Surely your grandmother said that cats crumple sore spots with their paws and thus “treat” the owner. Is it really? And how do they show us their affection? What to do to make friends with a cat? The zoopsychologist says.
You are lying on the couch, the pet jumps on you and begins to stomp with its paws or even “sharpen its claws”. What for? Zoopsychologist Elena Klyusovets that this is not at all a way to «treat» your sores — so the cats are just … getting ready to go to bed. The fact is that even blind kittens instinctively do this when they feed on mother’s milk. A kind of «massage» with small paws contributes to more active lactation in a cat mother. That is why such movements are called «milk step».
Cats grow up, but do not forget the movements associated with a pleasant feeling of satiety and pleasure. And when your pet turns on the «milk step» — he just uses the usual way to calm down, relax and tune in to a pleasant rest.
And if the cat meets you after a working day in the corridor, immediately leaves and begins to sharpen its claws, do not rush to think that he is not happy with you. In fact, this is how the animal greets the owner.
By the way, turning your back to you and lifting your tail is also a way to say hello, and even share how your day went.
The thing is that under the tail of cats are glands that secrete hormones. By sniffing each other, cats learn quite a lot about a member of their species. Well, it’s not your pet’s fault that you don’t have an animal sense of smell and are not able to read by his pheromones how he slept today and how happy he is to see you!
After all, cats understand that we are not able to «read» the information under the tail and recognize their other non-verbal cues in communication. Therefore, poor fellows sometimes have to open their mouths and scream, drawing our attention to a particular problem. For example, if you went on vacation and left the animal alone, and the neighbor came only to feed him and take out the tray, it is likely that the cat will meet you with a meow. He was afraid that you left him, and worried. Ask the neighbor to play with him for a bit if you really need to leave the poor guy alone next time.
Felinologists (those who study cats) and books on animal psychology will help you decipher the signs that your pet uses to communicate with you. The main thing is to remember the golden rule: cats value their personal space very much and do not like it when people actively make physical contact with them. If the cat lies calmly, do not rush to stroke it. It is likely that an unexpected touch will be unpleasant for him.
Since you have brought such an independent animal, it is worth respecting its boundaries and giving it the opportunity to come to you and express its tenderness. According to the zoopsychologist, cats are still able to feel affection for the owner! But they just express it in their own way. And when you and your pet find a common language, you will feel love — both in your heart and the one that he is able to give you. Is this not the best medicine for the soul?