The Right Way to Pet a Cat: Never Do These 5 Things
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มิ.ย. 2024
- We all feel like we know how to pet a cat, but doing it right is harder than you might think. In this video, you'll learn about the 5 mistakes people make when petting a cat and 5 tips for doing it well.
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Video Navigation:
0:00 Introduction
0:48 Mistake 1: Moving in Too Fast
1:23 Mistake 2: Going Against the Fur
2:13 Mistake 3: Brazen Tummy & Paw Petting
2:55 Mistake 4: Ignoring Overstimulation
4:08 Mistake 5: Choosing a Bad Time
5:11 Tip 1: Choose a Good Time
6:13 Tip 2: Do a Gentle Introduction
6:53 Tip 3: Be Aware of Overstimulation
7:18 Tip 4: Pet The Right Areas
8:12 Tip 5: Learn About Your Cat
8:57 Take the Petting Map Challenge!
9:53 Conclusion
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My cat has trained me well when it comes to petting and attention. He puts his paw on my face to let me know
to leave him alone or when he's on my lap and that he is done with the attention. I did not teach him that, he just
started doing it. He totally will let me pet his stomach if he's in the mood. With each individual cat is different, so you
kinda have to learn as you go when it comes to your fur baby(ies).
Rebecca
I’m very fortunate. My boy is cool with petting all over - even the belly. No biting. No scratching. When he was a kitten, the shelter worker told me to get him used to being touched in places like his legs, feet and belly. She said it would make for a better cat experience as he matures. Plus, she mentioned it would help with vet visits. She was correct. He has always been the perfect patient.
Lucky you. I got my kitten when she was 7-week old and I have been doing what you did. Unfortunately, she has a strong personality and even now at 5-month old, nail clipping and teeth brushing are still nearly impossible 😢
@@jessiepepper Try filing her claws instead. They won't be as sharp, but it's much easier on the cat. As far as the brushing, I've never had any success doing that.
@@heatherstub - I have to wait until my boy is completely asleep in my lap. Like when he's dreaming, lip smacking and twitching. Then I can get one or two claws (on a very good day I can get 4 ) before he wakes up and pulls away. That's the only way I can clip his claws. His feet are an absolute no touch zone when he's awake. I don't worry about his back claws as they don't generally get as sharp as the front ones. But if necessary the same technique applies.
@@wickedcabinboy Have you tried filing them, and if so, how successful were you? I'm trying to find one that's quiet, and I can't afford an expensive one. Also, being totally blind, I also have to feel for those twitches and adorable mini-smacks. I just can't clip them, and brushing a cat's teeth is totally impossible for me. I've had four Guide Dogs, and for the most part, they cooperated. It's a good thing, too, because it's how I found something in the back of Rosetta's mouth that she wouldn't allow me to touch. It turned out to be a Squamous-Cell Carsinoma, and I'm so glad I caught it in time to have it removed. She was my third.
@@heatherstub - No, I only have a mere 2 or 3 seconds at most to clip a claw before he awakens and pulls away. There's no way I could file his claws without sedating him and that's just not an option.
I must say Wessie was such a good boy while being “overstimulated“ on camera for his loyal viewers. 🤗😸
I bet Wessie was thinking, "what the heck?!" with all those rough pets, haha!
Thank you for making this video, it came at a much needed time. My first cat that I had for 18.5 years passed away three years ago today and I always get hit with the feels and the memories throughout this week. She taught me so much! How to be a good cat dad and a decent human. We really can't take all these precious moments for granted. I now tell my two cats all about their great ancestor, Kitty and they always look at me with wide eyes when they hear about our stories :)
It's very cute that your cats listen so intently to the tales of Kitty and the lessons to be learned from her. That's very sweet. Wishing you the best today. And yes, he was feeling very "what the heck" and a bit overwhelmed, but he was also having a good time-you can't hear the loud purring in the video. Thank you for stopping by.
I got stressed. The poor cat, but a model has to do hard things sometimes lol.
Yeah. Those rubs hard on the head and down the back made ME uncomfortable.
One of my boys has not read the manual about belly scratches, he settles back into my arms like a baby and pulls my other hand into his belly with both paws! If I gently scratch him with my fingertips, he just melts into a purring soft ball of fur and would stay there for hours if I didn't call time.
This is amazing advice for those who know nothing about cats. All cats are different and each has their own personality. Some are friendly and some are " just look " but don't touch. Most well-versed cat owners know to respect a cat that wants its own space. Love them in their own way.
New cat owner with a mostly "just look" cat. So disappointed. I need some lovin. I'm keeping her but I'd easily give her up if someone asked to have her, though I can't imagine anyone would. There's no bonding. I play with her, keep her 2 boxes pristine, try to keep things interesting. I feel cheated by no love in return. She dodges my touches. Leaves a room if I enter. Occasionally barely butts me or grazes my clothing. It's like every boyfriend I've ever had. It's better for them than me.
I actually got my kitten, and did all of these things to in a way "desensitize" him. He is very, very tolerant cat now and has never hissed, scratched or bit in his life out of anger. Not a single ounce of aggressive behavior from him his whole life. I made it a point to also begin walking him outside at a young age. Now he LOVES walks. He loves to run up and meet new people and play with big dogs. He's also an ultimate cuddler cat and will sleep on your chest all night long. He loves to play under blankets. I've raised an amazing cat and I'm proud. He's basically a dog and everyone loves him dearly. My little Milo man 💝
My cat absolutely loves when his paw pads are massaged, and when the tips of my fingers interlock in his paw..(which works really well for trimming his nails). He also occasionally likes the pads moisturized. He will come over and “reach” out for my hands with his own paws and blisses out if I respond in this way, often into purring and sleeping. He has a funny obsession with his paws touching our hands.
Mine likes that too!!
@@incog99skd11 ! Does your cat(s) also sort of caress your face? Lol. Sometimes like the kneading motion but more subtle
@@a_drifter_ He has done that but not too often. Somehow he likes the bottom of his feet being touched.
When I had Theo, I'd put my index finger on the pad of his paw, and he'd literally hold my finger in his paw. I now have Teddy, a Tabby, and he occasionally loves to do the same thing. Fortunately, he's not declawed like Theo was and only his front claws were removed. Since then, I've learned how bad that is, and I won't declaw my cats anymore and haven't declawed Teddy and Angel, my previous cat. She lived to be 21-1/2 years old. Teddy turned 9 on July 22nd, and I adopted him on August 14 of this year. He was a shelter cat, and he immediately starting bunting me on the face. He's so sweet!
@@heatherstub When a cat returns affection it's so sweet. I got my Nehemiah 4 tall scratching posts and put them in different rooms. If the scratching post is tall enough so the cat can stretch his body, he will use it instead of the furniture. He has one in my bedroom, one in the living room near the leather couch, one in the family room and one in the loft. He uses all of them. Nehemiah is a happy cat!!
Weird. My boys absolute LOVE to get their tummy rubbed as if they were dogs. They thankfully love to cuddle and constantly want the rubs ❤
I think one of people's mistake with petting any animal is not reading their body language since you can tell so much if you educate yourself on what they do to exhibit certain moods. Also you need to let an animal smell you first. Great video, I just feel bad for Wessie since by the end she seemed like she had enough. :D
Interesting.. My kitty doesn’t mind his paws being touched at all, and loves being petted all over (any direction).. Also LOVES hugs & kisses. He’s very affectionate 💕 I thought that was all normal lol but I suppose it depends on the cat and relationship. Thanks for sharing
I would never think of petting my cat so roughly!
oh my god im addicted to cat videos
My Mimsie will just simply put her paw on my hand when she's done with me petting her! It's so cute and I always respect it! She's the best! 🐈⬛❤️🐈⬛
LMAO " bunny kicks" 🤣 i like that. Always called it donkey kicks
After having dogs most of my life, I learned to adjust my touch for my adopted senior kitties. Less pressure and gentle touch.
It took a few months for me to learn what they will accept and not accept.
I practice massage with them. They love it when I massage along their spine (not the actual spine).
I get rewarded w purrs. 😊
Glad you made this great video....they should show this to every child and adult. It's all natural to me, but I'm a sensitive intuitive empath. LOL! Poor Wessie had to be the model of bad touching. Poor baby! Most people do not treat any animal or child the way I would. I don't understand most humans. And one thing humans do that makes me absolutely NUTSO, is PETTING EYEBALLS......ARRRRGGG!! Hey, I have endless ideas for videos, I'm pretty sure. LOL! Love you, sweet gal! You are a huge blessing for the animals of Earth! So glad you were born! Big hugs!
Thank You for making this Video! I have been a life long Cat owner (73 years old and counting) and Birman Cat Breeder during that time. I would always have to show kitten people how to pet and handle their new babies! The sad fact is most people simply do not know how to treat and handle their cats correctly! The biggest problem is they pet them like they would a dog! Overly rough and aggressive and most cats simply don't put up with rough treatment! Most also don't respect meeting a new cat properly and allowing them to see and smell your hand before you get anywhere near petting them! As you pointed out going directly over their heads can really scare and annoy them and all too often they will avoid the pet or even bite the person trying this offensive attack on them! Especially if they have been hand abused by a cat-hating or teasing person! They become Hand Shy and aggressive towards anyone trying to pet them over their heads or anywhere around their heads! A big problem I have seen over the years is girls and women who have boyfriends or husbands that really don't like cats in the first place and they can be very abusive to a cat and then the cat thinks ALL males will treat them like that! If you ever see your boyfriend or husband act abusively to your cat act the same way you would if they mistreated your child! Kick them to the Curb!! Another point. EVERY Cat is different just like humans! Some like petting under their chins or around their ears GENTLY and some really don't care for that! Some LOVE their bellies stroked softly and in the correct direction! NEVER go against the grain of their coats! Just spending lots of quality time with them learning what they put up with, like or really like will work wonders in building your relationship with your cat! Paying attention to their eye, tail, and head movements will also teach you when they want affection and when they don't! Cats are NOT Dogs! You treat each species somewhat differently and even certain cat breeds will be either love sponges (like Birmans or Ragdolls) or they might be somewhat aloof (like some of the Exotics) and they really don't want a lot of hands-on treatment. Don't try to mold a Cat to what You want, but learn which breeds are more of what you want in a Cat and respect them for being what they are! Some people DON'T want a clingy cat or a vocal cat and some do! Learn about the breeds you are thinking of adding to your household and remember they are Forever members of your family, not disposable objects!
You are right about kicking anyone to the curb that the cat doesn't like. Animals are great judges of Character.
Poor Wessie! I hope that he knows that he did all this for the sake of science and educating people!
😹😹😹
I think so; he was purring throughout and got plenty of treats and quiet time afterwards.
@@AllAboutCatsYT Yes pay him for his acting skills. He caught wind of the Morris the cat fortune .
A few of our cats place their paws in my hand when we are resting and it is fantastic.
My cat is an exception to the tummy rub "rule". I'm always very gentle and stop the second she looks like she doesn't like it anymore. However, I've built up a lot of trust with my cat, she may not react well with just anyone she doesn't know doing it - I'm yet to find out 😸 Yes, she loves having pats/gentle scratching around her ears and and head. She also loves a little scratching under the chin. She'll often lift her head up to let me scratch away at her chin and she just closes her eyes and along with the purrrs, looks rather pleased!
A hint.
I adopted a 13 year old cat.
I put him in a smaller room. I put everything he needed in the room and shut the door. I left for 3 hours roughly. That gave him to calm down about being in a new place and explore.
When I came home I went in the room and closed the door. I sat in a chair and did something calm like read. I made zero effort to approach him. I waited for him to approach me. By that night he was fine with that room. I slowly explanded his territory
My cat had spinal injuries near his tail from a previous person with kids. He loves everyone, but is still terrified of kids.
He loves the backward rub on his back legs. I think it must be like massage for his painful joints.
My wife would take an old comb or hair brush and scratch the back starting at the beginning of the tail and going back towards the neck about 4 or 5 inches. Our cats would get this really contented, dreamy look on their face and sometimes when she was doing this to one cat, the others would wander over and wait for their turn.
Watching the demonstration of wrong petting, made me cringe. You have a very patient cat! Very helpful video! I see dog people try to pet my moody cat, never ends well. LOL.
That is such a sweet forgiving cat! My gray rescue is an attention hog. I'm away from home too much so when I get home and after I feed her, she yells at me and tells me it's time to pet her
Whenever I’m having a bad day I always binge your videos. Not only are they super informative, I find them really calming and comforting since cats are my special interest. I don’t have my own pet cat (yet) but I want to be ready for when the time comes. Thank you for what you do
I hope that you get your feline friend soon, Valentina! 😸
Hey Valentina, I wanted to return to this comment and thank you personally. As the person making these videos, it's very strange and almost unbelievable to think that someone out in the world seeks them out on bad days and gets such comfort from them. Thank you very much for sharing your appreciation, and I'll try to continue putting out videos that brighten rough days, nurture your curiosity, and prepare you for the moment you actually get a cat. Take care. >.< - Mallory
@@AllAboutCatsYT aww thank you for taking the time to reply! I know I’m not the only one who feels this way about your content and enjoys this special little corner of the internet. Thank you for all the effort you put into this channel. I hope you take care as well ❤️
Omg I watch tons of cat vids to prepare for a future cat too!!! I plan to go to shelters and get used to spending time and playing with cats as well as save money for vet emergencies, supplies, and (or course) bills of any kind :D (oh god now I need to be a billionaire… ☠️)
If you have to have a cat that loves belly rubs, get a Rag Doll. I rescued a Rag Doll/Manx mix from a co-workers basement. He was 25lbs of live action teddy bear. I could hold him in my arms like a baby, rub his belly and he would shower me with purrs. He loved sleeping with me like a teddy bear. He didn't have any no pet zones. I absolutely adored him. Sadly he got old and passed away.
Sweet. I'm sorry for your loss.
One of the many things I enjoy so much about this page is that I keep telling my cat he is not a dog but he doesn’t seem to understand and I watch this page and just start laughing. He loves me to pat and kiss his paws and even to hold them when we go to sleep. He turns on his back because he does want his belly scratched And will gently let me know when he’s had enough. He even likes me to stroke his tail As I sing to him. So when I watch these it makes me giggle and I tell him he needs to listen to Mallory! Lol guess I got very lucky he’s just OK with about anything, even car rides to visit friends.
Sounds like you've got a lovely furry friend there.
Nice! 😻
I have two very different cats. Both rescues. Meowie was on the street for a long time and was feral but caught early enough that she was ok with humans. With her all places are a no except face scratches. Her paws and belly are a hard no. Back is fine but she doesn't enjoy it.
With Freja my other cat, a foster failure. You can pet scratch and do whatever and she is always fine. She also is excellent with kids. A great cat to train on how to be respectful. She is bottle fed by me and I've had her since she was 2 weeks ish old. She also likes EVERYONE she meets.
Weirdly enough Meowie is the one that spends all her nights by my side. Freja likes to sleep with the dogs.
Love you cats' names!
My Ragdoll kitty loves gentle belly rubs and loves it when I brush it.
Both my cats love belly rubs. And I touch my kitten's paws to get him used to it, making nail clipper use easier. My black cat is six years old and has never attacked me for petting her. My beloved cat (passed over the rainbow bridge) was very unusual in the she could not get enough attention and petting.
My wife and I got a five year old rescue Egyptian Mau mix six months ago. She's timid but very loving.
I can't fill in the drawing but our girl fits the chart you showed exactly.
She LOVES a wire slick brush. If I simply show her brush she jumps into my lap loudly purring and trilling. I can brush her entire sides and along her spine but I don't brush in the same place for more than a few strokes. As you said watch your cats reaction their body language will show you how they feel. She loves the brush so much she sometimes goes to it and calls to me.
My cat starts purring when I show her the brush too.
Some likely see just a crazy cat lady, but I see glamour, joie de vivre & the coolest menagerie of earrings on the internet!
3:35 Dog people tend to make this mistake of a very heavy hand pressing down too hard and also squishing their ears 🐈
Lost my cat 2 days ago. He loved it, when I slightly ruffled his belly. When I was bored and started to gently scratch his ears or pet his back, a gentle paw directed my hand back to his belly. Miss him so much 😢.
I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like he was incredibly sweet and lovely.
My cat ..4 year old male . shoulders only ...back if he moves to hand when standing. Laying down NOPE no touch. If you lay down he jumps on your chest --- you are allowed to pet touch everything EVEN LEGS AND FEET ! Cats will show you the rules 😺
My cat even lets me trim his nails while he's on my chest.
@@zamplify One tip I've learned is if your cat's paws are feeling a bit sensitive, use a file instead of trimming their nails. Sometimes, you can even put just a little unsalted butter on them, and they just love you forever after that.
Yeah I get it. I’m feline too.
@@heatherstub unsalted butter ? as a treat?
@@swettyspaghtti Yup! A little dab'll do ya.
when I bought a backscratcher... my cat loves to have a go at it too! Wessie is adorable!
One of my cats loves his belly being stroked. He just lies there and purrs but he likes cheek rubs even more. We have recently adopted a stray cat we'd been trying to catch for 2 years. He turned up looking for food and we noticed he wasn't putting weight on one of his paws. He was also very hungry but a magpie kept chasing him away from the dish of dry food we'd put out. We put some just inside our kitchen door and he ate that, then a threw a couple of pieces towards the opposite corner and he took the bait. We quickly closed the door. Next day off to the vet. Vet thought he was no more than 3 years old so still very young. Upshot is he's been neutered, microchipped, had his leg x-rayed while under anaesthetic and thankfully there was no break but they did find that he'd been bitten so cleaned what was the start of an abscess. We gave him a home and he is now an indoor cat only. He's starting to learn to accept pets but it's on his terms and he will let you know by swishing his tail when he's had enough. We've only had him just over 3 weeks so it's very early days yet. He's lost the rough look he had from living outdoors and is turning into a very sleek and shiny black cat. Importantly, he will not father any more unwanted litters.
You’re a good person, thanks for adopting and more importantly preventing so many unwanted kittens from being born.
@@bs1820 He'll never be cold, wet or hungry again. He's fitted in with my other cats. No hissing or fighting from any of them.
Nice! Good for you and your new friend. :)
Informative video. Thanks. Me: cat-lover for 40 adult years. Current Cat: New to us (~3 months) 9-year-old tripod female from local shelter (surrendered). Amputated front-left leg as young kitten (pre-spay) due to a bad break. Named Mitsy as a kitten, so we kept it (though I occasionally call her Lefty).
Petting: Super interested in petting and snuggling! Demanding, in fact. If I lay down on the floor, she will come right over for a session that includes head butts (she loves rubbing her entire head against my jaw if I haven't shaved for a few days!), marking me, purring, and inevitably, flopping over with her back jammed against me to offer me her belly and missing-leg area.
YES ZONES: Head, neck, full back, and belly anytime. She will flop down next to me and offer up her left side and belly. She loves it if, after a bit of petting, I just rest my hand where her left leg would be.
OK ZONES: Tail, front leg, base of tail patting (good for a while, but not too long)
MEH Zones: feet, back legs. I do periodic feet inspections and she doesn't really mind it (last kitty had a bad reaction to a new rug (maybe anti-mold or anti-flammable agents?)).
BAD/BITE ZONES: None! Just overstimulation.
I can touch paws but belly is a no no. Wish I could groom belly fur.
I don't have cats (my house is really cluttered and I kind of don't want to be responsible for taking care of a living thing), but my friend had several cats. One of them was an old Siamese cat who didn't like to be touched at all. If you touched him at all, he'd try to bite you. He was kind of slow, so it wasn't really a serious attempt, just him saying that he didn't want to be touched. Conversely, he did like to lie in your lap.
He also had a younger Siamese male who didn't mind being petted. He wasn't really affectionate, and didn't really seem to appreciate being petted, but he'd let you pet him. He was a very even-tempered cat who clearly didn't like to be picked up, but wouldn't make a fuss if you did. He was fairly playful though and in his younger days, he loved to chase a laser pointer, or anything on a string. He also didn't seem to mind being "roughed up". Sometimes he'd be lying on the bed and I'd quickly run my hand back and forth along his back. This would get his tail flicking back and forth, but you could tell that he wasn't angry about it. He would have the same look on his face as he did while playing with something on a string. If he had seemed upset about it, I wouldn't have done it. He's also the only cat I've ever known that never swatted at anyone or tried to bite them. Unlike a female cat that my friend also had, who liked to bite people's ankles.
I always give my cats some "cat-o-practor" treatment. I pick them up gently and turn them over until I have both hands supporting their spine...then I gently work my fingers along their backbone by applying a tiny bit of pressure on each finger tip and thumb...and then releasing and moving my fingers down a half an inch and repeating. I do this for about a minute giving a gentle massage of the spine. They don't like the idea at first...but then once I start, they let their head hang down and they stretch their four legs out and relax. When I put them down gently on the couch beside me...they will continue to lay on their back for a little while with a sleepy look on their face.
My cat is only 2 months old and likes to be petted anywhere on the head and its name is milk tea.
When you went against the grain of the cat he said "I know you didn't just do that TF"?..😂🤣🤣
It took me over 6 months to gently entice a feral orange kitty into our home. Even tho he would keep his distance and sometimes hiss at me, I was successful. To think that I can now not only give him thorough brushings while he lies on his back, but actually blow raspberries on his tummy, is something I wouldn’t have believed during his time as a feral cat. Gently rubbing the bridge of his nose back and forth puts him in a trance too!
That’s great 😀
@rostasi - very nice. You have a loving companion for life.
I've got it to the point where my cat pats me. She wakes me up at 6am on the dot with a shoulder tap and I'm now working on her doing breakfast and the laundry
Hahaha. That's too funny. Back when I was a child, we had a cat named Pi Wacket who was a Siamese. She lived to be around 18, and every morning, she had a routine where she'd groom my dad's beard while purring. It was so adorable that she won Dad's heart, and we all loved her to bits.
My cats love being pet. Doesn’t mind there tummy. Just don’t like being held to long
Im just learning my kitten to be okay with everthing, so far so good
It's a great idea. Good work!
My cats are very loving they love me to pet their belly, but your video is very helpful for people who are unfamiliar with cats. Apple my late cat didn’t like his head or ears touched but he nerver bit me . But your right address this issue there are very touchy cats out there!
I adopted my 4 year old cat Vega from a rescue shelter when she was 1 and a half years old. She is very comfortable with me although she hides from strangers. She won't sit on my lap or let me pick her up but otherwise shows all of the affectionate signs. When she wants pets she rolls over and flops on one side or the other and while getting pets she allows brushing. She enjoys pets in all of the spots mentioned in the video and also in the area between her eyes and ears, roughly analogous to our temples.
Jackie, you’re more patient than me
Ajani will tolerate almost anything. . .most of the time. He'll actually offer his belly if he dozes in a lap or comes into bed for a bit before sleep time. He'll stretch all the way out and you can touch him /anywhere/ and he'll just snooze or doze happily.
I have to cats, one tolerates belly pets very well but doesn't really want them, the other absolutely craves them and will purr up a storm when given. He will even use his paws to pull my hand towards his belly. This is my 6th and 7th cat respectively, and only the third to tolerate belly pets and only the 2nd to totally appreciate them. My fifth cat, Monster, a very large grey tabby who unfortunately got feline leukemia virus and died from it, with him any human attention was good attention. You could do no wrong outside of ignore him.
My two cats are very different. Mr Hobbs loves being petted especially at night for about 10 minutes while I'm in bed just getting as close to my face as possible while I stroke him. Dylan not so much during the day but at night loves his belly rubbed.
My little geriatric Aby loves to be *stroked ALL OVER,* PLUS loves scritchles under chin and around ears and around whole head and *even at the base of his tail.* PLUS he loves *his paw pads* massaged! *BUT all of the above is ONLY BY ME!!*
Like all Abys, he is an *extremely loving* cat and very very social. *But* with strangers, he needs to take their measure first and he must be the initiator. It helps if they speak to him, from a non-contact distance, in *soft tones of adoration* first; next time, they might follow the obligatory dulcet adoration with hand presented the way that you demonstrated in this video.
He sleeps with me in my bed, lying on his back, in the crook of my arm, *inviting* gentle tummy strokes, gentle arm holding, gentle toe massages. But this is only after he has engaged in the going-to-bed rituals (domesticated felines love and depend on rituals) of kathumping onto my chest, swiping the side of his mouth against my lips, giving me multiple very strong "Aby head and nose bonks" (for which they are famous). He has me well trained! I love him to pieces and he loves me in return.
I could go on and on ...
I always loved kitties. My earliest memories are of a neighbors very patient calico when I wasn't quite two years old. I was a small child and would pick her up by wrapping my arms around her just behind her front legs. I don't think that her back feet left the ground.
I never chased the kitties but very few cats don't come to me after a few minutes. I have been very fortunate in the cats that have been *mine*. Each one had very different personalities and different ideas of what they wanted from me. Oddly, three of the four have wanted to hold hands.
The two in my picture were not well socialized as kittens and I got them at about eight months old. The larger of the two likes to put his right paw in my loosely curled palm when I am sleeping. I think that I get a little preview of heaven when he props his chin on my skull and purrs. Waking up to that is the best.
Thank you for your well thought out videos. You are a good friend to cats and their people everywhere.
my cat was traumatized by my family in her early years, even after 17 years she hates being held or pet.
the weird/annoying thing tho is she will demand to be pet or patted then walks away for a minute when u do.
she is just a DIVA. good for her ! I like that :)
The cat at the lower left corner of this video looks like it’s flipping a double bird! Lol
I had to let my baby girl go to the rainbow bridge, I’m absolutely devastated. Maybe you could do a video on losing a cat and how to cope with grief.
I'm really sorry, and thank you for sharing this idea. It's not my own, but All About Cats did publish an article on coping with losing a cat, and you may find it helpful in some way. allaboutcats.com/how-to-cope-with-losing-a-cat
Lmaoo bunny kicks for the win 🐈 🐰 🥾
Yep!
Most of the cats that I have ever had LOVED it when I rubbed the fur on their back backwards!
Fascinating!
I just got my first kitten after having dogs my whole life. She's a 6 week old stray and I kind of felt overwhelmed. Luckily she's super friendly! This video was super helpful, thanks!
I am the secondary human for our cat (she sleeps and cuddles with my daughter)
Greetings by bunting an head scratches (cheeks, ears, chin). Then proceeding to the base of the tail. Nothing to intense.
Awww poor Wessie was like 😼 what is she doing, rough and backwards fur strokes 😼😾 lol, I hope he got some nice pets and treats after 😊
Thank you 😻
I started our cats as kittens petting them on the belly and paws, getting them use to it. I think once they realize it feels good, and you're not attacking them in a playful way, they enjoy it. I can actually get pretty darn rough with our cats before they start engaging with claws and biting, and even then sometimes they will engage, but shortly stop after a couple of seconds.
Here's how I would both pet and respect my cat. I would put my open hand several inches over and forward of his head, so he could see it. Then I'd ask "Pet? Pet?" He'd squint and slightly raise his head, and then I'd pet him.
Well, my 3 cats, from the same litter, must be part dog because they LOVE their bellies rubbed.. anytime they are lying down and I walk up they'll flop over on their backs and want me to rub their bellies. .. when I rescued them as kitties I instantly started rubbing all their feet. . So they don't mind me playing with their feet... if I stop petting them they will bump me to keep petting them!
hi mallory - it's almost caturday
Every day is Caturday at All About Cats.
Great information.
Love the Petting Map! Thanks.
Great cat charting idea, as a visible reminder of their preference and mood or health changes over time!
I have six cats and they all have their preferences, and it’s not all the same areas which are liked or not liked. Generally your comments are correct: about appropriate timing, over the head stroking and Belly as far as dislikes. That last one, being overwhelmed is something I’ve learned to look out for the signs that they’ve had enough. What I do now is ask them,pets? as I approach any of them for pets and they will come to me or blink a response as an invitation. One of my cats likes to sit on my lap and get pets at the beginning but not necessarily the whole time she sits on my lap. So totally agree with your comments on communicating before you pet or are approaching them. Curled hand is absolutely best and if they rub you first at that point it’s perfect! One thing you did not mention that all of my cats love, is more of a massage touch even if it goes a little bit against the grain on the direction of the fur it’s more of a rubbing than a petting, gently for sure, all of my cats will lean into a massage rub even if it’s not their favorite spot! I’ve also seen Mama cat lick the forehead as a sign of affection, so I’ve used my finger or thumb (not my whole hand) to mimic the lick, starting on the side of the face as you show that as a rub or along the shoulders. That usually isn’t so overwhelming as an initial touch. Also some seem to have a favorite location, such as the bed or a specific chair where they expect to get pets! Approaching an unfamiliar cat, I get down on the floor to their level so I’m not showing an aggressive, towering figure.
Nice video. Thanks for making this educational video. Mapping chart is cool, maybe I will try for my lil Bailey :-)
Thanks for sharing very detailed info.good homework.
When I saw the rough pets even I felt uncomfortable to watch, so you can imagine how much it must've felt for Wessie... Will have to send ppl this video because usually other cat channels don't show the "wrong" way so they can actually see how uncomfortable the cat looks.
Tuned in to see if your take matched mine. And it does. You described my approach to my companion of 12 years, Mango and frankly any other cat I interact with. Calmly, with relaxed hand, palm down, fingers relaxed and slightly curled and close to his face. He gets to decide whether or not he wants to be patted. Sometimes he says no by backing away. His body language is very clear and I've learned what not to do. The other thing you mentioned and with which I agree is that all cats have their individual differences. Especially when it comes to belly rubs. I've only had one cat that ever enjoyed having his belly rubbed. No other has ever appreciated it.
You have such a pleasant, articulate way of speaking, and your advice is excellent! Enjoyed this video!
Great video! Thanks♡
I wait for my cat to come to me for pets.
My cat seems to be okay with all areas including base of the spine, paws and belly. In fact she will make it quite clear when she wants a belly rub and she will push my hand away with a soft paw when she's done. At least I knew about introducing yourself to a cat with a hand.
Nice video. Thank you.
Great thank you!
I have had my Autumn for 15 years since she was a little kitty 🐈 she loves sitting next to me at all times with my arm around her..
Haha everything you mentioned holds true with my cat except she likes when I reverse brush her…..which is odd for a cat as you demonstrated.
*My guy loves to be backward brushed too!* Abys have a very soft undercoat and brushing him the wrong way, usually with my fingers, helps to bring it to the surface. But he ends up with a "terminal" case of dandruff! 😸😺
I'm surprised by the number of people who say their cats are okay with being brushed this way! Really interesting. :)
@@AllAboutCatsYT haha me too! I just discovered about 2 months ago on accident. As long as I go slow and only like 2 or 3 strokes at a time then brush with the flow she especially enjoys it while eating.
Very informative video but omg at 7:39 what happened to your hand??? Ouch!!!!!
During the overstimulation scene, Wessie slashed my hand.
Loved this video!
So glad!
I agree about all the places cats don't like to be petted, so I avoid the tummy and the paws. The interesting thing I've noticed is that my cat loves her cat brush, and although I'll get a bite from her if I touch her tummy and paws, she'll let the cat brush go ANYWHERE without a fight! It makes me laugh! My hands are a no-go, but the brush is golden!!!
This is my second very shy foster cat who purrs with pets and seems to enjoy them, but only if the cat is in an enclosed space. This one is particularly anxious and fearful even after three months😢
Thank you for all of your great information! I subscribe and get your emails. I have learned a lot!!
My cats were both feral kittens. The Orange Tabby, Mokie, was a love bucket from the get-go. His brother Maui (a mostly black cat with a white locket or his chest, and wispy white hairs in his arm/leg pits) is a love too, but he can get overstimulated and because he’s enormous, he can really hurt if he scratches or bites. He apologizes immediately afterwards, but he still has just a little wild streak.
His brother, Mokie passed away 18 months ago, and I don’t think Maui is as confident now as he was with his brother here.
My problem is actually with his interactions with one of my friends. She came over every day to help me pack up my house and ready it for sale, so he sort of connects her with upheaval.
She desperately wants Maui to like her and let him pet her, but he growls at her now. She is a dog person, but loves cats too, but she’s very loud when she speaks (unlike me), and he’s just doesn’t trust her.
I tried to have her give him treats at one point, but then she jumped in to soon to pet, and he scratched her.
I can’t figure out a way to tell her to talk more softly, and to wait until she earns his trust, with treats, before she attempts to pet him without hurting her feelings. Any suggests??
Oh, this is not just a cat question at all! Well, I think it depends on your relationship with this friend, but I think explaining that you think Maui associates her with this stressful period will help her to take it less personally. You can jump off of that by saying he needs extra gentleness and quiet voices, but that treats will be a good way to start winning him over.
@@AllAboutCatsYT Thank you for the great idea! I’ll give it a try!
Thank you very much for your info! 🙂
Glad it was helpful!
purrrfeecccct video Thank You
Beautiful
I almost wanna make a reply vid, my cat has no no-no zones, everything is touchable and petable and scratchable even against hair.
There's 1 catch however- he doesn't want to be touched at all most of the time and that's fine. He never bites or swats or hisses or anything when I do sometimes try to sneak in a lil pet when he isn't in the mood but he will just simply duck out of the way to not be touched. Some days all he wants is attention and pets and scratches and other days he's just happy to do whatever he wants and be left alone.
He's been in the snuggly mood for last 2 days so that's a new record.
Are you talking about your cat Muts? I saw the video of him being bathed, and I'm not surprised to hear that he's so comfortable with touch!
@@AllAboutCatsYT ayyyy that's my boi Muts! Yes, him!
He's a feral born I took in as an abandoned 1 monthish kitten. He had some epic diarrhoea and discharge from eyes n nose first few days so he needed bathing to keep him clean meaning he had a very early start getting used to water.
I actually take him for a swim in river in the summer when it gets super hot outside n he usually likes it + swimming is good exercise. Bathing vid was actually a rinse off after a swimming round.
He's very nonchalant about a lot of things and doesn't notice or pay any attention to "minor inconveniences".
He once stepped in my coffee and just stood there 1 foot in coffee without a care in the world- foot needed a quick rinse for his healths and my sanitys sake.
Another time my other cat puked on him and he apparently didn't even notice and kept sleeping. Found him peacefully snoozing his back covered in puke - yup needed a bath for this one as well!
Best part about him however is he sleeps through the night. His bedtime is 10-11pm and he doesn't get up before 7am at the earliest.
I think I'll post a few more vids of him (if I remember to) cuz he really is a very good cat and maybe someone wants to see how chill a cat can be + I definitely have a fair bunch of videos of him
I've fifteen and they all have different preferences but are all the same about anyone messing with their feet or rear end. Although I've one female that loves a good butt scratch. You're right on about introducing yourself first and letting the cat make the choice to be petted or not. Thanks for all your videos and sharing the knowledge. Mau Bast Merit Netcheru.
Good job😼😊😻
7:40 do I spot the sign of a pet session gone wrong 🤣
Love the channel and content. Keep it up!
Great talk. Just found your channel.❤
Welcome, Clarence!
Thanks!
Wow, thank you so much, Marjorie!