How to pet a cat, according to science (and how to know if he really likes it)

We are not a few people who have met a most affectionate cat who seems to be delighted with the caresses we tilt and, a minute later, we stings or gives us a shot.

The easiest when this happens is to blame the cat, but it is possible that we do not caress it properly.

To understand why, it is important first to know a little more about the ancestors of these animals.

It is likely that the African wildcat, the most immediate ancestor of the domestic cat, has only been used to control pests.

Nowadays, however, cats are considered a valuable business, to the point that for many people they are "hairy babies".

It is thought that this social metamorphosis of the relationship between humans and felines occurred about 4,000 years ago, shortly after the appearance of the "best friend of man".

Although we may consider that 4000 years is enough time for one species to fully adapt to life in society, this does not seem to be the case with our mustache companion.

And it is that domestic cats have a relatively low genetic divergence compared to their ancestors. That is, their brain is always programmed to think like a wild cat.

They lead lonely lives and invest considerable time and effort into indirect communication, through visual and chemical messaging, to avoid becoming too connected. It therefore seems unlikely that domestic cats have inherited the complex social skills of their predecessors.

Humans, by their nature, are social beings for whom approach and contact are signs of affection.

In addition, we are attracted by the aesthetic characteristics of children (large eyes and forehead, small nose and rounded face), which is why many cats seem so beautiful.

Knowing this, it is not surprising that our initial reaction to seeing one is to caress him, to do it carantos or just to smile. In the same way, it is not surprising that some cats consider this type of interaction a bit overwhelming.

The love in cats

Although many cats like hugs and, in some contexts, they choose us before meals, they must learn to appreciate the interactions with humans during their short period of adaptation (two to seven weeks of life).

When talking about the relationship between cats and humans, the characteristics of people are also important. Aspects such as our personality and gender, the parts of the cat 's anatomy we touch and the way we usually treat them are very important to understand how the animal reacts to our samples. affection.

Some cats react aggressively to unwanted physical contact, while others may tolerate our approaches simply in exchange for food and a place to sleep.

Despite this, a tolerant cat is not necessarily a happy cat. In fact, the highest levels of stress are observed in cats whose owners say they are satisfied with the caresses instead of showing that they do not like them.

How to pet a cat

The key to success in our business is to give the cat the ability to choose and control interactions. For example, it is important that you indicate whether you want to receive affection and that you control the area of ​​your body in which you wish to be petted and for how long.

Because of our tactile nature and the appeal we feel for beautiful animals, it can be difficult for us to ignore our instinct and demand high doses of self-control.

However, the effort could be offset because a study shows that interactions are more likely to last longer when it is the cat and not the person who triggers them.

It is also important to pay attention to the behavior and postures that the cat acquires during interactions to make sure that it is comfortable.

When establishing a physical contact, the less is more, not only during veterinary exams, but also when the cat interacts with people in a more relaxed environment.

As a general rule, most cats like to be touched around the areas where the facial glands are located, such as the base of the ears, under the chin and near the cheeks.

On the contrary, they do not benefit so much from the contact in the belly, the kidney and the base of the tail.