Bunny kicking is a playful response to being played with, but it can also be harmful. Cat behavioral experts discourage this behavior, which bunnies used to protect themselves from predators and hunt for prey. While this behavior is cute to watch, it can make your relationship with your cat difficult and lead to increased aggression. If you’d like to find out the cause of rabbit kicking in your cat, read on. Here are some reasons for your bunny to stop kicking:
It’s not clear what causes bunny kicking in cats. It’s most likely related to play, but it can also occur during aggression. When cats are playing with another animal, they’ll roll onto their backs and kick it with both of their hind legs. When doing this, they use both their front and rear limbs to grab and hold their prey firmly. This action is meant to end a fight quickly. It’s important to note, however, that your cat might get hurt.
Bunny kicking in cats is generally due to pure instinct. It may be a reaction to a new pet, or to the excitement of seeing you after a long day. Most of the time, bunny kicking is a normal play behavior. Young kittens and cats often engage in bunny kicking when playing with their owners. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t worry about the behavior too much. It is generally harmless.
While cats are merely playful with their toys, they’re also playing with their prey. Unlike rabbits, cats use the bunny kick as a weapon. This kick aims to disorient and confuse prey. In most cases, this action is used to scare away larger animals. In particular, cats are prey for dogs, coyotes, and birds of prey. In some cases, a cat might kick a rabbit just to keep it away from a predator, and thus to keep the rabbit safe.
Although cat behavior may seem mysterious, kicking is an important part of survival. Although domesticated cats do not have to hunt, wild cats do. The bunny kick helps them gain dominance over their prey and to defend themselves. The resulting dominance allows the victorious cat to reproduce with the female they’ve captured. So, the behavior can be a healthy way for a cat to interact with its human companion.
It is important to note that cats do not generally enjoy belly rubs. Their bellies are a sensitive area for them. The bunny kick mimics a cat’s pounce on its prey. They may also be defensive in order to protect themselves from predators. In the wild, cats don’t expose their bellies, so they’re unlikely to be threatened if humans pet them. In humans, however, the bunny kick is interpreted as an invitation to pet their belly.
