasty and he's not hissing or anything but he just can't resist the feet all of a sudden! We thought at first he just needed more play but we've tried that and it hasn't helped.

I should add that we haven't trained him to play with feet when he was little. We adopted him as a 16 year old but this behaviour is definitely new.

OP posts:

Yarnysaurus · 10/09/2023 14:54

Laser pointers and fishing rod toys can sometimes be very frustrating for cats as they encourage the thrill of the chase but with little reward. Can you switch out for toys you throw, like balls or rolled up paper, and things he can bite and manipulate himself, like kicker toys and small soft/catnip filled toys?

Original poster

Gertrudetheadelie · 10/09/2023 15:24

@Yarnysaurus we do always make sure that we give a treat to make it satisfying. We have also tried balls, his previous favourites (pipe cleaners), and treat puzzle balls but nothing distracts him from the feet when he's in the zone! Might try rolled up paper though just in case...

OP posts:

Yarnysaurus · 10/09/2023 15:25

I don't think you can distract him once he's in the zone, but if you regularly and predictably meet his pouncing and grabbing needs in other ways he might ease off the foot attacks.

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