Why Does My Cat Bunny Kick? What It Means, What to Give Her
LitterBond Team
By the LitterBond Team · Researched against iCatCare, ASPCA and Cornell Feline Health Center guidance · Last updated: October 11, 2026
She rolls onto her back on the couch. You reach for that soft belly. In a flash, she wraps both front legs around your wrist and rakes it with her back feet.
That move is a bunny kick. Cats use it in play, in hunting practice, in rough games with other cats, and to defend themselves when they're on their backs. Most of the time it's play. Sometimes it means "that's enough."
Below: what it means, how to tell play from a warning, and what to give her to kick instead of your arm.
What Is a Bunny Kick?
A bunny kick is a hold with the front paws and a fast kick with the back legs. PetMD describes a cat grabbing a toy, another cat or your arm with her front paws. Then she kicks fast with her hind legs. Cat behavior consultant Pam Johnson-Bennett notes that the cat often rolls onto her back or side to do it.
Her back legs are strong, and her back claws are sharp. That's why a bunny kick can leave red lines on a bare arm, even when she means it as a game.
Why Do Cats Bunny Kick?
Most bunny kicks are play, but the same move can also be a warning.
It's Play and Hunting Practice
PetMD says house cats keep their wild hunting instincts. Kittens learn the bunny kick from their mother and littermates, as practice for catching prey.
International Cat Care (iCatCare) notes that play runs through a cat's whole hunting sequence: search, stalk, chase, pounce, catch and manipulate. The grab and the kick look a lot like those last two steps. So when she hugs a toy and kicks it hard, she's doing what cats are built to do.
It's Rough Play With Another Cat
Cats bunny kick each other, too. Johnson-Bennett notes that cats who wrestle often kick with their hind legs without trying to hurt each other.
It's a Warning When She's on Her Back
Rolling over can be a trap. Johnson-Bennett explains that a cat who feels threatened, or doesn't want to be touched, may roll onto her back with her claws ready. PetMD adds that her strong back legs protect her belly. A sudden kick in the middle of petting can also mean she's had enough.
iCatCare's guide to cat body language says rolling over to show the belly is usually a friendly greeting. She's relaxed, or in a playful mood. But its handling advice is clear: rolling over is not an invitation to touch her tummy. iCatCare lists the belly as a red zone, one of the spots that are especially sensitive.
Is It Play or a Warning?
Watch her whole body for a few seconds, not just her feet. A playful cat looks loose and keeps coming back for more. A cat who wants you to stop usually tells you before she kicks.
✋ iCatCare's signs she wants petting to stop
- Her tail thrashes or thumps
- Her ears lower or turn as you reach for her
- Her skin twitches or ripples along her back
- Her body freezes or goes tense all of a sudden
The ASPCA adds a quick head turn toward your hand, restlessness and wide pupils. Its advice is simple. When your cat signals you to stop petting, stop.
With two cats, watch the back-and-forth. Wrestling is usually fine. If it turns into noise and chasing, it may not be play anymore. iCatCare says you may need to step in if play escalates and a cat could get hurt.
What Should You Do When She Kicks You?
End the game, give the kicks a better target, and keep your hands out of it. These five steps come from shelter and veterinary advice.
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1
Go still and end the game
The San Francisco SPCA advises you to stop all play and calmly withdraw. Don't jerk your arm away fast.
Why: a fast jerk away is how prey reacts to an attack.
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2
Offer a long toy
Once she lets go, give her something to kick. The Cornell Feline Health Center says to keep the toy away from your hands.
Why: then she can't bite or scratch you while she plays it out.
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3
Keep hands and feet out of play
iCatCare says never to use your hands or feet to play with a kitten. Fingers wiggled under a blanket count, too.
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4
Skip punishment
Cornell warns never to physically punish a cat during play aggression, or even touch her.
Why: she may grow afraid of people, or take it as more play.
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5
Keep petting short
iCatCare suggests touching for 3 to 5 seconds. Then pause, and let her decide whether to go on.
None of this ends bunny kicking. It's normal cat play. The goal is to move it off your arm and onto a toy.
What Makes a Good Kicker Toy?
A good kicker is long enough to hug and soft enough to grab.
- Long enough to hug. iCatCare notes that some kittens enjoy larger soft toys they can rake and kick with their back legs. Johnson-Bennett describes kick toys as long tubes filled with catnip stuffing. PetMD points to oblong, catnip-filled kickers.
- A feel she already likes. Notice what she grabs now: a fleece throw, a fuzzy slipper, your sleeve. Pick a toy that feels close to it.
- Catnip, if she reacts to it. iCatCare says catnip excites many cats, but not all. Johnson-Bennett notes that kittens under three months don't respond, and many don't until almost six months. If yours ignores it, here's why some cats don't react to catnip.
LitterBond's Catnip Snake Kickers are one option. They're plush snakes about 17.7 inches long, with catnip powder inside. That's long enough for her to hug one end while she kicks the rest. They come in assorted packs of 3 or 6, and the store picks the patterns. Each snake has a small felt tongue, so check it often. Retire any snake with a loose tongue, a split seam or stuffing showing.
For a shorter toy, the Printed Catnip Fish Kickers are about 8 to 9.4 inches long, with catnip and a rattle inside. They come in assorted packs of 3 or 6, too, and the store picks the designs, so sizes in one pack may differ. The rattle box is hard plastic, so remove a torn fish straight away.
A kicker gives her kicks a target. It won't help much if your hands are still part of the game.
Play together, and put toys away when you're done. Check them often, and throw out any that tear. Toys are for play, not for chewing. iCatCare suggests keeping two or three on the go and rotating them, so they stay new. For more ideas, here are the toys cats like, sorted by play style.
Cat toys
Give her kicks a better target
Plush snakes about 17.7 in long with catnip powder inside, in assorted packs of 3 or 6. The store picks the patterns. Long enough to hug while she kicks. The felt tongue is a small part, so check it often and retire a snake with a loose tongue or a split seam. Play together, and put the snakes away afterwards.
See the catnip snake kickers →What If She's a Kitten?
Kittens play hard, so set the rules early. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine says play is most active between 7 and 14 weeks. Kittens use it to learn their limits. As UC Davis puts it, what might be cute at 10 weeks is painful at 10 months.
Littermates teach a lot of those limits. Cornell explains that cats learn they bite or scratch too hard when their littermates stop playing or fight back. Young cats raised without littermates show play aggression most often. If she's your only kitten, give her kicks a toy to land on from day one.
UC Davis also says never to hit, swat at or scruff a kitten. It advises against yelling, too, since kittens' ears are sensitive.
When Should You Call Your Vet?
A sudden change in how she reacts to touch is a reason to call your vet. The ASPCA notes that even a well-socialized, normally calm cat can lash out when she's hurt. Cornell says the first step with an aggressive cat is to rule out a medical reason.
Call your vet if she:
- starts to kick or bite when you touch one spot.
- turns aggressive or starts hiding when she used to be calm.
- loses interest in play and food at the same time.
Tonight, she may roll over again and show you that belly. Now you know it isn't a request. Leave it be, and keep your touches short. Then set a long kicker toy within reach of her paws. Let her grab it and kick, and let your arm stay out of the game.
More questions about bunny kicks
Why does my cat bite while she bunny kicks?
Usually it's part of the same game. PetMD notes that play hunting often mixes the bunny kick with pouncing and biting. If the bites land on you, end the game and hand her a toy instead.
How often should I play with a cat who kicks a lot?
Short games, twice a day, are a good start. The San Francisco SPCA suggests interactive play at least twice a day, ideally morning and evening. iCatCare calls cats sprinters, not marathon runners: one minute of frenzied activity is a good result.
Is a wand toy a good idea for a cat who grabs hands?
Yes. International Cat Care says wand toys are a great way to strengthen your bond without touching or handling your cat. The long wand keeps your fingers far from her claws.
Which toys should I skip for a kicker?
Skip anything she could swallow in pieces. iCatCare says to avoid pipe cleaner toys, toys made of ribbons or string, and balls of wool.
Related reading
- What Kind of Toys Do Cats Like? A Play Style Guide
- Why Doesn't My Cat React to Catnip? 7 Reasons and What to Try Next
About this article
Researched and written by the LitterBond Team. Sources include International Cat Care, the ASPCA, the Cornell Feline Health Center, PetMD and Cat Behavior Associates. Reviewed and updated October 11, 2026. LitterBond does not employ veterinarians; for medical decisions about your individual cat, always consult your veterinarian.
