Male cat scratching carpet with hind legs while in a crouched position. Help! We’ve always owned cats. This is the first though that crouches on carpet and scratches it with his back paws! We have a male cat (5y.o.) who just started something new. He gets in a crouched position on our carpet (like he is getting ready to pee)and starts scratching the carpet with his REAR hind paws. Like he is kicking out backwards with them. He is not peeing (100% litter trained) but just keeps doing that back leg scratching thing with his back paws. He is an indoor cat and has not had any health problems. Does anyone else have a cat do this and why???? I can’t find any others on the internet whose cat does this! What is he doing?
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Cat scratching back with hind legs by: CPB I’ve seen my dog do this many times outside, after pooping, and it is no doubt a territorial thing. But now my cat (who is very friendly with the dog) is doing it too, inside the house, probably outside too, for all I know. (This cat is inside/outside.) I don’t know why he does it except to leave a mark of some sort. None of the my inside-only cats do it. Do cats do that? Did he learn it from the dog? I see other cats are doing it too, but also I notice there aren’t any answers here, so I’ll keep looking on the internet.
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cat acts demented at times by: fb2u our cat tiger 8 months -just had him neutered-has some bad habits. he bites pretty hard (break the skin)at times. He also will bite himself at times-his paws-tail-and kick his jaw with his hind paw 3-4 times before he stops. this activity makes him appear demented. We owned a main coon cat who was perfect for 15 years before he passed. we were spoiled. but if tiger continues his behavior of biting-etc-we will have to let him go back to the street where we saved him from the bitter cold and snow and rain in Philly, pa. Any advise would be appreciated.
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male cat scratching carpet by: crazycatlady my Siamese simi does this it is connected to the instinct left over from before domestication cats used to create a nest type hollow for resting it is also connected to turning in circles before settling down to sleep.
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Female cat scratching carpet by: Anonymous Female cat scratches at carpet. My 6 year old female cat will do the same thing! It’s always in the same places too. Either the same spot on my parents’ carpet or on this file box I have. She used to do it every night for months when I have this plastic file box located in my room on the floor. For about a year I kept it up in the closet. When I was moving into my new place, it just happened to be sitting on the floor and instantly she jumped up and started doing it again! It always seems that when she does it or after she does it she gets in a rambunctious mood and wants to play. Not really sure what this is! Would love to know why though.
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From the Book Kitten Taming by: Anonymous This may be helpful? A cat scratching is not because the process brings (claws) to a needle like point, but rather because it removes the old, blunted outer claw sheath to expose the glistening new talon beneath. Another function of scratching is to exercise and strengthen the muscles and tendons of the feet, keeping them fully prepared for action, whether that is doing battle or simply climbing the garden fence.More importantly, however, scratching leaves a visual signal of territorial rights to the other cats of the neighborhood. I addition, when your cat is scratching, scent glands in the paws release a secretion that gives and additional olfactory signal. An older cat may no longer be able to reach his back claws to bite off old claw sheaths.
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cat scratches with hind legs by: Kitty owner Yes! My cat is (male, house cat, 10 years old) does the exact same thing. I am a bit concerned. He just started doing it a few months ago. I have no idea what this behavior is about. Exact same thing, though, and I’m searching internet trying to figure it out. If you find out, please post answer. It’s different then the back claw attack i think.Thanks
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Back kicking carpet by: Mark The way you describe the action of the rear legs reminds me of a standard move by mostly male cats when in combat. Our cat Thomas does this move often but not in the standing or crouching position. He will lay on his side and grab a stuffed animal with his front paws and hold it to his chest. He then kicks with both of his rear paws (claws extended) to shred his enemy. In this case a defenseless stuffed animal.I’m not sure but it sounds like your cat may be simulating doing battle with the carpet. Maybe you can find him something else to attack that he will like better then the carpet?