Why Do Cats Show Their Bellies, Then Get Mad When You Pet Them?
Most cat owners have experienced what we call the "Tummy Rub Trap": When your cat rolls over onto their back and shows their soft, fluffy bellies as if offering an invitation for pets, but when you do - you get swatted or scratched.
So, what's the deal? Why do some cats show us their bellies only to get upset when we actually pet them?
It's all instinct.
A cat's typical response when its belly is touched is to go into defensive mode - they swat or scratch and may even gently bite. Your cat's not being mean, it's simply a natural reflex of protection. This stems from their natural instincts as both predators and prey.
Cats are excellent predators - some of nature's most efficient hunters, in fact, with feral cats having a hunting success rate of 70% in open terrain (lions have less than 30%). But domestic cats are also small enough to be prey - and they know it! As prey, cats know that their belly is one of their most vulnerable areas - exposing it gives potential predators access to their vital organs.
So if your cat attacks you when you pet their belly, you're likely just triggering their natural protection reflex.
A sign of trust.
When a cat lies on its back and shows you its belly, the cat is relaxed, comfortable, and doesn't feel threatened. It feels safe enough to expose its vulnerable areas without worrying about being attacked. A kitty belly is not necessarily an open invitation for tummy rubs - your cat is basically saying, "I feel safe around you. I know you won't attack me."
Cats, like humans, are unique individuals. Some cats might enjoy belly rubs. Others will tolerate a pat or two. And other cats, who might have anxiety, hate belly rubs! It all depends on your individual cat, and as a responsible pet owner, respecting their boundaries and sensitivities.
Hypersensitivity.
Another reason for springing the Tummy Rub Trap? The hair follicles on the belly and tail area are hypersensitive to touch, according to Lena Provoost, an animal behaviorist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. So petting a cat on the belly (or tail area) can be overstimulating for our feline friends, and cause them irritation. This is why some cats might allow a pat or two on their bellies - but try for a third? No, thanks!
“Cats prefer to be pet and scratched on the head, specifically under their chin and cheeks where they have scent glands," Provoost told National Geographic.
When it comes down to it - pay attention to what your cat likes and doesn't like. Cats all have their individual preferences and wants - and they're certainly not shy about showing us! I've got more than a few scratches that can attest to that!
> As prey, cats know that their belly is one of their most vulnerable areas – exposing it gives potential predators access to their vital organs. So if your cat attacks you when you pet their belly, you’re likely just triggering their natural protection reflex.
This is made-up BS. If it were true, it would be much more so for their throats. But most cats LOVE exposing their throats to their hooman and getting scratched there for minutes on end.
So next time you’d better come up with a more plausible story instead of repeating that “cats protect their belly” nonsense.
@Erin Frances down there isn’t “better at catting” than anyone here. She (?) was just fortunate enough to meet a cat who didn’t mind having her belly touched
I’m a man. And I believe I’m rather good at catting. Why do you believe otherwise?
It is unusual for a cat to let you stroke her belly. I don’t know if they normally don’t enjoy it, or just feel very vulnerable.
More important than reading a cat’s body language, is how you project your own. Through tone, scent (ok, ok you can’t control your scent, just your emotions that manifest in the scent) and body movement. In the same way you exaggerate with babies you need to exaggerate with animals because their vocabulary of spoken words is very limited.
So I managed to project body language that made the cat want a belly massage from me. That’s pretty good at catting
It’s funny. I’ve had many cats throughout my life, but my latest girl Jade is the only one that’s done this. I adopted her at a shelter just under a year ago, and she’s my lovely playmate. Queen of the castle! She doesn’t do bellyrubs unless their on her terms (I know enough about cats to be able to tell if thats what she wants) . She must be quite comfy here :)
All of my 3 cats love belly rubs! Actually light scratching and heavy petting on their bellies.Never any biting or scratching from them.
All from the same litter. They are awesome! What a crew!
My roommate has 2 giant floofballs for cats. One of whom is a very heavy grey cat, named Piglette, who is the biggest attention hog, and he LOVES belly rubs. Any time he rolls over on his back, it’s always an invitation. Only time he’s not being an attention hog is when someone new is at the house, and with that, he’s hiding somewhere until the new person leaves, then he comes in my room, literally flops down on my bed beside me, belly up, and purring loud enough to wake the dead to get my attention.
The other cat, black with white socks, has an odd thing. Her name is Gypsy, and she loves feet. She doesn’t like to be held, but loves attention from anyone who will give it. If she lays on her back, she’ll let you rub her belly, but you have to do so with your foot.
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