Why Does My Cat Swipe At Me When I Walk By – Is It Normal

Any time you walk by your cat, you’re putting your ankles on the line. You may be minding your own business while you walk by your cat, and your cat will suddenly swipe at your ankle when you walk by. If you don’t have jeans on, you may be yelling, ouch! Every time, you ask yourself this: why does my cat swipe at me when I walk by?

Cats swipe at you when you walk by to get your attention. Most swiping is playful, but it can also be a sign of redirected aggression in some cats. Cats also swipe out of fear, or to assert their dominance.

Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly why your cat does something, and swiping is no exception. Swiping usually happens because your cat wants attention or feels playful. Rarely, it may be an act of an aggressive cat. Keep on reading to learn why your cat swipes at you when you walk by. 

Reasons Your Cat Swipes When You Walk By

Your cat may swipe you when you walk by for multiple reasons. It is hard to understand why your cat swiped you at the moment, but here are some reasons why it may have happened:

Your Cat Wants To Play

If your cat feels playful, he will reach out to swipe or grab you when you walk by. Your cat may not have been aiming to scratch you. Our skin isn’t thick enough to withstand a scratch, so your cat will draw blood without trying to do so. 

Many times you can stop this behavior if you have a toy or treat with you at the time. As you pass by your cat have it ready so that you can distract them and in essence, redirect what they were about to do.

Over time, you’ll find your cat will be less likely to swipe because they see you walking by. Instead, their first instinct will be to wait for you to offer a treat!

Your Cat Wants To Get Your Attention

It’s never a good idea to ignore a cat that wants your attention. Walking by your cat without patting him on the head may result in you getting swiped at as you walk by. Your cat does not mean any ill will by doing this; he wants you to notice him! 

You Scared Your Cat

Some cats are easy to startle. Walking by your cat when your cat was not expecting to see you could scare your cat. Your cat may swipe at you as a reaction and as a way to protect himself. It may also scare you! 

To avoid this, try to walk by slowly so your cat has plenty of time to process what’s happening and to see you coming. That little change can make a big difference in how your cat reacts to you when you walk by them.

Your Cat Is Aggressive

While none of us want to admit that we may have an aggressive cat, aggression may be one reason why your cat swipes at you when you walk by. An aggressive cat is also easy to aggravate, so you may have done very little to make your cat upset. 

Some cats develop bad behavior because it hasn’t been dealt with. You may want to train your cat to react differently when you walk by. Treats are a great way to divert that aggression. But, if your cat has had negative experiences in its past, particularly with you, they may only swipe at you and not others.

it may be worth getting a specialist to help you figure out what’s going on.

You Ignored Your Cat

Even if your cat doesn’t specifically ask for your attention, he may get upset if you ignore him while you walk by him. Your cat will get mad that you ignored him and will give you a good swipe to catch your attention or try to grab your shirt sleeve.

You Stepped On Your Cat

No one tries to step on their cat, but it happens sometimes. If you step on your cat’s paw or tail, your cat could swipe at you before you even have the chance to realize that you did so. Swiping does not mean that you seriously hurt your cat, however. 

Is It Normal For Cats To Swipe At You

It is normal for cats to swipe at you, but that does not mean that you should always expect that your cat will swipe at you. 

Swiping is not always a sign of aggression, so you should not assume it is a cat owner. Cats could swipe at you when they feel playful, so you shouldn’t take it the wrong way! It isn’t your cat’s fault that humans are built with skin that is easy to cut with cat nails.

Since there are so many reasons why your cat can swipe at you, it is a normal reaction for most cats. 

Some cats have a habit of swiping, which is more troublesome than a cat that only does it every once in a while. 

Even habitual swiping has a reason, so make sure you learn and understand your cat’s personality to know why your cat continually swipes.

Why Do Cats Hit You When You Walk By

Cats will sometimes hit you when you walk by rather than swiping at you for many of the same reasons your cat swipes at you.

Since swiping is rarely an act of aggression, your cat does not always use claws when they grab at you. You shouldn’t be shocked to know that your cat doesn’t always try to draw blood then. 

A cat with a delayed reaction may not have time to stick out his claws when he goes to grab you.

You should count this as a blessing. After all, it means that you won’t end up bleeding! 

How To Get A Cat To Stop Swiping

Even playful swiping can get annoying, but there are ways to stop your cat from swiping.

Any cat owner will tell you that cats are more challenging to train than dogs, but there are ways to stop your cat from swiping. Physical discipline will only make your cat afraid, so instead, let’s talk about other options.

Sternly tell your cat no when your cat swipes. Pointing the finger at your cat when he swipes may also show your cat that you do not like the behavior. However, if the cat is being playful, they may swipe at your hand thinking you’re also playing along with them.

If you cannot train your cat to stop swiping, it is vital to keep your cat’s nails short. Shorter nails will not stop scratching, but it also means that your cat’s nails have less of a chance of breaking your skin. 

Ultimately, a cat swipes at you to get your attention most of the time. So its good to have a diversion ready. Something simple like a treat, a spray bottle, maybe a toy.

Things To Consider

We spoke briefly about your cat’s nails, but let’s talk a little more about how to manage long, sharp nails.

It’s no secret that cats have sharp nails. Even swiping from time to time can cause problems, which is why we should discuss those nails.

Make sure to keep your cat’s nails clipped short. You can do this on your own with nail clippers made for cats, or you can take your cat to a groomer who can clip their nails professionally. Make sure never to cut your cat’s nails too short. It could cause bleeding.

Nail files are also an option to keep your cat’s nails short. Depending on how squirmy your cat is, this may be an easier option for you. Filing your cat’s nails will do little to shorten the cat’s nails, but the file will take off the sharp tip of your cat’s nails. 

You may also choose to use nail caps on your cat. Nail caps are a relatively cheap option, but they require upkeep. You will need to put on and remove nail cats from your cat often, so it takes more work. Nail caps could also fall off.

I would not recommend declawing your cat. Some people believe that declawing is the easiest option to stop your cat from clawing at you or your furniture. Declawing, however, is not as humane as one may assume.

Declawing removes your cat’s knuckle, not just the nail. It is not a painless process for your cat, and your cat must continue to walk on his feet after the procedure is done.

Declawing will indeed solve many problems that your cat may cause, but if you love your cat, you should try to avoid this option at all costs. 

When you adopt your cat, you need to know that your cat has claws, and you need to learn to adapt to these sharp objects. It can be annoying at times, but there are ways to manage your cat’s claws. Hopefully, it will make it less painful when you do get swiped!