Why You Shouldn’t Pet Your Cat’s Belly

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With a dog, a popular position for petting is often the belly rub. To most dogs, nothing feels as enjoyable as when you endlessly scratch and rub that tender tummy. Try that with a cat, however, and you’ll most likely end up with a scratched hand. Why is it that a cat doesn’t enjoy a good belly rub?

Predator and Prey

A cat is an incredible predator but she’s small enough that she’s also prey. That’s a heck of a lot of pressure on her. As prey, the last thing a cat wants is for a larger predator to have access to her most vulnerable area where vital organs are located. The typical response for a cat who has her stomach touched, is to spring into defensive mode. She may grab your hands with her paws (if you’re unlucky, her claws will also be extended and ready to protect herself) and then maybe even bite. She isn’t being mean to you – it’s a natural protection reflex.