I have lived with lots of cats. There was always something new going on.
Many was the time I would stroll by some household piece of furniture or a doorway when from out of hiding one of our cats would attack my ankles.
On other occasions I might be lying in bed underneath the covers when suddenly my feet would be pounced upon by a stalking cat.
If you have had similar experiences, your cat probably does this for the same reasons your kitty might attack a toy mouse or a rolling ball or the light from a laser pointer. Your kitty is a predator, and your pet is sometimes driven by instinct to act like a tiger.
Our house-dwelling kitties share 95.6% if their DNA with tigers,[1] so we should not be too surprised when they occasionally behave like a tiger.
On a an evolutionary time-scale, Domestic Cats are not far removed from their wild ancestors. They have retained many of the instincts necessary for them to survive when there are no humans in their life to provide them with food and shelter.
These kitties that live with us have learned to love us, rely on us, even be protective of us. Yet deep inside their hearts there still resides the wild attributes of the African Wildcats from which they evolved.[2]
Much of their play is driven by this predatory instinct which is inside them and needs to be released now and then in order to avoid frustration. This behavior may not manifest in some pedigree breeds, but for most cats, it is just part of being a cat.
Three Reasons Your Cat Might Attack Your Ankles:
1. Simply Playing
Here your cat generally keeps claws sheathed and the biting is confined to just grasping.
Cats’ eyes are very tuned to detecting movement in the bushes, so when you are walking, your ankles may serve as a pretend prey animal running through the wilderness.
Your feet underneath the bed covers may represent prey that is attempting to hide.
There are a couple of things you can do to discourage this behavior:
A. Enrich Your Cat’s Environment
Research has shown that providing a rich environment for your cat can deter behavior problems.[3]
This means you should give your cat lots of outlets through which to act on their need to play as a predator, and this may distract your kitty from attacks upon your person.
Schedule play time with your cat, and provide an assortment of toys around the house. I have a blog post that will help you find toys your cat will like: How to Choose Cat Toys.
Cats also love to climb and scratch, so providing a cat tree with scratching posts will allow the kitty to pursue instinctual activities, and may have the effect of helping your cat to relax. You may want to visit my blog post How to Choose a Cat Tree.
B. Provide a Meaty Diet
Cats are hypercarnivores that require meat protein to be the main part of their diet.[4]
There was a study that found that feeding pet cats meat protein food reduced the cat’s inclination to hunt when let outside.[5]
I wonder if such a diet would also reduce your kitty’s tendency to hunt your ankles or feet. Meat is what they should be eating anyway, so why not give it to them?
My blog post Why Are Cats Picky Eaters? will help you choose the right food.
2. Kitty is Upset
It might happen that your cat has been frightened or otherwise disturbed by something, is frustrated, and takes it out on you to relieve their anxiety.
This attack could include bared claws and hard biting.
Obviously, the solution here is to resolve the thing or activity that has upset your cat.
On more than one occasion I have been scratched by a kitty when I tried to move the cat out of a chair I needed to sit in. I was finally able to coax the cat out of the chair, perhaps with a toy or a treat. It was not a big problem, and we forgave each other. We all get a little cranky now and then.
3. Chronic Aggresive Behavior
If aggressive behavior becomes frequent and intense, you should probably seek professional help.
Cat aggression can take many forms and may be a result of illness, injury, fear, or other causes.
I think a veterinarian should be your first attempt at a solution. If medical problems are ruled out, you may wish to consult an animal behaviorist.
It will be in your cat’s and your household’s best interest to act quickly to resolve the problem.
How to Enjoy Living With Cats
The more you know about and understand cats, the more you will enjoy living with them.
I have a blog post Living With Your Cat that I think you will find very helpful.
References
[1] Yun Sung Cho, et al The tiger genome and comparative analysis with lion and snow leopard genomes, Nature Communications, 07/17/2013
[2] International Cat Care, The Origin of Cats, 10/05/2018
[3] Hetts, Suzanne, Aggression in Cats, ASPCA, 1999
[4] Eisert, Regina, Hypercarnivory and the brain; protein requirements of cats reconsidered, Journal of Comparative Physiology, 01/2011
[5] Cecchetti, Martina, et al, Provision of High Meat Content and Object Play Reduce Predation of Wild Animals by Domestic Cats, Current Biology, 03/08/2021