Are Cats Ticklish, and Do They Like It?
That’s right: Your kitty may be ticklish.
In This Article:
Are Cats Ticklish? Where Are Cats Ticklish? How to Tickle a Cat Safely Do Cats Like Being Tickled? Other Forms of Stimulation Your Cat May Enjoy
Although some cats might shy away from being touched (particularly by strangers), many do enjoy physical affection. As cat parents know, cats can be quite specific about how they like to be fussed. Many don’t enjoy the things that we expect them to, such as belly rubs.
Some might seem to enjoy the attention, but suddenly lash out. Others might rub up on you, seemingly asking for pets, and then run away. It’s hard to understand what cats enjoy when it comes to physical touch, which might leave you with a lot of questions. This is particularly difficult if you’re trying to integrate a new cat into your home.
But can cats be ticklish? If you try to tickle them, they won’t react the same way you do (with laughter or screaming or kicking). Despite that, it turns out that yes, they actually are ticklish. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that every cat will want to be tickled. Read on if you’d like to learn more about when you should and shouldn’t tickle your cat.
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Are cats ticklish?
Despite being so different from us, cats can actually be ticklish. They may not react the same way that we would to being tickled, but they do experience the same twitching movements. Whether or not they enjoy it, however, depends on the specific cat.
Where are cats ticklish?
Cats are ticklish in many places, but mostly in areas where they don’t have a lot of fur. This could mean their stomachs, paw pads, and noses. They may also be ticklish under their chins. Cats with less fur than others may be more ticklish.
How to tickle a cat safely
If you want to try to tickle your cat, you should approach the interaction slowly and carefully to make sure they’re comfortable. First, reach out your hand to ask for consent, just as you would if you were petting them. If they appear to be relaxed and happy with the action, you can try tickling somewhere accessible and less contentious, such as under their chin. If they appear to enjoy that, you can build up to more ticklish places, such as their paws. It’s very rare for a cat to enjoy being tickled on their belly, but some of them do. But there’s only one way to find out.
Do cats like being tickled?
Each cat is different, and the level of physical touch that they feel comfortable with varies greatly. However, lots of cats do enjoy being tickled, and yours might be one of them. If you want to find out, approach them slowly, building up their comfort level. You know your cat better than anyone, and should be able to gauge what they enjoy.
How to tell if your cat likes or dislikes your tickles
If your cat dislikes your tickles, they will express their displeasure through signs like hissing, running away, scratching, an arched back, and a stiff tail. They will also try to snatch away the body part you’re tickling and might even hide. Their pupils may dilate, and they could hiss or even growl.
But if they like it, they will have a relaxed posture, expose themselves to you, and may be purring or maintaining eye contact. Their tail will be still or lightly swish. The most important sign that they’re enjoying themselves is that they are relaxed and not tense.
Other forms of stimulation your cat may enjoy
Whether or not your cat likes being tickled, there are other forms of stimulation that they may enjoy. You can try stroking, rubbing, and cuddling your cat to see if they enjoy it and to find out what they’re comfortable with.
Bottom line
Yes, many cats are ticklish and do enjoy being tickled. However, this doesn’t mean that they will all enjoy it. So, approach any new type of physical interaction with your cat slowly and carefully. Diving straight in to tickle their belly without warning is an easy way to get yourself scratched and to make your cat feel unsafe around you.
FAQs
What parts of a cat's body are most sensitive to tickling?
The parts of a cat’s body that are most sensitive to tickling tend to be the ones with the least amount of fur. That means their stomachs, paws, ears, and noses. This also means that hairless breeds, such as Sphynx cats, are actually very sensitive to being tickled. If you are going to try to tickle your cat, you should start with somewhere less sensitive, such as under their chin.
How can you tell if your cat is enjoying being tickled?
If your cat is not enjoying being tickled, they will likely lash out or run away. If they are enjoying the experience, they will purr, maintain soft eye contact, and push their body up against you. Their tail will also probably be still or gently swish.
Is tickling safe for cats, and are there any areas to avoid it?
Tickling is safe for cats, but it might not be safe for you if you do it somewhere they don’t like. So, avoid anywhere your cat doesn’t like to be tickled. (Unfortunately, you have to find out through trial and error.) Although cats’ bellies are ticklish, many of them don’t like to have their stomachs touched at all. That said, some cats might enjoy the sensation, particularly if they are extremely relaxed with you.
