Why Do Cats Attack Their Own Feet? Kick Their Head?

Have you noticed the things cats occasionally do to their own bodies? Like the really, really weird things, such as launching a surprise attack on their own feet? Or when they start leg-kicking themselves in the head? Well, I have, and I’ve often wondered why they do these things, so I’ve set out to find and explain the answer in this post. 

I’ve looked back on my experiences as a cat owner, and also read up on other people’s experiences with their cats. If you thought that only your cat did this (I bet I did), you’ll be surprised. It turns out, many, many cat owners wonder about these weird attacks. My cat was quite playful & energetic as a kitten, so he’s done a lot of weird things while in play-mood.

Why cats sometimes attack their own feet

First of all, we need to distinguish an attack from normal grooming. Cats like to keep themselves clean, and this involves their whole bodies, including their feet. If you own a cat, you have definitely seen it biting its own feet, while sitting on its behind. My cat does this multiple times per day, and is generally very thorough with his cleaning routine!

This seems to be cats’ go-to way of getting grime out from between their “toes” and licking any dust or sand off their paws. I know from personal experience that this practice can look a little bit violent. Don’t be fooled though, the cat is just using his/her teeth to remove dirt. 

Then there are the actual attacks. Sometimes, cats aren’t cleaning their paws, they are actually attacking (or play fighting with) their feet. There are a few explanations as to why cats do this, and I will cover them all below.

Cats attack their own feet for a variety of reasons. Most commonly, it is simply a form of play. When they lose sight of their target, they might start going for their own body parts instead, as they sort of get lost in the action. I’ve seen this happen a few times, and it usually only lasts for a few seconds.

It can also be intentional, sort of like tail-chasing in dogs. Some cats go for their own back paws with their front legs, trying to catch and bite them. I can’t tell you why they do this, but since it is just as meaningless as tail-chasing, I would guess that it is just a way to entertain themselves when they are in a playful mood.

Lastly, I recall seeing my cat standing on all four, and slapping one of his back paws repeatedly. This was a long time ago, but I remember coming to the conclusion that he was itching and trying to get something out from in between his toes. He didn’t sit down to do this, though, probably because it was an insect that had gotten stuck in there.

Why do cats kick themselves in the head?

Here’s another good one for you! A truly mysterious question that no one person can seem to solve. People around the world watching in chock as their pet cats slap themselves in the head over and over.

Not really a mystery, this one. Unless they are itching themselves, it is most likely because of a reflex that they cannot control. This reflex is often triggered when they bend forward, or lie in a specific position. Only some cats do this, though, and I imagine it is a real pain.

 But why is there a head-kicking reflex? Well, it is a defense mechanism for whenever a cat gets toppled by another animal. The cat is meant to hold its prey with the front paws, while furiously kicking with the back legs, in hopes of tearing up the enemy. Problems arise when there is no enemy, though, as his/her head takes the punches instead.

Once this reflex is triggered, these cats start kicking towards their own heads with their back legs, and oftentimes you see them biting their own legs in an attempt to make it stop. The bite often works and stops the head-kicking before it gets too severe. Crazy, huh?

Here’s a video showing it all in action:

My own cat has both of the above-mentioned freakouts on a regular basis. At one point I was slightly scared for his health (check out our article on cats’ average lifespan) Sure, he is a weird cat, but after researching this, I’ve found out that many cats do these things quite often. When I first adopted my kitten, I would have never thought that he would grow up to kick himself in the head, and bite his own feet!

Conclusion

Cats often attack their own feet as part of their play. Sometimes, though, they will bite their feet in an attempt to stop a reflex that causes them to repeatedly kick their own head. Luckily, not all cats suffer from this reflex.

So if you see this strange behavior in your cat, you most likely do not have to worry. Check out the video above to see how many crazy cats there are in this world. Your little pet is not the only one.