Introduction
Pet owners often wonder what their cats think about petting and other human gestures of affection. While cats can’t tell us directly how they feel, their body language provides clues into their experience. Understanding why cats enjoy being petted can strengthen the bond between pets and their owners.
The Science Behind Purring
Purring is a unique vocalization that all domestic cats make by contracting muscles in their voice box (larynx) and diaphragm. Research has shown that purring occurs during both inhalation and exhalation, creating a pattern of vibrations at a frequency of 25-150 Hz (Scientific American, 2006). Many hypotheses exist for why cats purr, but one leading theory is that purring releases endorphins in cats’ brains, creating a calming effect.
Endorphins are hormones that act as natural painkillers and contribute to feelings of pleasure and relaxation. Studies measuring cat brain activity have found increased endorphins when cats are petted or feed, two common situations when purring occurs (WebMD, n.d.). The 25-50 Hz frequency of purring may also have self-healing effects by promoting tissue regeneration and bone growth.
Overall, current research suggests domestic cats purr as a signaling mechanism for comfort and contentment. The purr’s calming effects likely provide cats evolutionary advantages as well. By self-soothing through purring, cats can reduce stress, accelerate healing, and communicate positive moods to humans or other cats.
Interpreting Feline Body Language
Cats use body language to communicate their moods and desires. Understanding feline body language cues can help us interpret when a cat is enjoying being petted.
Some positive signs of enjoyment include kneading their paws, exposing their belly, and holding their tail upright. Kneading or “making biscuits” demonstrates deep contentment, comfort, and happiness, mimicking the motion cats make when nursing as kittens. Exposing their belly is a sign of trust, while an upright tail indicates friendliness, confidence, and openness (PureWow).
Other positive body language cues are pushing against your hand, licking you, purring, rubbing their head on you, rolling over to expose their belly, arching their back, and slowly blinking. These all signal affection, pleasure, and contentment.
Negative signs to watch for include swishing or thrashing tail, ears flat back, pupils dilated, and sudden stillness. These suggest overstimulation or annoyance. Being attentive to your cat’s body language ensures enjoyable petting sessions.
Regional Differences in Sensitivity
Cats can vary dramatically in how much they enjoy being pet depending on the location on their body. Certain areas tend to be more sensitive and receptive to petting, while other areas may provoke a negative reaction.
Most cats enjoy being pet around the cheeks, chin, ears, and the area under the chin. These areas contain scent glands and nerve endings that make cats responsive to gentle stroking. The cheeks and base of the ears in particular contain many nerve endings, so this stimulation is calming and rewarding for cats. According to one source, “Most cats enjoy being scratched behind their ears or gently under their chin.”[1]
Cats tend to dislike being pet near the tail, stomach, legs, paws, and back. These areas are sensitive, but not necessarily in an enjoyable way. Petting a cat’s stomach may trigger an aggressive reaction as it makes cats feel vulnerable. Cats also don’t enjoy having their legs or paws handled. One source advises “Avoid petting near the tail altogether.”[2] Light, gentle strokes on the back can be calming for some cats, but heavy petting may overstimulate them.
Understanding these regional sensitivities allows owners to focus on petting in pleasing areas and avoid overstimulating sensitive zones. With experience, you can learn your individual cat’s unique likes and dislikes when it comes to being touched in different spots.
The Psychology of Reward Association
When cats receive petting from their owners, it activates the release of hormones and neurotransmitters like oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine in their brains. These biochemicals produce feelings of pleasure, contentment, and trust [1]. Through repeat positive experiences, cats learn to associate being petted with these rewarding feelings. This forms a positive feedback loop where cats seek out petting because it is emotionally and physically enjoyable.
Research has shown that when humans pet cats, it also causes the release of oxytocin in human brains, producing feelings of bonding and affection [2]. This mutual exchange of oxytocin helps strengthen social connections between cats and their owners. Both cat and human receive a psychological payoff from petting.
By consistently providing cats with enjoyable touch through petting, owners create a powerful association with reward and bonding. This positive reinforcement explains why many cats actively solicit petting from their owners through behaviors like nudging, kneading, and purring loudly.
Understanding Consent
It’s important to understand and respect when a cat does not want more petting. Cats have subtle ways of communicating when they’ve had enough. Here are some signs a cat is done with petting and wants you to stop:
- Crouching down or moving away – A cat that crouches down or moves away when you try to pet them is showing they want space.
- Avoiding eye contact – If a cat looks away or closes their eyes when petting, they are avoiding engagement and interaction.
- Flicking tail – Rapid tail movements or swishing shows irritation.
- Sudden grooming – If a cat suddenly starts licking themselves intensely, it’s a self-soothing behavior and they want petting to stop.
- Dilated pupils – Wide dilated pupils indicate stress and overstimulation.
Signs like growling, swatting, biting, scratching demonstrate a cat is clearly unhappy. It’s best to immediately cease petting if a cat displays any of these stronger signals. Cats have sensitive personal boundaries, so it’s important cat owners learn to read a cat’s body language and respect when a cat has had enough handling. Providing choice and stopping petting sessions before a cat gets irritated or overstimulated leads to more positive experiences for both parties.
Sources:
https://www.cats.org.uk/cats-blog/6-signs-your-cat-doesnt-want-a-hug
https://www.quora.com/How-can-you-tell-when-a-cat-doesn-t-want-to-be-touched-or-patted-How-much-touching-or-patting-is-too-much-for-an-indoor-housecat
The Benefits of Positive Touch
Petting and positive touch from cat owners can provide significant benefits for cats, especially when done properly. Studies have shown that friendly, gentle petting helps lower stress and anxiety levels in cats. The act of petting releases oxytocin, also known as the “love hormone,” which induces feelings of calmness, contentment, and security. Oxytocin also decreases blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone. One study found that when cats were petted, their levels of cortisol dropped by an average of 18% (source). Gentle stroking can even help relieve pain in cats by releasing endorphins that act as natural painkillers.
However, the benefits rely heavily on petting being a positive experience for cats. Cats can easily become overstimulated if petted too vigorously or for too long. Signs of overstimulation include tail swishing, skin twitching, ears flattening back, biting, and scratching. Pet owners should focus on providing gentle strokes to the head, under the chin, and along the back in areas the cat enjoys. It’s also important to pay attention to the cat’s body language and stop petting if they show any discomfort. When done properly at a pace enjoyable for the cat, regular petting sessions can be an enriching part of a cat’s routine.
Petting as Social Bonding
Petting helps build trust and strengthen the social bond between cats and their human companions. When a human pets a cat, it activates the release of oxytocin, known as the “love hormone”, in both the human and the cat. Oxytocin facilitates social bonding and feelings of affection in mammals. Studies have found that when owners interact positively with their cats through petting, playing, or feeding, their own oxytocin levels increase. Cats also experience an oxytocin response from friendly interactions with humans. One study measured cats’ oxytocin levels before and after a play session with their owner and found oxytocin levels were higher after play (Johnson et al., 2021).
Petting helps reinforce your cat’s positive association between human interaction and rewarding touch. The more frequently you pet a cat, the more it will seek out interactions with you. Frequent petting sessions facilitate trust and bonding. Cats that are frequently petted by their owners have better social relationships and attachment. Playing games like chasing toys or hands that end in petting helps strengthen your bond even more. The quality of life for pet cats is improved by greater human interaction and playfulness (The Jerusalem Post, 2023).
In summary, petting facilitates oxytocin release in both cats and humans, reinforcing social reward association. More frequent petting helps build trust and quality of life, nurturing a strong social bond between cat and human.
Variations in Preference
Cats are individuals, and each cat has their own unique likes and dislikes when it comes to being petted. Some key things that differ between cats include:
Where they enjoy being petted – Some cats love belly rubs, while others only like being pet around the cheeks and chin. Cats often have specific spots they enjoy being petted the most. According to The Spruce Pets, areas cats tend to enjoy include under the chin, along the cheeks, at the base of the tail, and around the ears.1
How they like being petted – Some cats prefer gentle petting, while others enjoy a good scratch. The texture of fingers versus brushes can also make a difference. Stroking, massaging or scratching motions impact each cat differently.
How long they like to be petted – Some cats only enjoy a few pets at a time, while others can’t get enough. Paying attention to body language cues can help determine when your cat has had enough. Signs include swishing tail, flattened ears, skin twitching or moving away.
Recognizing these variations and catering to your individual cat’s preferences is key for petting success. With patience and observation, cat owners can learn how to provide their feline friends with pleasing petting experiences.
Providing the Best Petting Experience
When petting a cat, it is important to carefully read their body language and signals to ensure it is an enriching experience for them. Here are some tips:
- Approach the cat slowly and let them sniff your hand first so they are not startled. Avoid direct eye contact which can seem threatening.
- Pet gently, especially on sensitive areas like the belly and ears. Light strokes are better than vigorous rubbing which may overstimulate.
- Focus on areas around the head, chin, cheeks and base of tail which contain scent glands. Most cats enjoy being scratched there.
- Keep petting sessions brief at first, stopping at signs of overstimulation like tail swishing, skin rippling, or ears folding back. Gradually increase time as the cat relaxes.
- Let the cat dictate the pace and pressure. Pay attention to their body language and stop petting if they pull away or seem distressed.
- Make it rewarding by pairing petting with treats, catnip or playtime. End on a positive note.
- Never force petting on a cat if they are clearly not enjoying it. Respect their consent.
Reading feline signals, keeping it gentle, and making petting enriching creates a mutually enjoyable experience that strengthens your bond.
Sources:
https://www.dailypaws.com/cats-kittens/cat-safety-tips/how-to-pet-a-cat