If you’ve ever owned a cat, chances are you’ve been a victim of a scratch or cat bite. It’s not always a violent affair. Cats love to bite gently when playing or to warn you of something.
Sometimes, cats will focus on particular parts of your body to attack or bite, like feet. Why do they do this? Why does my cat bite my feet?
So you’re at your wit’s end, and you cannot walk around the house anymore for fear of a stealthy foot attack. What can you do?
One of the first steps to try is to simply ignore the behavior. That means not reacting with attention or any other direct interaction. Even better, simply walk away and distance yourself from the cat.
Avoid talking to or reprimanding the cat. Simply walk into another room and close the door, if necessary. After a short while, you can return and perhaps interact with your cat with a grooming brush or a cat toy.
Speaking of redirection, have one of those stuffed chew toys for cats on hand if you anticipate a cat attack. When you start to see the initial stalking behavior, toss the toy to get your cat’s attention.
If you do move away, be sure to do so without reacting like prey. That means not running away or making panicked noises. Instead, reach down and gently push the cat away from you. Then move off calmly.
If you want to stop that behavior, don’t encourage it, even when you want to play.
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