word choice - What is the verb for describing the movement of a cat's paw when it is trying to hit something with it?

What is the verb for describing the movement of a cat's paw when it is trying to hit something with it? Can I use the verb punch? For examle:

The cat is punching the decorations hanging from the Christmas tree.

Answer

Punching involves bending the arm and striking out forcefully with the closed fist. A cat can't make either of those movements in the way a man would. A cat playing with a dangling object usually bats it sideways with its paw.

You could simply use pawing.