We are referring to domestic cats. Perhaps wild cats do it as well. Some of them probably do and one species definitely does: the African wildcat, the ancestor of the domestic cat. I have just this minute watched my cat eat some dry cat food and immediately after eating he flicked or briefly shook his left, hind leg/paw as he walked away from the food bowl. Why?
I have to take a common-sense viewpoint on this and as always, I refer to their wild cat ancestor that I have mentioned above. All analysis of domestic cat behavior must be with reference to the wild cat within and on other topics the relationship between kitten and feline mother.
For me there can be only one logical reason: the cat is metaphorically shaking off bits of blood and flesh that have become entangled in their paws as they gorged on a large prey animal in the wilds of North Africa. In the home there is nothing on the paw but the action is instinctive; deeply engrained in their DNA.
They have finished eating. Picture the domestic cat’s wild ancestor feeding on a relatively large prey animal such as a rabbit. There might be blood around the mouth. There will be flesh and bone on the dusty ground. The cat walks on the remains of the carcass and flicks their foot to shake off the particles.
Soon after they’ve walked away, they finish off their toilet by self-grooming fastidiously in a set pattern. The flicking of the foot is a preliminary to proper grooming which starts with licking around their mouths to remove the blood.
Signal of displeasure
Sometimes the practical reason for flicking the foot is used as a signal to indicate displeasure – a ghost activity. A domestic cat might sniff the food provided by their caregiver and reject it. They turn away from the food bowl and briefly flick their hind leg. A sign of displeasure at the efforts of their long-suffering caregiver.
