Misdirected Feline Predatory Behaviour Towards People

Key Points

Innate hunting responses are triggered by stimuli such as sudden movements or shrill noises. Do not play games directed at hands and feet. Reduce reinforcement during stalking and attack behaviour (stop moving, do not make any noises). Wear protective garments, or at least keep hands, legs and feet covered. Provide an enriched play environment. Provide suitable play at times when the cat is expected to be active. Block access to the locations from which the cat launches its attacks.

Introduction

Although often classified with other forms of aggression, predatory behaviour is functionally and mechanistically different to aggression. Cats are highly adapted to carry out a specific pattern of hunting behaviour. They have a small stomach which is evolved to cope with a large number of small fresh meals each day, rather than a single large one. One very common misconception amongst cat owners is that hunting is a behaviour which is performed in order to satisfy hunger. In fact, these two aspects of feline behaviour are independent of one another. A hungry cat will engage larger prey and deliver a kill bite more rapidly, but a well-fed cat will still continue to hunt. In one study cats were found to break off from eating a bowl of food to catch and kill a live rat that was nearby, before returning to the food bowl. Hunting responses are triggered by stimuli such as sudden movements or shrill noises.

As a result, a cat that is denied the opportunity to engage in hunting real prey or appropriate toys may display predatory behaviour toward other rapidly moving objects such as human feet and hands. Human shrieks and squeals increase the cat's arousal and intensify the behaviour. The behavioural sequences involved in predation are practiced and perfected through object play so that in some texts the terms ‘misdirected play’ or ‘play-related aggression’ are used to describe a predatory form of behaviour that occurs in the absence of any genuine prey.

Diagnosis

When taking the history it is important to fully characterise every incident:

• The cat’s posture before, during and after an “attack”.
• The contexts in which the attacks typically occur.
• The triggers that appeared to initiate the predatory sequence (first sign of stalking the target).
• The stimuli or events that prompted the final attack.

The behavioural history usually indicates that the problem began with inappropriate play, directed at hands and feet or involving chasing games. This has been actively encouraged by the owner, for example games that involve running fingers over the backs of sofas or encouraging attacks on feet or hands under the duvet. The games become less enjoyable as the cat becomes larger and able to inflict injuries. There is a progression to more serious ambushes in which the cat waits for the owner and then lunges at or attacks them. There may be an element of frustration that the owner no longer playfully reciprocates the behaviour.

In many cases of misdirected predatory behaviour the attack, or the preparatory stalking behaviour that preceded it, is being inadvertently rewarded by the human response. The cat gains attention, further play or simply revels in the victim’s reaction to being pounced on.

One feature of predatory behaviour that differentiates it from play, is that the claws are usually extended and the bite is not inhibited. Bite intensity is under control of reflexes fed with information from local mechanoreceptors around the mouth, so that the victim’s movements will drive the bite to intensify.

Elderly people and children are particularly at risk from this sort of behaviour and injuries are likely to be serious.

Prevention

Preventing misdirected predatory behaviour towards people:

• Provide kittens with a range of toys for object play: small, lightweight toys and larger objects. Real fur toys are available.
• Change the selection of toys that are available several times each day to maintain a stimulating environment.
• Encourage play that involves fishing toys, laser pointers and other devices that focus play on a toy rather than hands or feet.
• Provide activity feeders such as perforated plastic drinks bottles filled with dried food.
• Do not play games where the cat is encouraged to regard hands or feet as suitable targets for play.
• If the young cat does pounce on a person they should remain still and provide minimal feedback for the behaviour (no struggling, no sudden movements or noises).

Treatment

All encouragement for misdirected predatory behaviour should cease; no more games with hands or feet as a target. When pounced on, the victim should stop moving and make no sound. This removes any reinforcement for the behaviour and reduces the risk that struggling will trigger deeper biting or raking with claws. The attacks may be startling and painful so the client may need to wear heavy trousers and long sleeved clothes as a protection. Reinforced trousers may sometimes be needed. These are easily available from motorcycling shops and may be made from ballistic nylon or Kevlar reinforced fabric. These resist bite and claw penetration very well. The need for protective clothing is not permanent, and can be phased out as the cat starts to use the environmental enrichment and alternative predatory targets.

Environmental enrichment should be provided, including activity feeders, timed feeders and a wide range of small lightweight toys to encourage object play. Simple items such as ping-pong balls covered in glitter or painted with marker pens, and large feathers are perfectly suitable. The selection available to the cat should be changed regularly during the day so that there is always something new to attract the cat’s attention.

Play with these toys may be further reinforced with attention (not touch), further stimulation using a fishing type toy or the provision of food treats.

Certain times of day are often peak periods for misdirected predatory behaviour. The cat is a crepuscular hunter so that its peak periods of activity will be early morning and evening. The owner should try to provide several short periods of play during the times when it is anticipated that the cat will be at its most active. Fishing toys and laser pointer games are appropriate since they distance the owner’s hand movements from the play. However caution should be exercised with the laser pointers since an element of frustration can develop if the cat is never able to actually catch the “prey” and physically handle it. For this reason it is advised that laser pointers should never be the sole source of predatory activity but should be integrated into a play programme with other toys that the cat can actually catch and “kill”.

Cats will often have favourite places from which to launch their predatory attacks, or stalking. Access to these should be blocked off.

Prognosis

Prognosis is guarded if the cat’s targets are children or vulnerable individuals or if serious injury has already been caused by the predatory attacks. If behavioural methods are working, then some improvement ought to be seen within 4-6 weeks.

Sustained improvements are only seen if environmental enrichment and proper play continue to be provided, although often this strengthens the positive aspects of the cat-owner relationship.

Also see:

Overview of Feline Aggression