Cats are very adept at contorting their bodies, whether it’s jumping off high surfaces or squeezing into small spaces. One unusual action you may notice is the cat bunny kick, when they kick at you, a toy, or another cat with their back legs.
What is cat bunny kick?
You will know the rabbit is kicking when you see it, usually during playtime. Your furry friend will wrap his front two legs around the intended target (say, your arm, for example) and, just like a little thumper, kick the target with his back legs. Cats usually do this bunny-kick move when they are involved in aggressive play.
Why do cats kick bunnies?
Although bunny kicks seem cute, it is a sneaky and potentially dangerous behavior.
Whether performed by a domestic cat roaming the rooms of a house or by a big cat roaming the woods, the cat bunny kick is both a tactical self-defense move and a hunting maneuver. When a cat lies on its back with all four paws and claws on display – whether in a game or a real-life fight – their opponent doesn’t stand a chance.
In the wild, cats use the bunny kick to catch their prey just before it kills them. If you’ve ever seen a domestic cat catch a mouse or bird, you may have observed this same behavior, but the cat does not always kill the creature, especially if they are not hungry. In addition to kicking a rabbit, cats can also toss prey around in their paws for a short period of time.
Can I expect a cat rabbit kick?
As a pet parent, understanding cat behavior is a way to tell the difference between being quite relaxed or attacking. If their ears are flattened against their head or their pupils are dilated, your cat is ready to purr.