gives pounces a chance to fail

code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/simple_animal_vr.dm

@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@
 	var/vore_bump_chance = 0			// Chance of trying to eat anyone that bumps into them, regardless of hostility
 	var/vore_bump_emote	= "grabs hold of"				// Allow messages for bumpnom mobs to have a flavorful bumpnom
 	var/vore_pounce_chance = 5			// Chance of this mob knocking down an opponent
+	var/vore_pounce_cooldown = 0		// Cooldown timer - if it fails a pounce it won't pounce again for a while
+	var/vore_pounce_successrate	= 100	// Chance of a pounce succeeding against a theoretical 0-health opponent
+	var/vore_pounce_falloff = 1			// Success rate falloff per %health of target mob.
+	var/vore_pounce_maxhealth = 80		// Mob will not attempt to pounce targets above this %health
 	var/vore_standing_too = 0			// Can also eat non-stunned mobs
 	var/vore_ignores_undigestable = 1	// Refuse to eat mobs who are undigestable by the prefs toggle.
 	var/swallowsound = null				// What noise plays when you succeed in eating the mob.
@@ -92,21 +96,39 @@
 /mob/living/simple_animal/PunchTarget()
 	ai_log("vr/PunchTarget() [target_mob]", 3)
 
-	// For things we don't want to eat, call the sideways "parent" to do normal punching
-	if(!vore_active || !will_eat(target_mob))
+	// If we're not hungry, call the sideways "parent" to do normal punching
+	if(!vore_active)
 		return ..()
 
-	// If target is standing we might pounce and eat them
-	if(target_mob.canmove && prob(vore_pounce_chance))
-		target_mob.Weaken(5)
-		target_mob.visible_message("<span class='danger'>\the [src] pounces on \the [target_mob]!</span>!")
+	// If target is standing we might pounce and knock them down instead of attacking
+	if(target_mob.canmove && prob(vore_pounce_chance) && !issilicon(target_mob) && (world.time > vore_pounce_cooldown)) //pouncing is worth doing, we want to pounce and are not in cooldown. So attempt a pounce!
+		if(vore_standing_too) //creatures that can eat you on the spot don't care how healthy you are and get an autohit
+			return PounceTarget()
 
-	// If they're down or we can eat standing, do it
-	if(!target_mob.canmove || vore_standing_too)
+		var/TargetHealthPercent = (target_mob.health/target_mob.maxHealth)*100
+		if (TargetHealthPercent <= vore_pounce_maxhealth) //check they're weak enough to bother pouncing
+			if(prob(vore_pounce_successrate - (vore_pounce_falloff * TargetHealthPercent))) // pounce success!
+				return PounceTarget()
+			else // pounce misses!
+				target_mob.visible_message("<span class='danger'>\the [src] attempts to pounce \the [target_mob] but misses!</span>!")
+				playsound(loc, 'sound/weapons/punchmiss.ogg', 25, 1, -1)
+				vore_pounce_cooldown = world.time + 20 SECONDS // don't attempt another pounce for a while
+				return // no you don't get to attack as well, you missed your chance
+
+	// We're not attempting a pounce, if they're down or we can eat standing, do it as long as they're edible. Otherwise, hit normally.
+	if(will_eat(target_mob) && (!target_mob.canmove || vore_standing_too))
 		return EatTarget()
 	else
 		return ..()
 
+/mob/living/simple_animal/proc/PounceTarget()
+	target_mob.Weaken(5)
+	target_mob.visible_message("<span class='danger'>\the [src] pounces on \the [target_mob]!</span>!")
+	if(will_eat(target_mob)) //if they're edible then eat them too
+		return EatTarget()
+	else
+		return //just leave them on the ground
+
 // Attempt to eat target
 // TODO - Review this.  Could be some issues here
 /mob/living/simple_animal/proc/EatTarget()
@@ -117,7 +139,7 @@
 	. = animal_nom(target_mob)
 	playsound(src, swallowsound, 50, 1)
 	update_icon()
-	
+
 	if(.)
 		// If we succesfully ate them, lose the target
 		LoseTarget()

code/modules/mob/living/simple_animal/vore/zz_vore_overrides.dm

@@ -162,6 +162,7 @@
 	vore_pounce_chance = 100
 	vore_digest_chance = 0 // just use the toggle
 	vore_default_mode = DM_HOLD //can use the toggle if you wanna be catfood
+	vore_standing_too = TRUE //gonna get pounced
 
 /mob/living/simple_animal/cat/fluff/EatTarget()
 	var/mob/living/TM = target_mob
@@ -201,6 +202,7 @@
 	vore_pounce_chance = 100
 	vore_digest_chance = 0 // just use the toggle
 	vore_default_mode = DM_HOLD //can use the toggle if you wanna be foxfood
+	vore_standing_too = TRUE // gonna get pounced
 
 /mob/living/simple_animal/fox/fluff/EatTarget()
 	var/mob/living/TM = target_mob