Are cats in full.........

......hunting/fighting mode when you play with them using a hand, or do they know it's only play?

I only ask as when I'm playing with Bola, his eyes indicate he isn't scared, yet his ears are pinned back and his paws/claws/teeth are in full *defence/attack* action. Beckett was very much the same, so maybe this is just a younger cat thing.

Ian

Yip ours are the same, am sure they know it's not for real, but their body language is confusing. Thing is if they were going hell for leather we would know.

Hi Kath,

Yeah, it's their body language that baffles me, tho' Bola doesn't hold back when he *play* kicks/bites/scratches me.

Ian

LOL! Mads does the same... with her dad. She'll happily do the same with me too, but will occasionally flip into full on attack mode with me too... and I definately know about that! LOL

lol! Depends... Pok will normally be in play-mode, knowing well where the limits are, and his body language isn't defensive....

BG seems to forget occasionally, and she'll change from the "cute and playful" look, to wild tigress look, where her ears are back, her fangs on show, and she WILL hurt me with her claws.