Research overview: the wiggle and aiming behaviour before a pounce

Many cats rock or wiggle their hindquarters just before pouncing, and this overview reviews proposed explanations for this behaviour. Suggestions include priming the leg muscles for an explosive launch, improving traction by pressing the hindfeet into the substrate, and fine-tuning balance and aim, though the behaviour function is not definitively established and is treated as a topic survey. Researchers study it through observation and biomechanical reasoning. Why it matters: the pre-pounce wiggle is a familiar and endearing feline behaviour whose purpose remains debated, illustrating how even common actions invite careful study. Whatever its precise role, it sits at the threshold of the pounce, the moment a cat prepares its body and footing for the controlled leap that defines feline predation.