Image: Pexels // cottonbro
If you’ve ever noticed your cat stealthily creeping up on you, or following you from room to room, their belly low to the ground, wide eyes and pupils dilated, you might wonder why they display this behavior.
Stalking is instinctive behavior which is hard-wired into most predatory mammals. Cats are prolific natural hunters; even well-fed domesticated cats rehearse these instincts. Stalking is a key element of their hunting strategy: their padded paws allow them to approach prey silently and pounce at the right moment, to capture and then deliver their death bite! Even though your cat may not need to hunt for food, these instincts are part of their predatory sequence and can still be witnessed in their daily behavior.
As a cat behaviorist, I’ve seen many cases where this natural behavior can quickly escalate and cause concern for cat parents, especially when it increases into owner-directed predatory aggression.
Reasons Why Your Cat May Be Stalking You
Understanding why your cat stalks you or even another pet in the home can help you address the behavior swiftly and effectively. Leaving any negative behavior unresolved will only create issues the more they rehearse this activity.
Here are five reasons why your cat may be displaying stalking behavior:
1. Play and Predatory Instincts
Cats have an innate drive to hunt and play. Stalking you might be your cat’s way of engaging in play. They see you as a moving target, as they are instinctively drawn to moving objects/creatures and your legs could just be their next victim! Providing your cat with plenty of opportunities to play can help satisfy these instincts and create less of a desire to pounce on your legs.
2. Seeking Attention
Cats are highly focused when stalking. Image: Pexels // harrycunningham
A cat may stalk their caregiver because they are seeking attention. If your cat feels ignored or wants to engage in play with you, they might resort to this behavior to get you to notice them. Ensuring you spend quality time with your cat daily can mitigate this attention-seeking behavior. Offer play prior to giving food to tap into the hunt-kill-eat drive. This doesn’t have to be time-consuming – just short predictable regular play sessions is all that is needed.
3. Territorial Behavior
Cats are territorial animals by nature, and they might stalk you as a way to reaffirm or monitor their territory. This behavior can be seen more frequently in multi-cat households where the cat feels the need to establish their territory standing, or remind any perceived potential rivals in their home. Territorial stalking can also be displayed towards young children and other family pets such as dogs.
4. Anxiety or Insecurity
Stalking can also be a sign of anxiety or insecurity. If your cat feels uncertain or threatened, they might follow you closely to feel more secure. Identifying and addressing the sources of their anxiety can help reduce this behavior.
5. Curiosity and Surveillance
Cats are naturally inquisitive creatures. They might stalk you simply out of interest, wanting to know what you are doing and where you are going. This behavior is often harmless and can be a sign that your cat is curious about their surroundings and the activities happening around them.
6. Instinctive Behavior
Fundamentally, stalking is an innate behavior. Even well-fed domestic cats with no need to hunt retain these hunting impulses. Your cat might be rehearsing their hunting skills, which is a natural and intrinsic part of their way of acting. Throw a lure or ‘da-bird’ wand in the air and they will be poised and ready for the challenge.
How To Prevent Negative Stalking Behavior
Plenty of play opportunities can help reduce inappropriate stalking behavior. Image: Pexels // harrycunningham
Whilst stalking is a natural predatory response to a trigger, it can sometimes escalate into more aggressive care giver directed assaults, such as pouncing or biting on legs or arms. Here are some tips to help prevent and manage stalking behavior in your cat:
Provide enrichment: Ensure your cat has plenty of toys and activities to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. Wands used at arm’s length distance you and the cat from any injury. Interactive robotic toys and puzzle feeders encourage a predatory foraging behaviour and give a welcome diversion from stalking pet parents. A predictable routine playtime before feeding can help positively channel their hunting instincts.
Engage in interactive play: Spend time playing with your cat using toys that mimic prey, such as feather wands which can be used low on the ground slowly moving away from them to simulate ground prey or wiggle in the air to act like a bird. Laser pointers can also be fun for your cat to stalk but always end the laser on a malleable toy that the cat can grasp in its mouth to alleviate any frustration. This not only satisfies their predatory instincts but also strengthens your bond with them.
Create a routine: Cats thrive on the predictability of routine. It gives them security. Establish regular times for feeding, play, and interaction. Consistency is key and can help reduce anxiety and provide structure, which can mitigate boredom or anxiety-induced stalking behavior.
Offer safe spaces and quiet time: Provide your cat with safe, elevated comfortable spaces where they can retreat and relax. High perches, cat trees, and cozy beds and boxes can help your cat feel secure and reduce the need to follow you closely if they are feeling insecure.
Positive reinforcement: Reward your cat with treats, praise, and affection when they engage in appropriate behavior. Positive reinforcement encourages them to repeat these behaviors instead of stalking. Cats do not learn or respond well to punishment, and this will just break down the cat-parent bond and, in all likelihood, increase the unwanted behavior.
Reduce and treat anxiety: If your cat’s stalking behavior is due to anxiety, identify the potential trigger and take steps to diminish it. This might include using environmental modification using synthetic pheromone plug-in devices or sprays, providing more environmental enrichment, and consulting with a veterinarian for further advice.
Monitor and re-direct: Be acutely aware of your cat’s micro body and facial signals and be ready to redirect their attention if they start to stalk you. Remaining still can help break the rehearsal cycle of the prey/predator sequence. Use toys or treats as a cue to divert their focus and engage them in a more appropriate activity, but these must be done timely as acting ‘at the time’ of the negative stalking will reward them for this, so any cue/diversion must be given ‘before’ the behavior has begun. This is why understanding your cat’s body language is so important for any cat parent.
Behavioural Cases of Predatory Stalking as a Behaviorist
Encourage regular play sessions before feeding time to satisfy your cat’s natural urge to hunt. Image: Pexels // cottonbro
In my experience as a cat behaviorist, I’ve seen cases where stalking behavior has escalated into aggressive actions, such as pouncing or biting causing injury to legs and arms. One client’s cat began by following them around the house and eventually started attacking their feet and ankles every morning and evening. This soon became a learned behavior, but using a multi-modal approach of cat parent education, environmental enrichment, interactive play before the trigger times, diffusers and nutraceuticals, and establishing a consistent routine, we were able to reduce the cat’s stress and boredom and redirect their predatory instincts into positive outlets.
Stalking is a natural behavior for cats, deep-rooted in their feline predatory instincts. By simply understanding the reasons behind this behavior and providing appropriate outlets for their energy and instinctual behaviors, you can help manage and reduce negative stalking behavior in your cat. With patience, consistency, and the right strategies, you can create a enriched environment where both you and your feline friend can enjoy positive engagement and interactions.
