Suggested Articles.
Feline Hyperesthesia Syndrome is a rare, but confounding ailment. Cats that suffer from this syndrome are very sensitive to being touched, especially over their lower back area. In fact, hyperesthesia literally means 'too much feeling and sensation'. FHS is still not fully understood.
Sensitivity threshold: The cat enjoys the human contact at first, but then the repetitiveness of the petting becomes irritating. The cat turns and bites as a way to say, “I've had enough.” An analogy to human behavior can be made. If someone pats you on the back, it feels good.
When cats display aggression when touched or petted, it can stem from many different motivations. The most common include: Fear/defense: A fearful cat may exhibit dilated pupils, ears turning back, or a twitching tail. In this situation, your cat may growl, hiss or swat at the person reaching, touching or petting.
This behaviour is also commonly referred to as overstimulation aggression. While this seemingly unpredictable behaviour can be frustrating (and even worrisome) for pet owners, rest assured it is a biologically appropriate way of communicating for your cat.
Down the Back: A cat's back is probably the safest place to pet it. Use gentle pressure and slow, rhythmic strokes. The “sweet spot” is usually at the end of the back...
Some cats may appreciate—and thus try to get the most of—petting, light fingertip massage, or brushing on their lower backs since that's a difficult area to reach when grooming. The lifting action helps cats spread their scents from their anal sacs, just inside the rectum, onto “petters.”
Most often cats will start hissing at you because they are annoyed and are trying to tell you to back off. However, a hissing cat could also be telling you that they are in pain and need your help. So if you're petting them or lifting them when the hissing sound starts, check to see if they have any signs of injury.
So they want to mark you again with their scent by rubbing, headbutting, licking, or even gently biting you. This allows your cat to reclaim their territory, and it's thought to increase endorphins, which gives them a sense of calm, happiness, and safety.
It is a sign of inclusiveness and affection. “It allows them to share their scent with other cats they are friendly with, creating a group scent,” says Delgado. By rubbing against your legs, “your cat is letting you know you are part of their inner circle,” she says.
PetMD also points out that cats are territorial creatures. They claim their turf by marking it with their scent. So when they sleep on top of you, they're actually marking you—and your bed—as theirs. We should be flattered by this behavior, apparently.
When your cat nibbles you playfully, she's really offering her affection. This is much different from a fearful or defensive bite that's meant to cause harm, and the feelings behind it are different as well. Love nibbles are a ticklish, funny little quirk of lovable cats.
Often, cats become overstimulated when being pet and instinctively bite to let their owners know they've had enough – a behavior known as petting aggression. Biting is a hunting instinct, so cats may also bite during playtime.
The most important sensory receptor for a cat is their nose. A cat is believed to have around 200 million scent receptors in their nose. These millions of receptors act as an indicator that helps sense the world around them, such as food, friends, prey, and even navigating their way around the neighborhood.
Cats feel pain and have similar pain thresholds to people. Individual cats show that they are in pain, frightened or suffering in different ways. For example, some cats become withdrawn and hide or change their eating and drinking habits, but others become aggressive or restless.
In severe cases, cats with this syndrome may damage or mutilate their own tail. These behaviors can appear for no obvious reason, and your cat may look confused afterwards. The episodes may take place every few days or almost every day. They may last a few seconds or a few minutes.
For wild and domestic cats, playtime is critical for the development of their hunting skills. When your pet exposes his belly, it does not necessarily mean that he is being submissive. Sometimes, coaxing you to rub his belly means that he wants to play with you and practice his hunting skills.
Headbutting is a way for cats to mark you with pheromones and bond with you. However, sometimes headbutting can be a way for cats to seek attention. As a general rule, cats like to be scratched under the chin and on the head, so a cat may just be presenting their head to you for some attention and good scratches.
Cats often bite during play because they are expressing their natural hunting instinct. For kittens, biting and bunny-kicking are normal play behaviours. They play like this with their littermates and mothers and it mimics how they pounce, grab and bite their prey.
Hearing another animal hiss as well makes the animal even more upset. No, it's fine if you need to express that degree of disapproval - which should only be very rarely. I used to start off with a growl at the back of my throat, at the same pitch as the cat used, only going to the full hiss in extreme circumstances.
Swatting is a predatory behavior that's often shown while playing — especially with toys. Kittens are usually rougher when swatting because older cats know how to hide their claws. If you use your hands while playing with your cats, they may think of them as toys.
Many cats exhibit what behaviourists call “petting-induced aggression,” an instinctive reaction to something they find unpleasant, even painful. Compared to dogs, cats are generally less tolerant of petting.
Cats typically don't like being petted on their tummy, legs/feet, or tail. Of course, there are always outliers—some cats will love every bit of affection, no matter where they're touched or who's doing it. But generally, you shouldn't pet a cat you don't know on their stomach or extremities.
Head, Shoulders, Cheeks and Nose
So, in which places do cats like to be petted? The head, chin and neck are often their favorites. While some cats enjoy having their tails touched, others will recoil and even experience pain from a tail stroke.
First of all, the belly is a very vulnerable place. A host of vital organs sits mere millimeters under the skin of your cat's tummy, and damage to any of them could be potentially fatal. Cats are therefore highly likely to guard their bellies from potential injuries.