Chasing down Hoover

My Himalayan pal Hoover would taunt me to chase him!! (I think this goes against millenia of feline predatorial instinct: which is to give CHASE, not to run away). He would taunt me by hopping sideways toward me, back arched, tail up. I start toward him, he turns and bolts with bushy tail pointing skyward, ears fold back and bunny-hop-run-away from me. I give chase until he runs out of room, brakes, skids sideways, and mounts his defense for my onslaught of head rub, ear rub, and tummy rubs. He usually gets in a few bites and scratches on me before running off to plan his next assault.... He's such a goofy imp.

Anyone has cats who like to do this?

Yep - I've got one, I love it when she plays like that it's so cute.

My 8 month old, Cosmo, will come at me the same way - sideways, back arched and ears back - and I'll chase him until he runs out of room. Maybe, despite their wiring, this is a way for them to interact with us that they enjoy? I wonder if there's "play fighting" in the wild?

My Bear does this almost exactly - he will jump out sideways at me with his tail up and arched, his back up and bounce several feet off of the ground sideways. He will either then take off and I will chase him, or he will flop over on his back and squirm and wriggle around until I cuddle-wrestle him on the ground. That means scratching him between his front legs, on his chest and face and back by his shoulders while he squirms from side to side purring madly. He has never learned that hands are playthings so he never attacks or plays with them, although he will wrap his paws around my handsand hold on if he wants me to keep cuddling him some more!

If I chase him, I will stop short of him then turn and run, and he chases me. Then when I stop, he stops and does his sideways jumping again and takes off. It is really hilarious to watch the sideways jumps. Sometimes he will try and entice us to play literally the moment one of us comes in the door by jumping out at us from the hallway with his sideways jumps- all prancy and jumpy - then take off and hope we will follow. Of course, when we don't he comes back to investigate why not, and generally throws himself down on the ground in front of our feet at that time for a cuddle-wrestle. He is so hilarious sometimes! He also enjoys a good game of toss - he and his brother both do - when I will throw the foam rubber balls or catnip stuffed toys in the air and down the hall, and they will take off and try to intercept them in mid air - sometimes 4 feet off of the ground! Occasionally they will bounce them back to me, but usually I have to go down and retrieve them!

Kathryn

As a kitten Sophie would always do the sideways jump, but it's only now and again she does it and thats if Rosie's jumped out and suprised her

Buddy and KC arn't like that.. but it sounds fun

We have a clinic cats who get locked in a back room for the night (because the oldest one in his younger days would pee throught the clinic), one of the E-Z knows when it is time to be put up so she makes you chase her through out the clinic till she gets tired and sits at the door waiting to be put in.

Originally Posted by Gessie

My 8 month old, Cosmo, will come at me the same way - sideways, back arched and ears back - and I'll chase him until he runs out of room. Maybe, despite their wiring, this is a way for them to interact with us that they enjoy? I wonder if there's "play fighting" in the wild?

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I suppose wild cats have natural predators--they must have evolved the puffed up, sideways hopping to feign a larger size as a last ditch effort to defend themselves. I wonder when I am chasing Hoover if he is getting a (fake and enjoyable) thrill from his ancestor's wild days--sort of like a human kid getting a kick from being chased by the "boogie man" (and enjoying it).

Regardless, we (cats and us) sure have teach each other how to play (especially after reading Kathryn's post)!!

Originally Posted by Petnurse2265

We have a clinic cats who get locked in a back room for the night (because the oldest one in his younger days would pee throught the clinic), one of the E-Z knows when it is time to be put up so she makes you chase her through out the clinic till she gets tired and sits at the door waiting to be put in.

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Hoover would run to the far corner of the house when he hears the sound of the eye wiping towel being wetted--twice a day he gets his Himalayan flat face wipe down because of tears--I chase him down but this time he doesn't enjoy the chase so much...

They never enjoy the things that have to be done.

Silly furrys gotta love them!