Cats, in general, are less friendly than say, a dog. It’s much easier to pet a dog then it is a cat you see cats are much more cautious of their surroundings and they tend to react very fast to ever so slight a change that seems to occur around them.
Not all cats are the same which is to be expected but comparatively, cats are harder to pet than a dog. It makes it much more urgent as a result to know how to pet a cat, how to approach it, and how to not be hated for all eternity by cats.
Many of us have already experienced this, a super adorable cat that seems all friendly and playful he seems to like being pet, only to bite us or hit us afterward. At this point, it may be easy to blame the cat, but the problem may very possibly lie within you.
To understand why this can happen, we must first know more about the kitten’s ancestors. The ancestors of the domestic cat (African wild cat) were probably considered a mere antiparasitic, but modern cats are often treated as precious companions.
This social change in the human-cat relationship is believed to have taken place about four thousand years ago, just a little later than the domestic dog. Although it seems long enough for a species to fully adapt to growing social needs, it is unlikely to happen to your feline friend.
Domestic cats also have a relatively modest genetic divergence from their ancestors, which means that their brains are still connected to think much like a wild cat. Human beings, on the other hand, are an intrinsically social species, favoring closeness and touch during the manifestations of affection.
We are also attracted by the characteristics of childhood: big eyes and forehead, small nose, and round face; This is why most of us find cat faces so cute.
Therefore, it is not surprising that our initial reaction when we see a cat or kitten is to want to pet them. Although this should not surprise us, many cats may find this type of interaction overwhelming.
How to pet a cat
The way you want to approach petting a cat is by letting it have as much wiggle room and options as possible. Let it choose. For example, the option to indicate whether they want to be petted or not and which spots they like and which they don’t, the duration and the intensity also matter a lot.
Due to our tactile nature and our love for beautiful things, this mentioned approach may not be instinctive for many of us. And this will probably require some discipline on our part. But it might be worth it, as research shows that interactions with cats will take longer when the cat, rather than the human being starts them.
It is also very important to pay close attention to the cat’s behavior and posture during interactions to make sure it is comfortable. When it comes to games, less is often more. This is true not only during veterinary management but also during more relaxed engagements.
In general, more friendly cats will appreciate that they are petted in areas where the facial glands are located, including the base of the ears, under the chin, and around the cheeks. These places are generally preferred areas, unlike the belly, the back, and the base of the tail.
What does it mean when a cat licks you? It indicates a positive sign of engagement. There are some hints on positive and negative signs.
Positive signs
1.The tail remained straight and chose to make contact.
2. Kneading and purring with the front feet.
3. Curl the tail slightly from one side to the other, keeping it in the air.
4. Relaxed posture and facial expression, ears raised and directed forward.
5. Giving you a little push if you stop petting them.
6. Meowing a lot and being clingy.
7. Hugging your legs.
Negative Signs:
1. Change in direction, move, or turning their head.
2. Staying passive and too active.
3. Flashing excessively, shaking head or body, or licking their nose.
4. Short and fast healing movements.
5. Curling or twitching of the skin, generally along the back part of the body.
6. Swings like thrashing tail aggressively.
7. Ears flattened sideways or rotated backward.
In terms of human-cat interactions, human characteristics are also important. Our personality and sex, the regions of the cat’s body we touch, and the way we treat cats, in general, can play an important role in the way the cat reacts to our conditions.
While some cats can have an aggressive reaction to unwanted physical attention, others may simply tolerate our social progress. A tolerant cat does not imply a happy cat. Higher levels of stress are reported in cats, which owners describe as tolerant rather than actively enjoying them. Be attentive if you got a new pet and try to understand its mood. Know when it’s irritable which you should be able to figure out pretty easily if you have read the things we have mentioned above.
Another good tip is to find the spots. Different cats like to be petted differently. The difference isn’t that huge and the deviation is pretty minimal that’s why we mentioned the best spots according to statistics.
Cats are much more comfortable being petted when they are relaxed. Make sure you pet your cat when it wants to be pet and not when you just feel like it. Most cats are pretty receiving pets after eating, but each cat is different so it’s not a given.
The fact that cats are much harder to control than other common pets like dogs, makes them much more interesting and fun. The reaction some cats give off is a treat for our eyes and it can get pretty hilarious from time to time.
Being careful with your cat is very important. They own pretty sharp nails and can easily end up scratching you either intentionally, or unintentionally.
Read More:
Recent Comments