It's a sensitive area: The butt area of a cat is often very sensitive, and many cats enjoy being touched and petted in this area. It's a sign of affection: Cats often use their tails to communicate with each other and with humans, and a wagging tail or raised butt can be a sign of affection or a request for attention.
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.”
Some cats may like having the base of their tails scratched because it's a happy reminder from kittenhood. They may fondly remember the time when mom used to wash the area around the backside and tail base of her young kittens to keep them clean. This, by the way, is also how mother cats stimulate peeing and pooping.
Petting from humans mimics the sensation of being groomed and can provide the same pleasurable experience. Bunting (nuzzling and rubbing on you) is one way cats show love to you. Petting is a way to return that love. Cats also enjoy petting because it feels really good to them.
Hyperesthesia is an extreme sensitivity in an area of a cat's skin, almost always on the back, and often in the area right in front of the tail. This condition is often noticed when owners go to pet this area and their cat suddenly reacts.
Sorry to break it to you, but human meows mean nothing to cats. At most, you can get your cat's attention and they may even appreciate your attempts to communicate by purring or even meowing back. But to most cats, human meows sound like human language.
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.
Smell Transfer
Cats recognize each other (and us) by scent. Raising the butt is your cat's way of getting their anal glands closer to your nose so you can get a whiff of their pheromones.
Conclusion. Most cats don't understand that kisses from humans are a sign of affection. A cat will surely let you know if they enjoy being kissed or not. The best ways to show your cat that you love them are to give them toys, treats, and plenty of one-on-one time.
It's a Sign of Affection
Granted, it's not the same thing as a lick on the face or a rub up against your leg, but when your cat presents her butt to you, it means she loves you and wants to be petted.
Cats pick their favorite people for pretty easy-to-empathize-with reasons—they prefer to be around those who understand what they're communicating and make an effort to meet their feline needs.
Cats do not like being stroked at the base of their tail -- at least, that was the case for most of the 54 cats in this study, and another, smaller study on the topic. That's sort of a cat erogenous zone, and petting may overstimulate it, the researchers posit.
Cats carry bacteria in their mouths, which can lead to local or systemic infection if a cat licks an open wound. Immunocompromised people are most at risk. Acquiring a disease from your cat is very rare, but to be safe, don't let your cat lick your face or any cuts on your skin.
If your cat is busy doing something else, like eating, sleeping or playing they are unlikely to appreciate being touched, or fussed. The same goes for if they're hiding, or in one of their quiet places. If your cat appears scared, or in pain you should generally try and avoid touching them.
A cat's typical response when its belly is touched is to go into defensive mode – they swat or scratch and may even gently bite. Your cat's not being mean, it's simply a natural reflex of protection. This stems from their natural instincts as both predators and prey.
All in all, even the most aloof and brooding cat will be able to pick up on your warmth and devotion. Whether they choose to admit it or not, they can sense when a person loves them (and hates them).
This means before napping they may find a vantage point somewhere high up, or they might even bury their head in a basket of laundry to help give them a sense of security. Either way, they know their pretty faces are also their most vulnerable point, so it makes sense that covering them helps them feel more secure.
Cats head bump each other and others to create a communal smell because cats recognize each other by smell before anything else. What your cat is really trying to tell you is, “Hey, I want you to smell a little more like me but don't worry I still love you!” How is this done?
It is something a cat does from the time it is a kitten and through adulthood. They knead as they are nursing from their mother. Cat kneading is when your cat flexes their paw and rhythmically moves their feet. It is an action of love and affection toward you most of the time.
Yes, you read that right: A recent study revealed that getting your pet's attention is as simple as speaking with a high-pitched tone and extended vowels, just like how you'd communicate with a human baby.
Between animals and in family groups, cats display affection with mutual grooming. Occasionally, cats will also extend this to humans by using their tongue to lick them as they would their own fur. It's a way of mingling scents and is the ultimate gesture in how do cats show affection.
Why do some cats dislike belly rubs? Hair follicles on the belly and tail area are hypersensitive to touch, so petting there can be overstimulating, Provoost says. “Cats prefer to be pet and scratched on the head, specifically under their chin and cheeks,” where they have scent glands, Provoost says.