One of my cats actually seems to like belly rubs and doesn’t really do this. From what I’ve heard though, the reason some do this is actually that their belly is really vulnerable, because there’s just some skin and little else protecting their vital organs under there, so them stretching out and showing their belly isn’t really an invitation for belly rubs, but a way of saying that they trust you not to attack them. Then if you go and touch their belly, they go all defensive because that part is soft and vulnerable and from their perspective touching it is exactly the reverse of how you were supposed to respond to that.
Yeah but my cat is also a big slut so half the time he’s also doing the “oh no it would be awful if while I was exposed and vulnerable someone were to pet my stomach” thing.
There is very little way to tell which scenario you’re in UNTIL the claw trap closes or the high pitched purrs begin
One of my cats actually seems to like belly rubs and doesn’t really do this. From what I’ve heard though, the reason some do this is actually that their belly is really vulnerable, because there’s just some skin and little else protecting their vital organs under there, so them stretching out and showing their belly isn’t really an invitation for belly rubs, but a way of saying that they trust you not to attack them. Then if you go and touch their belly, they go all defensive because that part is soft and vulnerable and from their perspective touching it is exactly the reverse of how you were supposed to respond to that.
Yeah but my cat is also a big slut so half the time he’s also doing the “oh no it would be awful if while I was exposed and vulnerable someone were to pet my stomach” thing.
There is very little way to tell which scenario you’re in UNTIL the claw trap closes or the high pitched purrs begin
My cat reacts to belly rubs like he’s ticklish there. Which does make sense…