If you’ve ever pet a cat you know they can love it one minute, and then be swiping at you the next. It turns out we might not really be petting them correctly.
Part of the issue is our modern cats have genetics very similar to those of their wildcat ancestors, so their brains are still wired to think like them.
Wildcats live solitary lives, and don’t really communicate in a social manner, while humans are an inherently social species. So to pet a cat properly you must first give the animal the choice to indicate whether or not they even want to be touched, let them indicated where they want to be pet, and for how long they want to be pet.
Also, it’s important to pay attention and see if the cat you’re petting is comfortable. In general, most cats like being touched around the regions where their facial glands are located, including the base of their ears, under the chin, and around their cheeks.
These areas are usually preferred over areas such as their stomach, back, and base of their tail.
Signs of cat enjoyment:
- Tail held upright and choosing to initiate contact.
- Purring and kneading you with their front paws.
- Gently waving their tail from side to side while held in the air.
- A relaxed posture and facial expression, ears pricked and pointed forwards.
- Giving you a gentle nudge if you pause while you’re stroking them.
Signs of dislike or tension:
- Shifting, moving or turning their head away from you.
- Remaining passive (no purring or rubbing)
- Exaggerated blinking, shaking their head or body or licking their nose
- Rapid, short bursts of grooming.
- Rippling or twitching skin, usually along their back.
- Swishing, thrashing or thumping tail.
- Ears flattening to the sides or rotating backwards.
- A sharp sudden turn of their head to face you or your hand.
- Biting, swiping or batting your hand away with their paw.
There you have it!
