The soft, velvety fur of a domestic cat is sometimes exciting to touch. Stroking a cat is a surprisingly pleasant and useful activity for both the owner and the animal. Every living creature enjoys being shown care and attention. However, it would be useful for a person to know how to stroke a cat correctly and when, so that it brings pleasure to both.
Stroking technique
Experts who study animal behavior have repeatedly conducted experiments on how to pet a cat so that he likes it. As a result, we came to the conclusion that stroking should begin with an attempt to reach out and try to make several strokes on the head or torso. Based on the cat’s reaction, it will be noticeable whether the animal is currently predisposed to affection or not. If the cat moves away from your hand or tries to bite, then you should not anger him and stroke him against his will. If, on the contrary, the animal begins to rub against your hand, expose its head, back or stomach, then the cat is not against caresses.
Scientists have revealed how to properly pet a cat
My cat often bites when you pet him. Are you familiar with this too? What's the matter? Am I stroking him somehow wrong? Let's try to figure it out.
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Let's start with the fact that cats are the ancestors of wild creatures. Yes, and dogs too, you might argue. But it is not so. Cats were not purposefully domesticated like dogs; they came to people themselves, caught mice and, if desired, stayed nearby. They wanted it themselves. And this is key.
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Today we get cats not to catch mice, but simply for the love of their purrs and caresses. This is how our perception is structured, that big eyes, a neat nose, forehead and a small round face evoke associations with a child. Therefore, our hands reach out to the next cute cat to cuddle. But the animal does not always share our delight.
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As scientists have found, in the period from 2 to 7 weeks of age, kittens develop a social skill that allows them to enjoy contact with humans.
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If an older cat has never seen affection, then she is unlikely to be able to accept stroking without irritation.
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Often cats do not get any pleasure from tactile contact with people, but are ready to tolerate the whim of the owner who feeds and waters them. It has been proven that the stress level of these cats is much higher than those that sincerely enjoy human attention.
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So how should you pet a cat?
First of all, we must monitor the pet’s reaction. Experts recommend being more restrained if the cat does not tolerate prolonged petting. It is better if the animal itself is the first to make contact.
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Cats get the most pleasure from scratching in the muzzle area - around the cheeks, under the ears and neck. But it’s better not to touch the stomach and back again.
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Watch your cat's reaction carefully.
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You can tell that your pet is experiencing pleasure by a number of signs:
- It moves its front paws and purrs.
- Gently wags its tail.
- The posture is relaxed, ears directed upward.
- Nudges your hand if you stop stroking.
But if the cat does not respond to your touch, twitches its back, pulls its ears back, starts waving its tail and blinks frequently, then it is better to give up trying to cuddle it.
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Ironing correctly
The cat has favorite places (points) from touching which he gets the most pleasure. However, each person also has his own favorite places that bring maximum pleasure, which is noticeable when performing a massage.
For a cat, stroking is a kind of massage that brings pleasure, calm and relaxation.
Conventionally, a cat’s body can be divided into several zones:
- head;
- back of the head;
- chest and neck;
- back;
- stomach
Pleasant areas for stroking
Head and back of the head
The favorite place to touch is the head, in particular, if you scratch behind the ear, you can hear a purr.
Almost all cats love affectionate touches on the head. Kittens remember that this is where their mother licked them. These pleasant sensations remain in the subconscious for life. Sitting comfortably on your hands or knees, the cutie will gratefully accept the love of his owners if he is scratched behind the ears and the back of his head. The cheeks are especially sensitive - the area behind the mustache below the eyes. By lightly patting this area, you can hear purring.
Breast and neck
With gentle movements of your fingers, moving from the chin to the neck, you can observe how the cat is pleased, and he stretches his neck forward, submitting his palms and squinting his eyes. These areas are located in such a way that it is difficult for a cat to comb them out on his own, so help is simply necessary here. He will not refuse several repetitions of the slow combing procedure, hinting at continuation.
Back and sides
Wide, gentle movements of the palm from the head to the base of the tail along the spine will demonstrate care. After all, such a massage relieves muscle spasms and stress on the back. Arching the body and rubbing the forehead on the hand encourages the owner to repeat what the cat liked. The paws remain controversial areas. Here the reaction may be different. It must be carefully clarified and conclusions drawn.
Head
Almost all cats don't mind having their heads stroked. But, try not to touch their ears with your hand. This is a special and very sensitive organ, the touch of which is not very pleasant for the cat. One of the places that brings the most pleasure for almost all cats is the upper part of the bridge of the nose and forehead. Gently stroking your fingers in this place has a very beneficial effect on the cat. The thing is that this is the point at which in childhood, each kitten is licked by the mother, washing them. Apparently, these pleasant memories are embedded in every kitten on a subconscious level, therefore, when stroked in this place, they experience very pleasant feelings.
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Why can't you pet your tail?
This part of the body is responsible for several functions:
It is not recommended to touch the tail, as it contains nerve endings and touching it causes discomfort to the animal.
- coordinates movements;
- shows the emotional state of the moment;
- In some breeds it serves for additional heating.
It is not recommended to stroke the tail and its base. Touching causes irritation, nervous movements, and sometimes outright aggression or an attempt to claw at the animal. There are many nerve endings passing through here, and their activation brings considerable discomfort to the animal. The back can be stroked only to the base of the tail, without trying to touch it.
Stomach
Another place that brings pleasure to cats is the stomach. You should only stroke his belly if the cat himself asks for it. Cats are animals that are very careful. Lying on their backs, they are very vulnerable, therefore, they do not always readily accept stroking in the abdominal area. Only when the cat feels that he is safe can he allow stroking in this place.
If you have noticed, dogs can often lie down in front of a person to have their belly rubbed, while cats, on the contrary, will never lie down on their backs in front of a stranger. Stroking the belly is a special privilege that is available only to those people whom the cat knows well and will completely trust. Such people usually include members of the family in which the cat lives.
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Why pet a cat?
Benefit to people
The presence of a four-legged furry in the house itself brings comfort and warmth. When a person returns home, he wants to leave the fuss, troubles, and irritating factors behind the threshold. After petting the cat, he feels a surge of positive emotions, relaxes, calms down, smoothly moving into the comfort zone. Accordingly, this has a positive effect on health - an accelerated pulse returns to normal, relaxation of muscles and vessel walls reduces high blood pressure, and stress goes away. As a result, sleep normalizes. The cat intuitively senses the owner’s mood and “understands” his state.
If a cat lay near a person’s sore spot and purred, the illness may go away.
What benefits does stroking give to four-legged animals?
For cats, such actions are an important part of the relationship. Despite their independent and proud disposition, they love affection, tenderness and attention. When a cat is caressed, the movements remind her of the sensation of being licked by her mother's tongue. From such manipulations, the animal seems to enter a state of light trance, remembering its childhood. In addition, the animal perceives stroking as a massage.
Ears
A cat's ears have many nerve endings. Not surprising, since a cat has a hearing range from 3 to 45 thousand . Hz, while in humans it does not exceed 10 thousand Hz. Cats use their ears to guide them when choosing the direction of movement. In addition, this organ is very gentle and sensitive. Any touch to the ears causes discomfort in the cat.
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When can you pet a cat?
An observant owner, knowing the temperament of his pet, sees when he wants affection and when it is better not to touch him.
At times the animal rubs against objects, taps its tail or purrs. This does not necessarily indicate that the kitten wants to be petted. In this way, the pet can show interest, greeting or irritation. An attentive owner, observing behavior, will know exactly when the animal is in a happy state and is ready to be petted. The main thing to remember is that this cute creature is not a plush toy, but a whole separate world with its own life cycle and desires.
Correct assessment of the situation
In order to “guess” the right time for affection and expressions of love for your pet, you need to learn to understand its behavior:
- If a cat purrs and meows loudly, this does not mean that it is friendly. Pets do not change their behavior because of stroking or for the purpose of receiving additional affection and gaining human attention. Cats can become aggressive and irritable this way.
- If your pet jumps onto your lap on its own, it may be wanting to rest. In this case, the mustachios perceive the owner as a source of heat and warm themselves. They don't want to play or be petted.
- When in a playful mood, the cat will actively rub against its legs, poke its muzzle into its hands and touch them with its paws. The cat lies down next to the owner, begins to stretch out, curls up into a ball, begging for love. In this case, her actions cannot be ignored. Even when you are very busy, you can pet a cat for 1-2 minutes and strengthen your friendship.
Cats have a changeable and independent character, so they can only ask for short-term affection and do not crave long-term communication with humans.
At the same time, animals are vindictive and touchy. If you don't pet them, they will avoid their owner for a long time.
Also watch the video on how to properly pet a cat:
How cats show hostility or displeasure
- The cat avoids approaching you or turns its head away from you.
- The cat remains indifferent to your tenderness (does not purr or rub against your legs).
- The cat blinks frequently, shakes its head or shakes its whole body, and licks its nose.
- The cat licks itself quickly and briefly.
- The cat's skin trembles or twitches, usually along the back.
- The cat wiggles its tail or waves it from side to side.
- The cat flattens its ears or turns them back.
- The cat turns sharply and suddenly towards you or your hand.
- The cat bites you, swings its paw at you, or hits your hand with its paw.
While cats are undeniably cute, furry creatures, you need to be aware of their difficult personalities and respect their boundaries. We must not forget that inside every domestic cat lives its free wild ancestor - even if this means that at times you will have to admire the fluffy beauty from afar.
