Do Cats Like Being Chased? Cat Behavior Explained
By Grant Piper
Updated on
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Sometimes, cats will get down low, twitch their tails, and then take off like a shot. In some cases, nearby cats and dogs will chase after them. This raises the question of whether cats like being chased. After all, children like being chased. Sometimes, adults also like being chased (and indeed have made a living out of the game of chase). So, do cats like being chased? If so, why do they like being chased? The answer is yes—most of the time, cats like being chased, as long as it’s not because they are in danger. Like with dogs and people, chasing can be a game for cats. In fact, many cats will play chase at least once in their lives, especially when they’re kittens.
Here is everything you need to know about cats being chased, including if they like being chased, why they like being chased, and the behavioral instincts behind the activity.
Do Cats Like Being Chased?
Yes. Many cats enjoy being chased. Cats can play chase with a number of different things. Cats will often chase each other. Kittens and adult cats can both participate in chase games. Cats will also sometimes chase dogs or entice a dog to chase them for the fun of it. (This usually happens in a household where both animals know each other and less so in the wild.) Some cats even like playing chase with people, though that is not as common as cats that enjoy being chased by other cats. Overall, in most situations, cats do enjoy being chased. But that is not always the case.
Sometimes, being chased is scary. Predators will chase cats in the wild to hunt them or scare them away. This kind of chase is frightening and can make a cat feel scared. When a cat feels threatened by another cat, a person, or a predator like a dog, they will run away, but this kind of chase is not a game. It is a survival instinct, in which they will not enjoy being chased.
Similarly, some cats just don’t like being chased. Many cats will chase and be chased during play, but not all of them will. Just like humans and dogs, cats are individuals. This means that you might have a cat that simply does not like being chased. This can be a personality quirk, a result of past trauma, or they might simply prefer to play in a different way.
Why Do Cats Like Being Chased?
Chase is a common game played among a number of animals, including cats and dogs. Chase stimulates the part of the brain that cats use for hunting. Chase is also a game that kittens play with one another to hone their hunting and athletic skills. Cats that like being chased have a bunch of centers in their brain firing and that all have positive associations. Chase stimulates the part of the brain that connects to their memories of being a kitten. Chase also activates the parts of the brain associated with play, training, and hunting.
Cats enjoy hunting. It is a natural instinct that they need in order to be able to feed themselves. Even if cats do not like being chased by a person, they will often like being chased (or chasing) another cat. Chase is a completely natural activity that almost every cat participates in at some point in their life. For all of these reasons, many cats enjoy the game of chase.
Should You Chase Your Cat?
It depends. Some cats will enjoy being chased. If your cat seems to like being chased, you can chase them as long as they seem to be enjoying the activity. Chase can be a fun game, and some cats can even learn to play tag. Tag is a great way to engage with your cat and a way for your cat to get some exercise and mental stimulation. But not all cats enjoy being chased. Do not chase your cat if they don’t seem to be enjoying it. Chasing a cat that is scared will only make them more frightened and can lead to stress or aggressive behavior.
How to Tell If Your Cat Is Enjoying Being Chased
You will be able to tell if your cat likes being chased by the way they react. If your cat likes being chased, their pupils will dilate, and they will begin to play. Playful cats are friendly, excited, and energetic and will often crouch low to the ground. If your cat likes being chased, they will stay nearby, and they will try to engage you. They might even try to chase you back!
If your cat does not want to be chased, they will run away, hide, puff up, hiss, or bat at you. These behaviors should tell you that your cat is anxious and afraid. If your cat is scared of being chased, you should stop chasing them and let them be. Not all cats will enjoy being chased. Whether or not your cat likes being chased should be obvious, especially if you know your cat well. Look for the signs of a happy and excited cat during the chase, and if you do not see these signs, you should stop and find a new game to play with your cat.
Conclusion
Most of the time, cats like being chased. However, that is not always the case. Chase can be a game, but it can also be scary. Some cats will play chase all the time. They will play chase with other cats or their owner. Other cats will never play chase. They just don’t like it, or they find it scarier than they do fun. Every cat is different. In either case, chasing will illuminate the parts of the brain that are connected to play and hunting, which stimulates many cats.
Featured Image Credit: Nils Jacobi, Shutterstock
