We’ve almost all witnessed a cat with zoomies and have been entertained by our cats sprinting around one side of the house to another while mixing in frantic climb on the cat tree and of course the occasional crabwalk! You’ll know it’s fright triggering that arch if it always follows a sudden fear trigger, like turning on a loud vacuum cleaner or when a territorial cat waltzes near. How to Soothe a Fearful or Anxious Cat PERFECT FUR IN NO TIME: The grooming arch will not only keep your cat from shedding extra hair, it will also make your cat's hair beautiful and shiny and keep it healthy. The arch will brush the fur and gently massage your cat for a perfect spa treatment! And the best part? You don't have to do anything! Your cat can simply walk through the arch and the bristles will do the rest!

That kitty is happily adopted now and I’m sure they continued amusing their owners doing the same adorable thing in their new home too. Reason No 2: Your Cat Was Startled Although uncommon, there is a possibility of a kitty assuming the sideways pose if they’re angry. They can be angry at their owner for some reason, or angry at another household pet. Unlike humans, cats don’t rely on sound to communicate with each other or people. While people speak with words and occasionally roll their eyes or furrow brows, cats use body language to communicate with each other or humans. NO MORE HAIR: The grooming arch was specially designed to help you prevent your kitten from shedding hair everywhere. The bristles will gently remove any extra or fragile hair when your cat goes through the arch and your cat will love it!

Final Thoughts

Cats can rotate and twist their spines unlike any other animal. You have probably noticed your cat in an arched position while scratching or stretching, but did you know they may also curve their spine when they’re happy, angry, stressed, frightened, or in pain? The sideways run isn’t just all fun and games! It can also be the sign of a frightened or startled cat. Gaining a cat’s trust is rarely simple and often relates to previous experiences. It can be harder to gain the trust of cats who didn’t have good experiences with humans in the past, such as abandoned or shelter cats. The “Halloween cat” pose is the classic example of fear in cats. It happens when your cat stands in a tilted posture with their rear highly arched, their feet close, their hair raised up in piloerection (hair standing up), their eyes staring with dilated pupils, and their mouth partly open. By assuming this position, they appear bigger and more confident in facing a potential threat. Additionally, a sideways stance can make it easier for your cat to use its rear claws if needed.

Your feline friend doing the crab walk is absolutely nothing to be concerned about! As you can see, the reasons your cat is doing it are harmless. Yes, you read that right, if your cat is extra silly like this one then you may see the crabwalk directed at some random homemade toys around the house: Not exactly, when cats is are in full-on zoomies there may not be a target of the sideways run and hop. At least not one that we will be able to figure out. That’s because cats are so wound up that they’re not really focusing on anything for more than a few moments. Pay close attention to your cat's overall behavior, body language, and any other visible signs of distress. Look for changes in appetite, litter box habits, grooming behavior, and vocalizations.If you suspect your kitty’s sideways walk is a symptom of disease, then I suggest you first pay close attention if your cat is displaying any other unusual behaviors (for example suddenly not using the litter box or sleeping more than usual).

However, if you see your cat walking weirdly for any other reason – that might be something you need to pay attention to. I’ve been a cat owner for quite some time now, and I can say I’ve seen cats do a lot of different things, but the cat sideways walk is most probably my favorite of all the strange little things cats do. You might also observe your cat walking or even hopping sideways for a brief period when they catch a glimpse of themselves in the mirror. Personally, I find this very funny.

1. Your Cat Is Stretching

Trust your intuition and observe the cat. If your is cat experiencing a number of the above symptoms, consult your veterinarian without delay. Final Thoughts This is a direct reaction to a dangerous situation. This kind of body language translates to “I feel threatened, but I am ready to defend myself if you come closer.” An exception is when your cat is doing it because of the presence of a threat. In that case, try to remove the threat and protect your cat from a dangerous encounter. This is one of the most common reasons for your cat’s sideways walk. All cats, no matter their age or breed are known to be huge fans of playtime! As we’ve seen over these three conditions, the big difference between any medical explanation for sideways running and a behavioral explanation is the degree of coordination. Cats with these conditions, or any other that may cause an uncoordinated gait, will almost appear a little drunk.

Cats have elegant bodies and elongated spines, which they need to flex and extend to keep their tendons and muscles in top shape. Stretching is a normal cat activity that regularly takes place when your cat first wakes up or after a period of rest. Stretching is usually accompanied by yawning. Dawn LaFontaine is a lifelong animal lover who always seems to have a little pet hair in her keyboard. Her blog, Kitty Contemplations, helps cat guardians better understand and care for the special beings they share their lives and homes with. Her cat-products business, Cat in the Box, sells beautiful, well-made, and award-winning products that she designed to meet the biological needs of cats. Not all cats are naturally fearful; some get startled more easily than others. However, it appears that kittens who are still getting used to their surroundings may be more likely to show off their crab walk. Reason No 3: Your Cat Is Facing A Threat Many cats will take on this posture as soon as they encounter something frightening. It could be another cat, a dog or even seeing a random thing that find totally harmless, like balloons!

The stretches are necessary to prepare your cat’s muscles for movement again after resting. 2. Your Cat Is Acting Aggressive This can be especially true if they know you like seeing them do it, or if you reinforce it by giving them treats afterwards. If your cat knows they’re likely to get treats for it, and so they do it on purpose, your kitty is a smart one! Reason No 7: Your Cat Is Angry Just like with humans, cats have a complex ear that helps control balance and overall orientation with the world. In some cases, a specific part of the ear called the vestibular apparatus can stop working correctly and cause an uncoordinated gait in cats. Not only can it includes some sideways movement but also circling and completely tipping over. Instead, you laugh, play with your cat or if you’re like most of the world may even decide to take a video to upload on YouTube! Whatever you do, the sideways run usually results in some kind of positive attention towards your cat!