A sunny, lazy afternoon spent with your furry feline beside you or on your lap, petting her generously while you catch up on your favorite show—this is a day well-spent in any cat lover’s opinion.
But what happens if your kitty suddenly flips over and shows you her often-concealed best kept secret: that soft fluffy belly! Do you rise to the challenge and dare to rub her belly, or do you take it as a trap and retreat?
The sad truth is that most cats dislike belly rubs. A cat’s belly is hypersensitive to any form of stimulation, especially touch—not to mention it’s an area in the body where the majority of a cat’s vital organs are found.
As such, cats may have an instantly defensive response to having their bellies petted, usually in the form of scratching, biting, or pawing at the offender.
So if cats usually hate belly rubs, why do they show their bellies to their owners or people who feed them? Why do some cats enjoy belly rubs despite the stereotype? Is it possible to train cats to like belly rubs? We’ll explore the unpredictable relationship between cats and belly rubs in detail and answer all these questions and more, so read on!
Why Do Most Cats Hate Belly Rubs?
There are many possible reasons why cats dislike belly rubs, the first of which is due to their evolutionary lineage. Thanks to their heritage as one of the most skillful and deadly predators in nature, cats have impressive hunting instincts.
Besides making them adept at stalking, chasing, and pouncing on their prey, these instincts also heighten their defensiveness against potential attacks from other predators. This is because while cats are excellent hunters, they can also be prey themselves. Their small size also makes them susceptible to being hunted or killed by wild animals like coyotes, otters, raccoons, wild dogs, and birds like eagles and hawks.
Predators often tear at the stomach first and eat their prey from the belly up because it’s usually the softest part of the body. It also has the most vital organs that can help meet their nutritional requirements.
As a result, even indoor cats who live in a safe and secure home may be wary of letting anyone—even the humans they trust—touch their most vulnerable body parts, particularly their bellies.
Another reason why cats may detest belly rubs is because it’s an incredibly sensitive part of their bodies. Lena Provoost, an animal behaviorist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, told National Geographic in 2019 that hair follicles on a cat’s belly are hypersensitive and easily overstimulated when touched. These hair follicles contain nerve endings, which—just like in humans—carry sensory information from the body to the brain, including sensations of touch and pain.
As a result, cats may respond poorly to the strong sensation of rubbing and attempt to bite or scratch at you to make you stop.
Lastly, cats may also view belly rubbing as a kind of invasion of privacy. They may dislike having this hidden and usually inaccessible area of their bodies suddenly being exposed to touch.
Why Do Cats Show Their Bellies?
So if cats dislike belly rubs, why do they show you their bellies and make it impossible for you to resist squeezing it?
Cats only roll over and leave their bellies exposed when they feel completely safe. Being in this position leaves them open to an attack, so they only expose their stomachs to people they know and trust.
Simply put, a cat showing her belly is an expression of trust and affection—it conveys that she knows you won’t hurt or attack her, even when she’s at her most vulnerable. It may also express that your cat is in a playful mood. Try giving her a toy or a ball of string to see if she wants to play.
However, unlike in dogs, this is not an invitation for you to rub their bellies. Some cats may even perceive you touching their bellies as a violation of the trust they gave you. Instead of rubbing her belly, give her a pet on the head or scratch her chin to show her your love and affection in return!
Why Does My Cat Like Belly Rubs?
Of course, not all cats have the same preferences and personalities. Some cats may actually like belly rubs and find that they feel good—consider yourself lucky if you’ve got a kitty with this quirk! This may also be a sign that you’ve won over your cat’s complete, unbreakable trust.
Take note that most cats who enjoy belly rubs have been raised by their owners since kittenhood and thus have no trouble trusting them with vulnerable spots on their bodies. So if you’ve adopted a cat well into his adulthood or a senior cat, chances are they may not like belly rubs.
Many cat owners have also found that their pregnant kitties seek out belly rubs and allow their humans to massage their stomachs gently. This may provide a certain sense of comfort and relief to them when they feel pain or unease during their pregnancy.
Be careful, however. Cats can easily become overstimulated from petting, and belly rubs are no exception. Even if your kitty asked to be petted in the first place, letting the belly rubs go on for too long can irritate your kitty and may even result in aggression.
It’s important to watch out for signs of overstimulation such as growling, swishing of the tail, flattening of the ears, or tension in the body. Cats usually don’t attack without warning, so make sure to stop petting your kitty as soon as she exhibits any of these signs before she resorts to painful scratching or biting.
How Do I Know if My Cat Likes Her Belly Rubbed?
Cats are usually straightforward about what they do and don’t like, which means taking cues from their body language is the best way to determine whether they like being petted in the belly area.
Signs of discomfort during petting include:
- Hissing
- Swatting at your hand
- Baring teeth
- Growling
- Attempting to run away
- Tension
- Ears pinned backwards
- Lack of positive response (e.g. purring)
If your cat starts showing any of these signs, stop rubbing her belly right away. Just as with overstimulation, she may resort to violent behavior such as scratching or biting if her warnings go unheeded.
Take note that some cats who dislike belly rubs may refuse to roll over and show you their bellies altogether. Avoid forcing your cat into this position if this is the case.
On the flip side, you may be surprised to find that your shy cat actually enjoys belly rubs! If your kitty has rolled over and showed you her belly for the first time, you can try rubbing it with caution to see if she likes the feeling.
Signs that your cat likes belly rubs include:
- Purring
- Kneading at the air
- Rubbing her face against your hand
- Nudging you with their head when you stop petting
- Eyes partially or fully closed
- Ears facing forward
- Tail gently swishing from side to side
- Relaxed posture
Can I Train My Cat to Like Belly Rubs?
It might be difficult to get your cat used to belly rubs, but not impossible. Starting as early as possible with a kitten and getting her accustomed to being touched or handled in the belly is the most surefire way to ensure she’ll like—or at least tolerate—belly rubs.
However, if you’ve got an adult cat on your hands, you may need a little more patience and gentleness. Start introducing her to belly rubs by petting her in areas she typically likes. For instance, you can pet her head and give her praise. As she enjoys the petting, gently touch or pet her belly.
If she recoils, give her space and don’t force her into any position. Just try again and again for a couple of weeks, slowly getting her used to light rubbing. Make sure to respect her boundaries and stop if she shows any signs of irritation or discomfort.
Add a few more strokes every time you pet her, allowing her to associate belly rubs with a positive and enjoyable petting experience.
Some cat owners also train their kitties to like belly rubs by giving them treats. This also helps cats associate the unfamiliar or unusual sensation with a reward: done consistently, your cat may soon allow belly rubs or even ask for them.
Where Do Cats Enjoy Being Petted?
Cats rub up against each other to communicate love, affection, and familiarity. As such, they usually associate petting with a similar message.
Now the areas where cats like to be petted vary according to their unique histories and personalities. However, it’s common for cats to enjoy being petted in these parts:
- Top of the head
- Both sides of the face
- Chin and neck
- Behind the ears
- Along the back
In Closing
It’s no easy feat to resist rubbing and squeezing your kitty’s squishy, fluffy tummy—especially when she rolls over and presents it to you! The sad news, though, is that most cats typically find belly rubs unpleasant and irritating since their stomachs tend to be particularly sensitive and prone to overstimulation.
However, preferences for petting vary from kitty to kitty. Your cat may actually enjoy belly rubs up to a certain point. Make sure to keep an eye on your cat’s body language during petting sessions to figure out where and how much she likes to be petted. This way, you can enjoy quality time with your beloved feline friend minus those dreaded scratches!