Petting a cat may sound simple, but for children or people who haven't spent much time around cats, it's important to know the dos and don'ts of approaching and touching a cat. Stroking the wrong area or using too much force or speed can irritate some cats, causing them to bite or scratch. Experts recommend letting it happen according to the cat's rule: ask permission to touch it, and let the cat have control over the interaction. There are a number of areas that can be petted: areas where cats have scent glands, which cause them to feel happy and satisfied. Knowing where to touch, and when to stay away, can ensure that you and your cat enjoy the cat-human relationship.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Focus on Areas with Odor Glands
Step 1. Start with a gentle scratch on the chin
Use your fingertips or fingernails to gently rub the chin, especially where the jawbone connects to the skull. The cat may press into your pet or push his chin, both signs of pleasure.
Step 2. Focus on the area between behind the ears
Use your finished pad and apply gentle pressure. The base of the ear is another area that marks a cat's odor.
Tip:
If a cat is poking its head at you (it's called "pregnant"), it's marking you as its own.
Step 3. Just stroke the cat's cheek behind the whiskers
If the cat likes it, it may turn its whiskers forward, effectively asking for more.
Step 4. Gently move the back of your hand along the side of the cat's face
Once the cat is ready, use your middle finger to stroke the cat's "whiskers" (just above the upper lip) while circling its entire face by stroking the top of its head with your thumb. The cat is yours.
Step 5. Pet the cat from forehead to tail
Caress the forehead, then move your hand from the forehead to the base of the tail, going from the head to the tail repeatedly. Massage the neck muscles by pinching gently. Apply gentle pressure and do it in continuous, slow motion. Do it only in one direction (forehead to tail), as some cats do not like petting from back to front.
- Don't touch the tail or move your hand along the sides.
- If your cat likes what you're doing, it will arch its back to add more pressure to your hand. As you move your hand back to where you started, your cat may rub its forehead vigorously against your hand to encourage you to do it again. If your cat retracts its ears, snuggles away from your hand, or just walks away, stop petting.
- You can scratch gently as you move your hand down along the cat's back, but don't stop in one spot and scratch there. Keep moving your hands.
- Apply a little pressure to the base of the tail, but be careful. This area is another place for scent glands, and there are cats who like to get scratched there. However, other cats have a habit of suddenly grinding their teeth against your hand when they feel they have had enough.
Part 2 of 3: Let the Cats Come to You
Step 1. Let the cat sniff you before petting it so that the cat becomes comfortable with you
Extend your hand or finger and allow the cat a chance to touch your nose.
If the cat is showing no interest in your hand or just looking at it suspiciously, reconsider your intention to pet it. Try another time when the cat is in a different mood
Tip:
If your cat sniffs your hand, meows and rubs its chin or side of its head against your hand, or rubs its side against you, it's likely that your cat is open to touch. Open your palms and gently touch the cat's body.
Step 2. Wait for the cat to poke its head at you
Poking its head into your hand is a sign that the cat wants attention. If you're busy at the time, pet the cat at least once or twice, to let it know that you're not ignoring it.
Step 3. Caress once your cat jumps on your lap and lies down
See if the cat seems agitated. If so, maybe he just wants to lie there and relax, because humans are a good source of body heat. If he doesn't seem agitated, you can continue to lightly rub his back or areas as described in Section 2.
Step 4. Pet the cat while it is on its side
Cats like to be petted by their side. Gently stroke the side facing up. If the cat meows or purrs, it may convey comfort.
However, avoid the stomach (see Section 3, Step 3)
Step 5. Understand how cats communicate
Cats can make low-pitched sounds (called purrs). Purring is a cat's way of signaling that he is feeling friendly and wants attention. When accompanied by hip ramming, ankle twisting, or head ramming, your cat wants to be petted now. Sometimes all a cat wants is a single pet, like a handshake or a meeting, rather than a long cuddle or snuggle session.
The loud sound of a cat purring indicates the level of pleasure. The louder the purr, the happier the cat will be at that moment. Soft snoring means it is a satisfaction, loud snoring means very happy. Snoring too loudly means excessive pleasure, which can sometimes turn quickly into annoyance, so be careful
Step 6. Watch for signs that your cat doesn't want to be petted anymore
Sometimes even petting that feels good to a cat can be overstimulating or distracting, especially if it's done over and over again. If you don't pay attention, the signal to stop may come in the form of a subtle, unusual bite or scratch. Often times, however, cats give a few subtle signs before biting that they don't want to be petted anymore. Look at the following warnings first, and if you see them, stop petting:
- Ears flat against the head
- Tail jerking
- Nervous
- Growling or hissing
Part 3 of 3: Learning What to Avoid
Step 1. Keep stroking from head to tail and don't change direction
Some cats don't like being petted from tail to head.
Step 2. Don't pat the cat
Some cats enjoy it, some don't, and if you're not used to being around cats, it's best not to experiment unless you run the risk of being bitten or scratched.
Step 3. Stay away from the cat's belly
When cats relax, they may turn their backs and show their tummies. Don't always take it as an invitation to pet their belly, as many cats simply don't like that. This is because cats naturally have to be careful to protect themselves from potential predators (as opposed to dogs, who are more confident in this and would like to have their stomachs scratched). The belly is a vulnerable area where all the vital organs are located, so many cats will naturally show teeth and claws if touched here.
- Some cats like it, but they interpret it as an invitation to rough play or wrestling with claws and claws. They will wrap their claws around your hand or arm, bite it, and claw it vigorously with their front and back paws. This is not always an attack; it's a cat's way of "wrestling."
- If a cat catches you with its paws, be quiet and let it release its paws. If needed, grab it with your hand and carefully pull the paw back and unhook the paw. Cats often claw deeply when they don't mean to get their claws caught. They use claws to hold and catch, so when the message is for you to stop moving your hand, they will stop if you stop.
Step 4. Approach the feet carefully
Don't play with your cat's paws unless you know him well and know he likes his paws to be played with. Just start petting the cat to relax him, then ask permission to pet his paw by touching one paw once with your finger.
Many cats don't like having their paws held at all, but can be trained with activities such as nail trimming through a slow system and successive rewards
Tip:
If the cat doesn't refuse, lightly stroke the paw with one finger in the direction the fur is flowing (from the wrist to the foot). At any point the cat pulls on its paw, hisses, flattens its ear or walks away, stop.
Tips
- If you are a stranger to the cat, be patient. Some of the things that cats understand from their owners, who are familiar, they may not immediately accept from new people.
- Purring isn't always a sign that a cat is happy, so don't make the mistake of thinking that a purring cat won't bully or bite. Some people believe purring is a sign that the cat is saying "watch this," which may be because the cat is happy, but it may be a sign of irritation.
- Some cats meow when they want you to stop, and some meow when they want you to stroke harder. A low-pitched meow may indicate anger. In general, it's a good idea to stop, just in case.
- If your cat is being petted, it's a good idea to be sensitive to his changing reactions to your same petting routine. Areas that are normally allowed to be petted may become painful for the cat due to some recent injuries and other health conditions. Your cat may meow or pull away – or even scratch or bite – if you are petting a new sensitive area. Outdoor cats are especially susceptible to abscesses from encounters with other cats. If you find a painful area or abscess, take your cat to the vet.
- Some cats like to be held, while other cats don't. If a cat tries to jump out of your hand, this is a sign that she doesn't want to be held at that moment.
- If the cat's tail starts smacking violently up and down or side to side, it's best to stop petting the cat as she may become irritated.
- Many cats don't like being petted near the tail. To find out if your cat likes it or not, pet the cat in the area and if he jerks, hisses or meows uncomfortably or angrily, it's a warning to stop. Avoid touching near the area, and warn guests to do the same.
- Petting a cat can release relaxing hormones that reduce stress, lower your blood pressure, and reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Warning
- Children should be closely supervised when petting a cat. They can easily agitate the cat, causing the cat to bite or scratch. Cats that are friendly to adults are not always friendly to children. Be especially careful that children don't bring their faces too close to the cat.
- Do not pet the cat if you have allergies.
- If you are injured by a serious bite or scratch, wash the affected area thoroughly with antibacterial soap and use an antiseptic. Then, seek medical help. Deep puncture wounds require medical attention because of the risk of serious infection.
- If the cat seems aggressive, stay away as it can cause injury through bites and scratches.
