HOW TO PET A CAT

If your cat doesn't love belly rubs, why does she roll on her back when she sees you? It's a cat's instinctual way of letting you know she trusts you. It's not an invitation to pet her belly; it's an invitation to a closer relationship. She's exposing her most vulnerable body part to you, letting you know she trusts you.

You might see cats exposing their belly to each other while playing. Sometimes this can be one cat's way of letting the other know they're trusted and are still friends, even during a "play fight."

How to Approach a Cat

Most cats need to be approached slowly. Unlike dogs, which often are fine with a rougher pet and quick movements, cats don't like to be startled. So, unless you're very close to one particular cat, you always want to approach them slowly when attempting to pet them.

Extend your hand and allow the cat to sniff it first.3 If he rubs his body or face against your hand, this is an invitation to pet him softly. The key is to let your cat decide. If he doesn't come to you, read a book or watch TV and wait for him to approach you later.

Sometimes, even when you're close to your kitty, he might shy away from letting you pet him if he thinks your hand smells odd or if he's feeling stressed. You might notice a pattern, such as your cat avoiding your pets every time you use a scented moisturizer. Respect your cat's boundaries, and he'll want to be petted more often.

Some very friendly cats don't mind if you pet them suddenly without waiting for an invitation, but this is typically only the case if you have a close relationship.

Watch Their Body Language

Even when you've owned a cat for years, you still want to watch your cat's body language when petting her.4 Some cats can only handle brief moments of petting before they feel overstimulated and need to be left alone. If you're petting your cat and notice her tail twitching, ears