The cat licks, nibbles or bites the object, often having scooped it, or while grasping or clutching it. The cat may be sitting, crouched or recumbent. Such oral behaviours will provide the cat with sensory information about the object (investigative behaviour) but may also be considered ‘prey preparation’ (predatory behaviour).

In one study, biting / mouthing was found to form 12% of object play behaviour (West, 1974 In: Bradshaw, Casey and Brown, 2012).

*Photographic images and video coming soon