Cats and the Dubious Belly Rubs

 

Don’t Go for the Belly

There is no doubt that cats and dogs are different. Dogs can be vegetarians, but cats can’t, they hunt differently, dogs are social while cats want their own space, and dogs thrive on praise whereas cats couldn’t care less. One major difference we could all agree on is the way cats and dogs handle belly rubs.

My family and I are more dog people than cat people, but we have had a couple of cats as pets over the years. We loved those cats and have great memories of them. A few of those memories will forever be with me because they are on my body. Our cats were the sweetest pussycats but there were those moments when they would plop over and expose their belly. Naturally, my instinct was always to rub their exposed tummy. Big mistake! A mistake I never learned from and I have the scars to prove it.

I have constantly questioned why they do this. Our dogs LOVED it, embraced it, asked for it! So my natural thought was, if my dogs loved it and asked for it, then my cats are wanting the same. That was a big no. I’ve come to learn that cats and dogs do not want the same thing and most certainly don’t react in the same way.

So What Gives? 

A lot of people think that when a cat rolls over they are showing submission like dogs do. But this is not the case. They are doing something I would never have guessed. Cats are actually in a defensive position. Unlike your dog, cats roll over to get their teeth and claws ready to come at you. In the wild, cats roll over when they can't flee from a fight or choose not to run away from one. But in domesticated situations, cats are testing your trust by exposing their bellies. According to Dr. Cindy Houlihan, DVM, owner of The Cat Practice in Birmingham, Mich., “The abdomen is a vulnerable area for cats because that’s where all of their vital organs are located,” she says. “So exposing it is a form of communication — they want to see what you might do.”

Another reason your cat may be chilling on it back is that they are just chilling. Another way to put it is they are relaxing. I’ve watched my cats lay on the sunny spot on the floor and look so relaxed. The last thing they want is to be disturbed. Just like us, we want our quiet time and the last thing we want is for someone to get in the way of that.

They could also be in heat if they are not fixed or spayed. Showing off their stomach can be a sign of affection or sexual frustration from lacking a mate. And the last thing they want is a belly rub. Being in heat is not a very comfortable feeling for a cat and added discomfort will only irritate them more.

Resist the Urge!

As much as we love our cats and want to show them, the best thing for you not to do is rub their exposed belly. You must resist this if you don’t want to be clawed or bite. I know it’s hard, I mean dogs love so why not cats! I’ve experienced my cat crossing my path and flipping over on their back like they want to be rubbed. This can be confusing. But they just want you to notice them and maybe give them a gentle scratch under their chin.

This is not to say that your cat will never let you scratch its belly, I’ve been lucky a time or two. But let this give you a better understanding as to why they get defensive. 

We all know cats can be a handful especially when it comes to taking them to the vet. If you need help getting your cat to their appointment, visit our website to schedule a pet taxi in the Abilene, TX area.