A cat expert has delved into the meaning behind your pet's ankle bites and what you might unknowingly be doing 'wrong.'

Cats are notorious for their behaviours such as licking, scratching, and even biting. These normal cat actions are ways through which our feline friends communicate their feelings and they also use body language cues to show whether or not they are happy.

As a cat owner, it can sometimes be puzzling to interpret these feline gestures or to understand why cats indulge in specific antics, notably when they nibble at your ankles. Amanda Campion, an expert in clinical feline behaviour with over three decades of nurturing cats shares her knowledge via TikTok videos.

In a recent video, Campion sheds light on why your cat might have taken up the habit of biting at your ankles. She clarified: "Cats are drawn to moving objects so this is predatory play behaviour so as your legs move they're ambushing you because you're moving and they're basically stalking moving targets."

Campion pointed out that without sufficient stimulation, such tendencies are more common. She suggested that ramping up interactions with your cat could diminish its ankle-attacking habit.

The animal behaviourist recommends the provision of "plenty of structured play sessions" for your pet and advises that if your cat latches onto your ankle, you should remain still and redirect the act, cautioning that you shouldn't "ever shout" and "try not to scream."

The cat behaviourist remarked: "It tends to happen more in single cat households or with kittens that weren't habituated enough with their mum cats so the mums never taught them boundaries in other words.

"So redirecting them with a wand or other appropriate toy that's gonna extend their distance away from you is really going to help and then it avoids reinforcing the ankle bite game."

Campion insists that regular interaction and boosting the level of enrichment for your feline will "really reduce these attacks."

Purina has provided tips on how to keep your indoor cat mentally stimulated to prevent it from scratching your furniture or potentially biting your ankles, as highlighted by Campion.

The pet food giant has shared several suggestions, such as setting up a treasure hunt and introducing a "slice of the outdoors into your cat's life by recreating a hunting game right in your living room."

They recommend dividing your cat's meal into multiple small portions and hiding them around the house for your cat to find.

Also, Purina recommends using a wand toy to simulate a chase for your cat, ensuring that your furry friend gets to 'win' by eventually catching the toy 'prey.'

Campion's TikTok video has sparked a flurry of comments from cat owners sharing their own tales of ankle-biting. One user confessed: "My ankles are his worst enemy."

Another user added: "I've started to play more and when he strikes I freeze and/or grab a toy. Thank you. He's a colony cat learning to live safe indoors."

A third shared: "When Bella was a little kitty from 9/8 weeks old, stupidly played the foot game she loved feet under blanket and she loved it now she's 3 times the size not the best. She's luckily mostly stopped now."