Petting a cat may seem straightforward. But in fact, there are right and wrong ways to go about it. Learning to read your cat’s body language and understanding his preferences can mean the difference between eliciting a hiss or a purr.
Understanding Cat Body Language
There are times when your cat makes it clear that he wants to be pet. Your cat may rub up against you or climb into your lap, for example. But how do you proceed when the signs aren’t as obvious?
“I like the idea of a consent test,” says Dr. Liz Stelow, chief of clinical behavior service at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California, Davis. “Pet the cat once and see what it does. If it walks away, you’re finished petting. If it stays or actively rubs you, try another few pets. Then reassess. Repeat until one of you tires of the petting.”
Other key cat behaviors to watch for? A cat that is purring, leaning into you, or head bunting is generally enjoying the experience, says Heather Henley, a certified feline training and behavior specialist at Best Friends Animal Society. “If she is leaning away from you, has stopped purring, her skin is rippling, or tail twitching, stop petting,” says Henley. “You want it to be a positive experience.”
Where to Pet a Cat
Most cats enjoy being pet on the top of the head, between the ears, and down the back of the neck, going with the grain of the fur, says Henley. “Some cats like getting pet from their head all the way to their tail, but that is not always the case,” she adds.
Scratching lightly under the chin is also popular, when done correctly. “You don’t want to reach toward their face if they don’t know you, as you can startle them,” says Henley. “Reach from the side so you don’t appear threatening.”
One spot most cats definitely don’t like contact with is the belly. A cat who exposes her belly is usually showing that she’s comfortable with you, but that doesn’t mean she wants to be touched there, warns Henley.
Petting Practices to Avoid
Don’t startle a cat in an effort to pet her, says Henley. “Instead, announce your intentions with an extended index finger and let her tell you if she wants to be pet or not,” she says. “When I am startled, it is not the time to hug me because I don’t know what is going on. The same can be true of cats.”
Never force attention on a cat, adds Stelow. “This can lead to aggression and possible injury to the person or cat,” she says. “It also breaks the trust between the cat and the person, reducing the chance that the cat will seek or tolerate attention from that person in the future.”
Keep in mind that cats are individuals, so their petting preferences can vary widely. “Some cats like to be pet for only a very short time and others can be stroked all day,” says Stelow. “A cat can vary from day to day in the amount of petting it likes.”
Most importantly, always initiate petting on your cat’s terms and keep the experience positive.