Do cats like belly rubs?

Has this ever happened to you? 

Your cat is lying on their back and you just can't resist how soft and cute their belly looks. You go in for some pets, and suddenly you are getting kicked, scratched and bitten! 

So, what's up with cat belly rubs? Do cats like belly rubs...or not?!

The short answer is, most cats don't like belly rubs. Cat-world.com explains some reasons why rubbing a cat's belly can be a riksy proposition. One reason is that housecats in the wild can be prey for larger predators, and their bellies are vulnerable areas. A lot of internal organs are housed inside the belly, and cats can feel threatened when that area is touched. 

Another reason is that cats' bellies are sensitive and rubbing them might feel overwhelming, even if they trust you. I think this is the case with my cats, who will tolerate a stroke or 2 to the belly and then push my hand away. I have learned that they are saying "that's enough", because if I continue, that's when I start to get the bunny kicks!

Your cat could also just be ticklish!

One thing that could be happening is a miscommunication between you and your cat. Cat-world.com also points out that kittens often bunny kick each other's bellies when playing. So, if you are petting a cat's belly and are suddenly being kicked, it may be that your cat actually is enjoying it and thinks you are playing together. Unfortunately, a cat playing with you that way can lead to scratches that might not feel so playful to you! Catster.com says cats use this type of play to practice hunting skills and your hand stands in for the prey! 

You may be one of the lucky ones who has a cat who loves belly rubs, and so you are thinking "my cat loves belly rubs!" Well, as I've said several times in this blog, every cat is an individual so they all have different likes and dislikes. Cat-world.com offers some reasons why your cat might like belly rubs! One reason is that they trust you, and are comfortable with you touching their belly because they know you would never hurt them. 

Your cat might just enjoy a belly rub! Just like some people like or dislike certain kinds of touching, like back rubs or foot rubs, some cats might just like having their belly rubbed! 

Another reason could be that they have an itch on their belly, and a belly rub is literally helping them scratch that itch! 

One more piece of advice from cat-world.com is that if your cat is pregnant, it is not recommended to touch her belly in order to make sure the growing kittens stay safe. They note that in the late stages of pregnancy, a cat's bellly will get hard to protect the kittens inside!

So, what about you? Does your cat love belly rubs, or do they say nah?

Cover photo by Myko Makhlai on Unsplash