Confused with cats body language - rapid purring?

[LoopyLa]

I'm feeling confused over my cats body language! Sorry this is a bit long but background is necessary to know I think.

I've got a semi-feral cat (semi-feral as he was born in the wild then picked up by RSPCA at 8 weeks old). He was with a fosterer, then went to the cattery for a few months & then I adopted him at 10 months old and another cat who he made friends with. I knew he was probably never going to be a "lap cat" but didn't care about that & hoped he would come round in time. RSPCA recommended stroking him when feeding him/giving treats so he'd eventually associate being touched/stroked with happy thoughts.

Anyway. He disappeared 3 months later but after 8 months has returned again. He's been back 2 weeks and is as shy as ever which is fine/understandable. I've been stroking him while he eats to get him used to me again & try to get back the little progress I had made previously.

Last night he was lying in my bed. I approached carefully & quietly & started stroking him. He didn't run away or hiss or flatten his ears so I carried on. He started purring which I though was a good sign but it was a quick purring. I stroked around his neck/back of head and he would close his eyes which I thought was also a good sign. But when I stroked down to his tail, it was quite stiff & moulded into his body which I think is defensive?

I feel sad I didn't realise that my boycat was feeling nervous or scared that I was stroking him until I googled it later. What should I do? Keep trying to stroke him while he's in a sleepy/relaxed state or while he's eating or really lay off the affection altogether? I thought I was making progress but the rapid purring tells me otherwise & I don't want a scaredy cat, I just want him to feel safe.

It's amazing that he's back after 8 months. I hope he stays!

Rapid purring is sometimes a response to pain. But if you don't think there is a physical problem then I would continue to stroke him if he lets you, but I would stick to the head and neck. Cats often don't like their back end being touched so, if you've got a bit of a scaredy cat then it's probably best to stick to the top end for a while.

Mixed-up messages from a mixed-up mog, eh?

I think I'd be looking at the big picture here - he was lying in your bed ? If he was really scaredy I think he'd more likely be under it so I reckon he's just a little confused at the moment.

At cozietowers, we tend to run a fairly laid-back household for the cats - if they obey the few house rules, they can do much as they like with them making pretty well all the physical running for love/strokes/games etc. What we do do - for Siamese and non-Siamese alike - is an awful lot of talking because the cats seem to like verbal prompts rather than physical ones. (We respond to the very frequent requests for lurrve with head and neck stroking as TCN said but those responses are more likely to be casual than purposeful.)

I don't generally seek cats out for physical touching, just do one heck of a lot of talking to them and keep my responses and the cats' event timing routine and predictable. Those things seem to make them feel secure and happy and as a result, they tend to seek the humans out for company, stroking, games etc.

Anyway - it works well for us. Why not try it? Do you do much talking to him?

He's grounded for a wee while catneuterer & I definitely hope he stays too! His (unrelated) sister is very happy to have him back aswell

He's definitely not in pain, he's bouncing, running & jumping about the house with girlcat and eating as normal so pain isn't a factor. Good to know about the head & neck and I shall keep the strokes up the top end of his body.

cozietoesie the photo was for you It was where he was before I started to stroke him. So sorry - it was a typo, he was on the bed, not in it. I definitely do talk to both my cats as I tend to treat them like my toddler and I like the sound of my own voice so I shall continue to do so.

Thanks so much for your responses, really appreciate all your expertise

He looks happy enough there.

I'd just keep on then. Lots of talking, a solid routine (cats seem to like predictability) and just think to yourself of what it would be like to have a 40 foot human suddenly come over to you and start prodding - so always give a warning with some words. (It seems to be different when they're making the running - and trust me, he will soon enough.)

Sounds as if you're doing fine.

If you're saying hello, they like you to be at their level. Put your hand out, again, at their level. If they want a fuss, they'll rub their face against it.

I've got a black and white, similar to your's, he'll have your hand off if you touch anywhere other than his head and neck. The little Devon Rex however, rolls on his back for a tummy fuss.

Cats use their purr for all kinds of different reasons. In this instance, he could've been trying to communicate he's not a threat, and to be nice to him. He most likely had to defend himself during the months he strayed.

This book is very good in helping understanding cats behaviours.

Lovely that he returned to you. Did he just rock up one day?

MTeen is just a tart sucker for affection of any kind, though.

Thanks very much RubbishMantra ! That's great advice, I shall try that too.

I'd posted on here when he returned a few weeks ago but basically he was being fed a short distance away by a couple of blokes sharing a house. One of them had popped out for chips one night and saw one of the Animal Search posters I had put up last August & gave them a call, who then told me. I picked the kitty up, got him scanned and the rest is history

So he was usd to a diet of 'suppers' from the local chippie was he?

The teen lays on his back with his arms over his head between me and DH Cozie. Him and DH are both comatose sleepers. I've never met such a chilled out cat. He hardly ever purrs, but is obviously a very happy little soul. Extremely confident. He lives up to how the breed are described : "Devons are monkeys wearing a cat-suit."

I was the first person MCat accepted strokes off. DH stood there in amazement, "I've never seen him let anyone stroke him before!" (He demands them now off us and everyone, but on his terms.)

So glad you got your handsome fellow back Loopy. The chip story reminds me of how a friend acquired his cat. It would hang around the chippy, begging for scraps. Friend realised he was a stray (Un-neutered, malnutritioned, fleas) and adopted him. When term ended, he spent his last bit of student loan on a cat carrier and took him home. Now he has a lovely life in the countryside.

Hi OP,
I have a black and white kitty and she does the rapid purring. Don't know if it's the same but it's almost like every breath is a purr. As opposed to y other two who seem to purr in a more languid, relaxed way, hers is very rapid! Don't know if that sounds like yours but it's never been a problem here.