How to properly pet your cat and why you've been doing it all wrong this whole time

What is the most effective method for petting a cat? Answer: most likely not in the manner in which you are now approaching it. Even if you may believe that caressing your kitty is an effective strategy to strengthen your relationship with them, there is no assurance that they will take pleasure in this kind of physical contact.

According to a cat behavior specialist from Nottingham Trent University said , "Although some cats certainly do like a lot of petting, a lot of them probably do not want to be stroked the way that we would usually prefer to do it." They probably merely have a high level of tolerance for it because to the advantages that come from having a connection with you — just think of all the food, treats, and attention that you offer to them.

It is important to keep in mind that cats as a species are not innately sociable or tactile; this should be kept in mind while touching a cat.

Having said all of this, there is a great deal of variety in the things that cats appreciate. This is not just dependent on their personality, but also on the experiences they had when they were younger. cats who are properly handled and socialized by humans from a young age – notably during the'sensitive' period of two to eight weeks of age - are often more inclined to like being touched.

"However, just because you have a sociable cat does not imply that they like being coddled and squeezed all the time. Even if a cat is meowing at you and rubbing up against you, this does not indicate that they are comfortable with being handled in any way. You have to pay attention to how they are carrying themselves."

What are some of the more subtle indicators of irritation, or "negative arousal" as specialists on feline behavior refer to it, that you should be on the lookout for? "When cats are irritated, they may move their head toward our hands in a very abrupt manner. They could also tilt their heads in our direction to gaze at us. It's also possible that they'll either freeze completely or cease doing things that explicitly encourage engagement (like purring),"

When they are in this position, their ears will typically not be pointing directly in front of them; instead, they will be rotated slightly to the side or flattened out slightly.

"You could also observe the animal licking its nose or shaking its head, coupled with an unexpectedly intense round of grooming or rippling hair. A moving tail (either thrashing or twitching), held horizontally or near to the ground, is also often considered to be a negative indicator (whereas a vertically lifted tail is typically linked with 'positive arousal').

"These relatively subtle indicators are happening quite often in many cats I observe being touched, but people usually tend not to focus on them – or misinterpret what they actually mean."

What is the most effective method for petting a cat?

When it comes to petting a cat, there are a lot of things that may go wrong, as you may have figured by now. However, there are certain areas on a friendly cat's body that are more likely to enjoy being petted than others. These areas include the area around the face, particularly the cheeks, the base of the ears, and the area under the chin.

Due to the fact that certain parts of the face contain a large number of skin glands that are responsible for producing odor. "Cats are very motivated to use these areas to spread their scent, so these regions probably feel quite nice when they are stimulated, "Cats are very motivated to use these areas to spread their scent."

It seems to reason that your cat, being the whole oddball that it is, would also take pleasure in being petted in other regions. If you are unsure, it is best to seek for "positive arousal" cues, such as purring, rubbing against you, kneading, and gently swinging the tail side to side.

In general, it is probably preferable to follow petting rules when it comes to caressing your cat. These principles are now being explored for the benefit of felines at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.

And you're not going to believe what the acronym is that comes next...

Give the cat the ability to make decisions and exercise some control over the relationship.

Make a kind gesture toward the cat by extending your hand, then wait for it to come up to you before determining whether or not it wants to engage with you.

If the cat enjoys being petted, it will rub up against you in an attempt to do so. Steer clear of petting the cat if they don't establish eye contact with you first.

Give the cat the ability to control how much petting they get. When petting the cat, take a brief break every three to five seconds to "check in" with it and see if it reacts negatively when you stop petting it. For example, does the cat rub up against you when you stop petting it? If not, then it's possible that they need a break.

Pay attention to the cat's behavior as well as its body language. The following are further signals that the cat may need a short break:

They become more quiet and quit purring. Additionally, they will no longer lean in for strokes or brush against you.

The cat walks away from you and toward the door.

Their ears either flop forward or twist around in a reverse position.

They make a shaking motion with their head, and the fur on their back seems to ripple.

They are seen licking their noses.

They become quieter and cease purring or rubbing towards you when this happens.

They make a quick rotation of their head to look at you or your hand.

They start grooming themselves all of a sudden, but it only lasts for a few seconds.

Consider the areas of the cat's body that you're touching.

The majority of friendly cats like it when you pet them around the base of their ears, under their chins, and around their cheeks; thus, you should focus most of your attention on these regions.

When petting the cat, avoid the base of the tail and the tummy, and proceed with caution when touching the back, legs, and tail. Pay close attention to the cat's body language to determine whether or not it seems comfortable with the interaction.

If you take this advice to heart, there is a chance that your cat may learn to really adore you. The amount necessary to remove your name off their extensive list of humanity that need to be exterminated regardless.