Cat attack! Understanding the cat ambush attack

Updated 21/02/2024

Who here has been through a cat ambush attack? Yep, thought so. Cat carers reading this are usually all too familiar with cat attacks! Our feline friends are natural-born hunters with their needle-like teeth and sharp murder mittens. Although rarely used against us, when they suddenly decide they’re in the mood for a kitty ambush, it's our feet and hands that often pay the price.

Today, we’ll take a look at the cat ambush attack, which is normal cat behavior, and whether you can prevent a future cat attack from happening. Claws at the ready, let’s scratch through this kitty conundrum together.

Why does my cat attack me?

Bang! You’ve just been cat-attacked, my friend! Depending on the time of day or mood you’re in, these can either be funny to watch or a pain, literally. Cat aggression can happen for a variety of reasons, some of which may always remain a mystery to us humans. These reasons also refer to the similar question of ‘Why does my cat randomly bite me?’, however, do remember that every kitty is different, and what may provoke one cat may not bother another.

Play aggression 

Cat playtime is an important part of their daily routine. It helps to stimulate their prey drive and hunting instincts which help to keep them happy and healthy. However, there are times when things appear to be all fun and games, then suddenly the claws are out and you’re low-key arm wrestling with your kitty. This is called rough play.

Rough play is very normal behavior between cats, particularly siblings or fellow furry friends. But it should not be encouraged with us humans. Like an overexcited toddler, cats can take it too far, and all their pumped-up energy and fun levels can be converted into a cat attack on you. Make sure your playtime is kept focused on toys and avoid any rough petting or belly tickles.

Petting induced aggression

Yep, this is also a thing! Every cat has a sort of ‘kitty timer’ - this ‘timer’ determines how easily a feline is overstimulated and how long it takes for them to reach their limit. Too much rough play, petting or brushing can lead to an unwanted cat ambush attack or simply a surprise scratch or bite. Learn to read your cat’s body language, and understand their warning signs of when enough is enough. This could be as subtle as an annoyed flick of the tail or a slight flattening of their ears.

If you have young kids, make sure they’re supervised around your frisky feline. Whilst children often don’t mean any harm, they’re sometimes not aware of their strengths, as well as not being good at recognizing negative feline body language. Keeping an eye on both baby and cat will help prevent injury to your child, and stop your cat from feeling trapped and overwhelmed.

They’re trying to bond with you

This is on a similar level to the rough play or play aggression that can lead to a kitty ambush. Play-fighting, play-hunting, and other rough-and-tumble behaviors can be a way for cats to bond with one another. You’ll often see this with kittens in a litter who never seem to be able to leave each other (or mom) alone. This is completely normal cat behavior and nothing to worry about.

However, sometimes you and the feline family can connect so well they start to see you as one of their own. And by this, we mean they include you in their rough play and cat ambush attacks. Of course, this is a huge compliment in the kitty world and we’re forever grateful for the acceptance. We just wish they would show it in a less scratchy way!

Lack of socialization

Some people often forget that cats, like dogs, need to be exposed to human socialization to help build their confidence around us. Whilst some cats are naturally born shy, introducing them to new humans from a young age should help them to accept visitors as part of their routine. Cats can react to surprises with fear and aggression, which is more likely to be triggered if they’re not used to people.

How to stop my cat from biting and attacking me

A lot of cat training comes down to how they’re reared as kittens. If you have an adult rescue cat, creating new habits can be difficult, but not impossible. Start by learning these bits of cat body language to recognize the warning signs.

Warning signs

Understanding cat body language is key to kitty contentment. Even before your kitty shows any warning signs they’re planning an ambush, there are some pieces of cat body language you can spot to pre-warn you:

• Raised fur on their back
• Dilated pupils
• Airplane ears - their ears are pulled back 
• They’re crouching low to the ground
• Their tail has gone from curved and relaxed, to moving it back and forwards

Following these pieces of cat body language, your furry friend may revert to full-on warning signs, such as:

• Tail whips about or you can hear it smack the floor
• They begin to flex their claws
• A deep, low growl or mewling
• An arched back with raised fur
• Hissing or spitting
• Pretending to strike or pounce

These last few are signs of extreme cat aggression. If you notice your cat switching to any of these warning signs, it’s best to avoid eye contact, slowly stand up and leave the room. Leave them be to calm down on their own and wait for them to come to you. Any physical contact should be on their terms.

Keep up that purr-fect quality of life

We’re talking about quality of life in terms of human capacity, not what your kitty secretly expects. pet parents know that cats thrive on a maintained routine, plenty of hiding spots, comfy sleeping areas, regular feeding, plenty of cat entertainment, and all physical contact and attention to be on their terms. This is regarded as a high quality of life for a cat, meaning there is less chance of them acting out or becoming aggressive.

Don’t use your hands and feet as a toy

So many cat carers complain about having their hands and feet pounced on but then turn around to wiggle their fingers in front of their feline’s face. There are hundreds of thousands of cat toys out there so try to avoid encouraging your cat to attack your hands and toes. If they start to associate your digits with playtime, they’ll be more likely to launch themselves at your unsuspecting limbs at other times too.

We know, that when you’re playing with a young cat, it’s hard not to tease it by quickly brushing your hand back and forth. Their wide eyes, dilated pupils, and undivided attention on the task at hand make it super adorable and funny to watch. In the long run, this could end up being gosh darn annoying. If you want to keep your hands, keep them for stroking and feeding, and stick to the cat toys.

Meet our veterinary expert, Rebecca

This article has been checked by veterinarian Rebecca MacMillan, BVetMed MRCVS. Rebecca is a companion animal vet who has always had a passion for writing and client communication. Since her graduation from the Royal Veterinary college in 2009 she has gained a wealth of experience in first opinion small animal practice, in both clinical and managerial roles. She currently works in the South West and deals with a variety of routine and emergency appointments, but particularly enjoys medicine cases. Outside of work and writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, including her bouncy flat coated retriever George!