Why Do Cats Bunny Kick? “Bunny kicking is an aggressive move,” says Dr. Susan. “It is both a self-defense move and a hunting maneuver.
Your furry friend will wrap their front two legs around the intended target (say, for instance, your arm) and, like a little thumper, will kick at the target with their hind legs. Cats typically perform this bunny-kick move when engaging in aggressive play or when they're attacking their prey (i.e., your arm).
Many healthy cats enjoy the act of “play wrestling” with other familiar cats, toys, pets, or humans. So, when a cat grabs ahold of their toys or your hand (ouch!) and starts giving it cute little cat bunny kicks, they're likely playing, and not violently attacking.
Overstimulation
This will mostly come out when you pet them for too long or do so aggressively, or by touching their sensitive areas which get them itchy. The cat will try to show their discomfort in what you've done by grabbing your arm and biting you for a little while.
Cats often bite during play because they are expressing their natural hunting instinct. For kittens, biting and bunny-kicking are normal play behaviours. They play like this with their littermates and mothers and it mimics how they pounce, grab and bite their prey.
According to the ASPCA, cats can attack for a multitude of reasons. They list the aggressions as: fearful or defensive, territorial, play, redirected, pet induced, pain induced, maternal, and idiopathic.
Play Aggression
If a person's hands and arms are too close to the cat during play, the cat may bite, scratch, and pounce on the person, leading to injuries. Cats may also lunge from under beds during play aggression episodes.
Cats bite for many different reasons. Depending on the environment or situation, your cat could bite due to stress, fear, or overstimulation. It's worth noting that cats typically don't bite out of anger or spite – so don't take it personally if your cat nips you while you're petting them.
Cats are natural born hunters so if your cat grabs and bites your hand, it is replicating hunting behaviour and pretending your hand is the prey.
Some cats may gently nibble or bite their owners as a sign of affection. It is thought to be reminiscent of how a mother cat will groom her kittens with small bites and is more common in cats who have had litters. This is not usually a problem form of biting.
Ah, the joy of being rubbed by a cat! When your furry companion rubs up against you, it's a display of pure feline affection. It's their way of saying, "Hey, I claim you as mine!" They transfer their scent onto you, almost like marking you as their own.
Rubbing and headbutting in the cat community are usually signs of marking territory, acceptance into the group, and/or greetings and adoration. Rubbing against something can also be used to gain information, as cats rely heavily on their sense of smell.
If your cat reacts this way to you when you are attempting to pet her, it can sometimes mean she is trying to play. Certainly when you watch cats or kittens playing with each other, they will perform this same behavior, although not with the same intensity as when fighting.
But it's true; they're actually “love bites” rather than a defense mechanism. A cat's needle-like gnashers will rarely break the skin or draw blood during playtime as there is no intent to injure their playmate.
Why do some cats dislike belly rubs? Hair follicles on the belly and tail area are hypersensitive to touch, so petting there can be overstimulating, Provoost says. “Cats prefer to be pet and scratched on the head, specifically under their chin and cheeks,” where they have scent glands, Provoost says.
As prey, cats know that their belly is one of their most vulnerable areas - exposing it gives potential predators access to their vital organs. So if your cat attacks you when you pet their belly, you're likely just triggering their natural protection reflex.
Sensitivity threshold: The cat enjoys the human contact at first, but then the repetitiveness of the petting becomes irritating. The cat turns and bites as a way to say, “I've had enough.” An analogy to human behavior can be made. If someone pats you on the back, it feels good.
This sudden bite occurrence happens when a cat reaches his or her tolerance level when being handled. It could be triggered by overstimulation or that she is particular about where she likes to be petted. Joy may not be a fan of strokes on along her back, side, or base of her tail.
There's a difference between rough play and aggression
During fun play, ears and tails will be straight up in the air. There may be some hissing, but play is usually quiet. If you notice a cat's ears turn toward the back of the head (“airplane ears”) or you hear growling, the play has tipped over into aggression.
Cat love bites are gentle little nips or nibbles and usually don't hurt too much. It's believed that these are learned from mother cats who often give little nibbles or bites to their kittens while grooming them. It's not an aggressive or threatening action at all, but more of a playful nibble.
Some kitty lovers call this a 'love bite', others call it petting aggression. It's a controversial subject but it's believed that if your cat suddenly bites you for no apparent reason, it could be because they are being overstimulated by the constant stroking - which you thought they were enjoying!
When dominating a cat, don't be rude to the cat. Don't mock the cat while doing it. Just be firm and loving as a cat-mom, and you will get across the message that the cat's not rejected. Time, patience, honesty, confidence and consistency are the best ways to establish enough trust that you can dominate a cat.
They're Offering “Love Bites”: Some cats show affection by offering a gentle bite or nip. These type of bites typically happen when your feline feels safe and bonded with you. You know it's a love bite if your cat's body language doesn't denote signs of fear or aggression and they appear relaxed and happy.
Headbutting is a way for cats to mark you with pheromones and bond with you. However, sometimes headbutting can be a way for cats to seek attention. As a general rule, cats like to be scratched under the chin and on the head, so a cat may just be presenting their head to you for some attention and good scratches.