Stroking a Cat
by Michael
Back of the head - good spot to stroke for the cat...
Stroking a cat is commonsense isn't it? We just do what comes naturally to us don't we? I mean we do what we like. Stroking a cat is one of the pleasures in our relationship with cats. It is relaxing and helps create a nice bond with our cat.
We nearly always stroke a cat in a way that pleases us. This is normal as it is what we know.
But what does the cat think about it all and what does the cat prefer? The answer must come in the way cats lick each other, particularly the way a mother licks its young. The sensation that a kitten feels when licked by its mother is brought forward to our cat when we stroke him our her.
Cats lick us. It is their way of stroking us!
So, I say that stroking a cat should mimic to a good extent the way cats lick each other. That might be the ideal or a starting point but I am not saying we should religiously stick to that style. It gives us some guidance.
The big obstacle for the human is that we are much bigger and stronger than a cat which can mean (
for men particularly) that we are a bit heavy handed (actually cats are very strong but generally we are stronger). The second obstacle is that we use the hand rather than a tongue! And a hand is much larger. But I don't actually see this as an obstacle. It is probably a plus point. Of course the third obstacle is that we are not in fact cleaning the cat. Stroking a cat is simulating the cleaning of a cat, no more, from the perspective of a cat.
Stroking a cat is perhaps the most common form of interaction between cat and human after putting some food down for her.
I find that cats prefer shortish strokes near and around the head and shoulders. This also, as it happens, mirrors to a good extent what takes place between cats licking each other.
Also the hind quarters (the top of the legs mainly) are I think a more sensitive area. Perhaps because it is the rear of the cat, a more vulnerable area generally.
It might also be useful to stroke a cat in those places that are inaccessible to the cat, under the chin and at the back of the head. This is where other cats lick their cat friends, siblings and offspring for obvious reasons. Sure, our stroking is not functionally beneficially in the same way a cat's lick would be but our cat still likes it because he or she thinks the fur is being cleaned and it is friendly action creating an emotionally warmer environment for the cat. There is some scent exchange going on.
We all have our own ideas and theories but going back to basics should guide us, I believe. But I am not saying we should mimic a cat's licking behavior religiously.
Here is a video of a cat licking another cat. It is nothing special except is gives us the clue as to what to do, I think. The cat licks the inaccessible areas of the head. This is something that would not necessarily come naturally to us (and I don't mean actually licking but stroking in those areas!).
Cats don't always just lick other cats in inaccessible places, of course. But these are the places that should, I think, take priority for us to stroke.
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