Is it normal for kittens to walk sideways

When a cat feels threatened, its instinct is to run out of the way or escape the situation as fast as possible.

Similarly, cats are very quick on their feet, so they will jump out of the way whenever an unpleasant situation unfolds around them. Cats can easily climb or hide themselves away when necessary and are not afraid to do so when they want to avoid something. Your cat might run sideways to escape your embrace if you are trying to pick them up and they are not in the mood to be held.

Your cat may also run sideways if they sense you are trying to take them to the vet or put them in the car. Cats seemingly have a sixth sense about knowing when something unpleasant is about to go down.

Be careful if your cat is prone to running away because it is easy for them to slip out of your grip when they pull this maneuver. Sometimes your cat may find itself with a lot of extra energy. Perhaps your cat has been asleep for most of the day and just woke up feeling refreshed, or they were not able to run around and play as much as usual.

When cats have a lot of extra energy, they can often go into overdrive and start acting silly. When your cat starts acting more hyper than usual, that is your cue to ensure they are getting enough exercise every day. Your cat may also be running sideways or dancing around to try and get your attention.

Cats often do this when you have just walked in the door from being gone all day, and they are trying to get you to pet them or feed them. Cats arch their backs to make themselves appear larger than they are. Cats are relatively small animals within the animal kingdom, and they often arch their backs to puff themselves up when they feel defensive.

They take this position in situations where their guard is up. When cats arch their back and run sideways, they either pounce or run away from the threat. If you see a cat take this position, be aware that they are on the defense and maybe in a fighting mood.

If another cat or another animal has caused them to strike this pose, you should try to defuse the situation as quickly and safely as possible. Male cats are more likely to fight than female cats, but cats are not afraid to fight when their safety is compromised. It may be accompanied by an arched back and they will also puff out their fur. With this kind of posturing, it appears that a cat is stronger, bigger, and faster.

A cat walking sideways could mean that she is in a defensive mode and ready to fight it out especially in the presence of an unfamiliar cat or dog. Again, this will most likely be accompanied by an arched back and fluffed out fur to appear larger and menacing.

Some grown cats have been observed to have this posture when approaching a dog or if approaching an unfamiliar cat it may be showing dominance over it. Cats and especially kittens love to spend most of their time playing with each other. Playtime for them is also a sort of practice or preparation for their adult life.

Kittens usually arch their backs and walk sideways as part of their playtime mode and make-believe way of stalking and hunting each other. If your cat is walking sideways and is also manifesting the following signs then she may be suffering from the feline vestibular disease:. The feline vestibular disease affects cats regardless of age and usually caused by middle or inner ear infections.

The growth of tumors and exposure to toxins and drugs may also contribute to symptoms of the disease although a majority of cases were attributed to unknown causes. Cats are known to be complex animals and they have unique body language and behavior that can be confusing. However, if you will learn to understand it you will appreciate your cat more. If your cat approaches you in this posture and she rubs her chin or head against your leg in a friendly manner, it means that she is greeting you or confidently checking out something new to her such as a particular scent.

In adulthood, a cat supposedly will knead when it's feeling happy or content because it associates the motion with the comforts of nursing and its mother. Adding further weight to the explanation: Some cats even suckle on the surface they're kneading. Helen Malinowsk Pundit.

Why do kittens hop? One common way they express their affection takes the form of rubbing their heads and their cheeks against you. But your cat may do an even more special greeting: He may bump against your leg, quickly lifts both front feet off the ground at the same time and puts them down again in a hopping manner.

Lucia Leeser Teacher. Why do cats rub against you when hungry? A cat may rub against you to let you know that they want something. If they are hungry , they might rub against you to remind you that it is dinner time. This is because they are happy and they are about to receive something that they like or want - food.

Hristian Pradip Teacher. Why do cats curve their back? Cats arch their backs when they are afraid, when they play and when they just need a good stretch. The cat's back is very flexible, making it capable of curving it into a fairly tight arch, especially when compared with dogs. Cats also may arch their backs when playing. Nikolina Pfennigwerth Teacher. Why does my cat charge at me? The most common reasons cats pounce on their owners are for play and attention.

Typically cats who engage in this behavior hide behind a corner or furniture and then suddenly jump out at the owner. Your cat may dig her claws into you and hold on or lightly touch you with her paws and run off. Jannat Marschhause Teacher. Why does my puppy run sideways? There are a few root causes to crabbing, sideways walking, or sideways running. Some people also refer to this behavior as sidewinding. In general, it means that your dog's body is moving at an angle or uneven kilter.

Another reason behind this unusual behavior could be that your dog's dominant legs are taking control. Aneta Dirksmeyer Reviewer. Do cats gallop? As either the front legs or hind legs contact the ground, the last paw to touch down is placed in advance of the other. This gait, also called a fast gallop , is the fastest gait. Oyvind Makhmutov Reviewer. Can a cat hop? A young, healthy, average-sized cat can jump about six times their length or over eight feet in a single bound thanks to powerful muscles in their back legs see illustration.

Practice makes purrfect. Playing with your cat with wand toys to encourage jumping will strengthen the muscles. Gillian Lymar Reviewer.