Question for cat owners !!!

[catquestion1]

do you mind if people pet your cats or is it best to leave them alone?

Full disclosure- I’m NOT a cat person. I’m actually quite scared of them (I was badly scratched by one as a child)

tonight I was walking over a grass field and I suddenly saw this little face in the grass and a cat popped up! It came over and even though I was scared, I could tell it was a nice cat and I gave it a little stroke. I tried to walk off and it followed me and was actually jumping up on me like a puppy to get petted! It was the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. If I walked away it would actually follow me and sit directly infront of me so that I petted it again!

I wondered if it was a kitten because it was quite small, and I checked our local Facebook page for any missing cat posts and immediately found one with someone else who had come across the cat and wondered if it was a lost kitten. The owner had replied that they get that a lot and that she’s a fully grown cat who just loves attention 🤣

I think I petted her for about 15 minutes, she was absolutely adorable! I just had a question for anyone who knows anything about cats- was it acceptable to stroke her? I keep horses and don’t really like random people petting them at the fence, only because I’m scared of jealousy in the herd if they see others getting attention, or in case they learn it and charge at the fence when they see people, and also because I don’t trust the public not to feed them/go in the field/do something stupid. Obviously it’s not ok to feed other peoples cats, but is it ok to pet them? I really wasn’t sure if I did the right thing or not.

Another question, when I was stroking her, she arched her back- I thought she seemed happy but Google said cats do that when they feel threatened? I hope I hadn’t made her upset at all.

I think she’s actually fixed my fear of cats, she was so adorable!

Cats can give love bites if they like you. A little nibble. Most cats don’t like being petted on their tummy unless they trust you, perhaps it was this? Rubbing against your legs is them saying hello :) and swatting at your hand is usually a playful thing

l live very close to two schools and my cat lines himself up on the pavement at exact times of the day, come rain or shine, to be petted. Literally everyone who passes him strokes him and he laps it up, he has pale blue eyes and he is often photographed. All through lockdown and the school holidays he looks lost.
I do have a problem however with one set of neighbours feeding him, l have just bought him a collar which says do not feed, so fingers crossed.

@Oysterbabe sorry meant to tag!

Our boy wouldn't let anyone touch him but if he was less timid I would love for him to get pets from all!! I love coming across a friendly cat!

completely fine and quite sweet, also glad to hear this kitty seems to have cured your fears!
my cats arch their backs when being petted as a sign of liking it.
if a cat is eg hissing at another with puffed up fur and arched back - that’s a a cat who thinks they’re threatened

Sounds just like one of mine she is a right little diva and has figured out the best time of day to lay at the end of the drive to get maximum fusses is school run times. She would be most offended if she wasnt fussed and just ignored.
My other one wouldnt come near you and would run in the opposite direction.

You can stroke my cat, he is lovely as long as you don't try to stroke his tummy and then he is savage.

My cousins cat naps at the village bus stop and meows at people until they pet him. Demanding little thing

Mine are indoor cats. But I love it when visitors make a fuss of them. Though with one of them, they have no choice. She will be petted and she will climb all over them.

@catquestion1 - it is clear you are not a cat person as you are asking cat owners if it’s okay to pet cats!! Cats don’t have owners, they have humans who they, the cat, own. A cat will soon let you know if they don’t want petted. In my experience, cats instinctively know humans who are not into cats and gravitate towards them - probably because they know they will be in control and the human will not overly pet them, if that makes sense? My favourite cat cartoon sums up how fickle they can be about attention!

@Mybestyear - that cartoon is brilliant, thanks for posting it.

If you think of every cat as a chestnut mare you can't go far wrong

I have 5 cats who all have a very good temperament and love affection. I would not mind at all if they approached a stranger looking for affection, it's very typical of cats looking for a fuss. My cats are outside most days roaming around so I suspect they are even getting fed elsewhere too ( little rascals) however they do all come home of an evening and stay in at night. Its very nice to hear this cat has restored your trust. I also had horrible cats as a child, thar hissed and scratch but my 5 cats are lovely and they've never scratched or hissed at anyone.

99% of the time a cat will let you know by its body language that it wants petted or not.
The other 1% of the time, a cat will let you know it wants petted and then change its mind and swipe you.
Our neighbour had a cat (Trevor), he sat on the wall out front, each morning as I walked by, he’d stand up, and lean in his body into my hand, rub his head on me and he’d kneed one of his paws in the air,
I loved that cat, always said ‘morning Trev’ as I walked past. His human slaves were quite happy for another adoring fan to love him.

If my car is happy then it’s fine by me. He loves a fuss

Cat not car 🙄

who would want to pet my car???🤣

Welcome new cat lady, yes some of them are animated teddy bears🤗

It’s only polite if the cats decided they want fuss and a who’s a pretty cat compliment.

You must strike the cats when they demand it of you, it's the law!

Stroke, not strike!

I got footage today on the ring doorbell of a delivery bloke patting my ginger boy as he was sitting on the fence. Made me smile!

As the owner of the world's softest, neediest cat, I'd be thrilled if you stroked mine for a bit and gave me a break. He likes to ask to be let out when the local primary school closes, and then throws himself on his back on the pavement in front of small children, demanding belly rubs. He loves it, and wouldn't scratch or do anything nasty, he is desperate for attention.

I'm always pleased when someone strokes my cat and talks to him - he's deaf and can't hear anything, but we all talk to him anyway - and I don't like anyone coming into my house without making a fuss of him.

Some cats can get over stimulated and go from loving being petted to giving you a swipe or a bite without much warning.

My two are house cats but if they weren't I would have no problem with people petting them. There are a couple of friendly cats in my neighbourhood and I love to give them a fuss when I meet them. Do be cautious of touching their tummies - even if they roll on their back presenting it. Sometimes it's a trap!

Is he ginger? I’ve got one that sounds just like yours 🤣🤣