Public service to Lounge cat-ophiles: "Stop petting your stupid cat, it doesn't like it."

[UTUSN]

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http://gawker.com/stop-petting-your-stupid-cat-it-apparently-doesnt-even-1642660097

[font size=5]Stop Petting Your Stupid Cat, It Apparently Doesn't Even Like It[/font]

Kelly CONABOY

A new survey from Cats Protection, the UK's leading feline welfare charity, shows most cat owners don't understand the way to properly comfort their stressed out cats: by leaving them the fuck alone.

The survey showed more than half of cat owners polled believed that petting the rude, socially inept creature they invited into their homes to feed and look at (from a distance) calmed them down in moments of anxiety. Nope!

"Being held or stroked for too long," said Cats Protection behavior manager Nicky Trevorrow, "can be very stressful for some cats."
She continued:

"Space and peace is often what they need. They are not small furry humans, so what would comfort us will not ­necessarily comfort them. Owners love their ­animals and want them to be happy but our research has highlighted a lack of ­understanding."

Hmm.

Why have a cat?

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[rug]

1. Au contraire, mon frere.

[CurtEastPoint]

2. LOVE IT!

[Liberal_in_LA]

13. lol. petting drunk

[Arugula Latte]

3. Tell that to my guys, especially the orange tabby, who spends most of his day

trying to lure us into his favorite "petting corner" for moar moar MOAR petting and scritches and kisses. The other two love it, as well, and I can read the fluffy one's sign language and know when he's had enough.

[valerief]

4. Dogs definitely love petting, so heavy petters should probably think of small dogs as pets.

Heavy petting a dog. Doesn't sound right.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. I guess my cat Milo hasn't read that article

since he's constantly nudging me, rubbing his head against my hand or grabbing my hand and pulling it toward himself to get me to pet him, and complaining loudly if I stop. He wouldn't mind if I were to pet him all day, stopping only to feed him.

[Avalux]

8. Do we own the same cat???

My affection freak is also named Milo, and he can be downright aggressive when it comes to petting him. I could have written your post!!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Could be. Cats are good at messing with the space-time continuum,

and maybe whenever he's out of sight he's actually slipped through a wormhole and is at your house, wanting to be petted. Here he is, in the form I know him (wearing his Christmas tie):

[Avalux]

12. I think he must shape shift going through the portal!

My Milo is a short and stout grey tabby/siamese mix and unfortunately, I have no way of posting a pic of him. Your Milo is quite handsome, especially in that tie! I do notice the same hungry look in the eyes....

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

14. Milo is sixteen pounds of love wrapped in fur.

As I imagine your Milo is, as well.

[Avalux]

17. This is uncanny!

Mine is 18 pounds of love, sitting atop short little legs (he should weight 11). As a result, he can't jump, and he looks like a rabbit when he runs. A diet has been a losing battle! He was separated from his mama too soon, found in a field at 4 weeks, I think that's why he wants to eat constantly.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

23. My Milo is a bit pudgy, but he's also BIG.

He's built like a middle-aged out-of-shape linebacker, and he can still jump. Too well, sometimes - since he occasionally appears in inappropriate places, like my kitchen cupboards. I love him.

[Arugula Latte]

18. Oh my GAWD -- so gorgeous!!!

I'm in LOVE!!!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

22. He's quite magnificent, isn't he?

I love him to pieces.

[Archae]

6. This article is a full load of cat turds.

Both my cats love affection, especially my tuxedo cat Lucky.

When my cats don't want affection, they walk to the bed or overstuffed chair, and

[sakabatou]

7. BS!

[LisaL]

10. What a load of BS.

My cat demands to be petted.

[logosoco]

11. Any cat I have ever lived with lets me know when they want to be petted.

They aren't shy about it either. And when they have had enough petting, they walk away. And sometimes I think they know when I need a distraction or comforting.
Maybe cats are different in the UK?

[orleans]

15. "Why have a cat?" -- to gaze at and feed? n/t

[pink-o]

16. I brought Kitty home from the shelter expressedly for rodent control

I figured she'd live in her space and I in mine, and rarely would the twain meet

Little did I know! From the first day till the day she passed, she wasn't happy anywhere else but on my lap getting strokes. Since she was a Bombay, her fur was lush and those pets were not a hardship.

I think it depends on the cat. What I do know is this: the sooner a human understands his place in the pecking order and serves his feline overlord with consideration for its every need, the faster the balance of the universe will be restored. Cat majesty will advise you when he wishes to be petted, otherwise keep your minion hands to yourself.🐱🐱🐱

[Arugula Latte]

19. The question is "why have a dog"?

They're just too annoying for me. Give me kitties every minute of the day!

[shenmue]

20. Big stinking *liars*

I used to be a 'cat socializer' when I volunteered at a shelter in New York. The kittehs would purr like new cars when I pet them.

[AwakeAtLast]

21. Hmmm......

I have three cats -

Cat #1 - Wants to be petted, held, attended to, belly rubbed, head scratched, etc.

Cat #2 - Wants to be petted on head only, sometimes belly rubbed, never held. Must put at least one paw on me when sleeping.

Cat #3 - A complete blend of the other two.

They did not study my house, if they did they would be severely confused.