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Why does my cat purr while playing? How to stop her from clawing legs?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | unspayed | 12 lbs

Why does my cat purr while playing with her toy? She also likes to hug my sister's leg with her claws. How do I stop this behavior.

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Answered By Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA

Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

Published on August 8th, 2017

Cats purr when they are happy. They can also purr when they are stressed out or sick as a way to make themselves feel better. Your kitty is probably purring because she is happy!

I would start with teaching Luna that hugging is not OK. She can't help it that her claws come out during this action. She is also not trying to be affectionate, so not really hugging. She is trying to hold your sister as a way to play. Start by tapping her on the head and removing her from the leg. If she continues to try to do that, you can use a water bottle to squirt her with water when she grabs someones leg.
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