Why do cats need petting?

There are several reasons why most cats enjoy being petted. First, it sends them back to their kitten period, when their mother licked them to clean themselves. Then you touch parts of the body they can't reach with their tongue to lick themselves (cheeks, for example). This is in addition to their grooming ritual. If we put all the times when a cat grooms end to end, it spends several hours a day (around 3, sometimes more). Almost half his waking time! Finally, by gently passing your hand over certain areas (cheeks, base of the tail, etc.) you stimulate fragrant sebaceous glands which release pheromones when rubbed. These hormones are part of the cat's mode of olfactory communication and play a soothing role. They also allow the cat to mark its territory.

Signals that indicate your cat wants petting

Cats know very well how to ask for caresses or even demand them! To make himself understood, your cat can adopt different behaviors.

• He jumps on your lap: difficult to be clearer, he is waiting for a cuddling session.
• He rubs against your legs: on the one hand, he marks you with his pheromones, on the other hand, he is confident and welcoming. He is willing to receive one or more caresses.
• He raises his chin: he clearly indicates to you where he wants to be scratched. These scratches are part of the best of cuddles for a cat.
• He holds out his cheek: again, your cat is expecting scratches on this delicate area.
• He rolls on his backlike a dog: some cats like having their stomachs touched, others don't. You will know it quickly by seeing his reactions. If he curls up on your hand trying to bite it, forget it! If he purrs and stays in his position, you can tell he's enjoying it.

Signs that your cat appreciates your petting

Every cat has their preferences. It is therefore up to you to understand your pet by relying on the signals it sends you.

Your cat tilts its head

Most cats appreciate petting on the head, cheeks, and under the chin. Usually, to signify their satisfaction, they tilt their head towards the side you are scratching to make the area more accessible. When they want you to switch sides, they tilt their head to the side opposite your hand. Slide the pad of your finger gently under his chin down to his neck in the direction of hair growth and you'll likely receive purrs of satisfaction.

Felix “pattoune” or “kneads”

Another sign of pleasure is "pattooning" or "kneading", in the most commonly used terms: your cat lifts one front paw then the other, gently stretching the claws and spreading the fingers as if kneading something. This behavior dates back to the period when he suckled and pressed with his front paws to mark his pleasure and bring in breast milk.

Your pet squints

Squinting means several states for a cat: to inform you that he loves you, but also to show absolute relaxation, pleasure. It is therefore a sign of happiness and well-being when it is in the affectionate context, possibly accompanied by a soft purr.

Your tomcat rolls over onto its back

Those who like their stomachs to be stroked are more likely to roll over onto their backs during the cuddling session. When they like it, they stay under your hand and can purr with pleasure.

Your cat licks you

When your cat licks you , it is generally a sign of affection, he shows you his contentment. However, licking is not always a sign of tenderness, it all depends on the context.

He raises his buttocks

Most small cats lift their buttocks when you run your hand along their body from the nape to the tail. Indeed, at the base of the tail is an area that releases pheromones and gives them satisfaction. However, there is a time when your companion has had enough.

Cats/Behavior

One of the behaviors commonly observed in cats is the friction it exerts on objects, on a congener or on the legs of its owner. The functions of this behavior are multiple, but the main one is to deposit odorous substances through the sebaceous glands. The domestic cat would thus spend certain areas of its body on the legs of tables, chairs, the corners of walls, as stray cats do on the trees within their area of ​​life. By depositing its own scent, the cat would sow clues to locate itself in space and this would give it a certain security. This attitude is also a means of communication with his congeners to signify his presence. In general, it begins with the perioral area.

WHEN TWO CATS RUB

One against the other, they exchange their smells and maintain links between them. These gestures are called by scientists’ affiliative behaviors. Reproduced on a human, they would have the same bond-building function. For this, the cat rubs against the legs of its owner, or other parts of the body or even the face. By extrapolating, the caresses of the human hand towards the cat would be the parallel behavior of mutual friction between cats.