It's hard to resist wanting to pet a cute and fuzzy feline, and many cats bask in the attention. But we've all known cats who will let you pet them, and suddenly turn and bite you. That doesn't mean the cat is psychotic. It's a communication thing: the cat has had enough, and you haven't taken the subtle hints. Getting a cat involves two, and it's not all about you, the petter.
The key to success is to focus on providing the cat with as much choice and control during interactions as possible. For example, the choice to indicate whether they want to be petted or not, and control over where we touch them, and how long for.
Due to our tactile nature and love of cute things, this approach may not come instinctively to many of us. And it will likely require a little self-restraint. But it could well pay off, as research shows interactions with cats are likely to last longer when the cat, rather than the human, initiates them.
Read more on how the cat sees your attempts at affection and how they communicate their feelings about it at the Conversation. -via Metafilter
(Image credit: Sean Davis)