OWNERS should get their cat’s consent to pet them, experts say.
They should be aware of the feline’s feelings before smothering them with kisses and cuddles.
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And picking a cat up should not be attempted unless they make it clear they want to be held.
According to a new post on Katzenworld, the UK’s biggest cat blogging platform, moggies should always give consent for interactions with human friends.
Its creator, Marc-André Runcie-Unger, writes: “Cats are sophisticated and very particular.
“If you want to pet her, it has to be under her terms. She should be in the mood, and you must wait until she gives you a nod.”
In his post Consent in Cats: When Does Your Cat Want To Be Pet Or Picked Up? he also writes that understanding their body language, is the best way to work out when to pet them or pick them up.
Experts from charity Cats Protection agree with that.
But behaviour officer Daniel Cummings said: “We wouldn’t recommend that people ask their cat if it’s OK to pet them or pick them up. Cats don’t understand English.”
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