What’s Your Cat’s Petting Limit?

A netizen’s cat tolerated an astonishing 176 pets from his human!

An Instagrammer decided to test the limits of his feline overlords’ tolerance for pets, and it was instructional.

Porky, who looks like he’s a British shorthair, lasted 107 repetitions of his human’s hand rubbing his head before he’d had enough. His brother, Jim, lasted 176 repetitions!

Both are extraordinarily polite. Porky just got up and left when his human kept going despite clear signs that he was at his limit, like a swishing tail and shifting positions. Jim was still enjoying having his head stroked after the 100 pets mark.

I could not get away with this. Not even close.

First, Bud doesn’t like that kind of palm-open head petting. I’ve gotta be gentle and very precise, being careful not to touch his ears, which clearly annoys him. The limit is maybe…four? Five?

He likes it when I rub his cheek glands, under his chin, and around his jowls. I know enough to stop and let him give me a signal if he wants more.

He’ll move if he’s had enough, but if I’m not paying attention and I persist, he’s got no qualms about smacking me or biting down on my hand. He’s learned that warning bites should be gentle, but after a clear warning, all bets are off.

I was awarded with ELEVEN scratches on my left arm last week, although that was a case of misdirected aggression, not an overstimulation outburst. I should have seen it coming, since I know the signs indicating he’s frustrated about something and needs to release energy.

Yes, my cat is a jerk. Yes, I still love him. In fact, I’m glad he’s my Buddy and he didn’t end up with people who think cats do things out of spite, or would physically punish him for acting like a cat. A jerk of a cat, but a cat all the same.

He’s taught me to pay very close attention to body language, ears, whiskers, tail swishing, and all the other ways cats signal to us aside from verbalizing their feelings.

How do your feline masters respond to petting, and what are their limits?

13 thoughts on “What’s Your Cat’s Petting Limit?”

  1. Puspus’ limit resulted in 2 weeks of antibiotics and ER treatment.

    Jerk gets me each time when I’m not expecting !

    Thats why the rescue people wanted to put him down….but there you go, I love him and he adopted me

    Like

    Reply

    1. That’s a clear sign he belongs with you. I’ve thought the same about Bud, that he’d almost certainly be deemed unadoptable if he ended up in a shelter because of his natural behavior and the stress of being in a place like that..

      Puspuss is lucky he has you rather than people who would give up on him or punish him.

      Like

      Reply

  2. I would say four to five rubbings of cheeks. Maybe the same for his behind or near base of tail. Loves the ears.Head will come up from sleeping if he sees my hand near his stomach. Big no no.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. Yeah that’s a no no for Bud as well. He’ll roll over and present his stomach as a sign of trust and I’ve had to quickly warn friends not to take that as an invitation to rub his belly, lest they get scratched.

        Like

  3. Bella knows that we like to pet her and give her stitches on her cheeks. She will allow maximum about 3 minutes when I have timed it with her but substantially less from others. Mostly because she knows that I will then give her treats!

    Like

    Reply

  4. When Caramel visits we like to spend quality time together on the couch. When I stroke his back or flank he’s happy to let me get on with it. At around one stroke every four seconds for 20 minutes I calculate he has up to 300 in one session, and when I stop he’s been known to verbally protest. The couch and my clothes are covered with the hairs he sheds during these marathon sessions.

    On other occasions however, just a couple of minutes is enough before I have to twiddle his ears or massage his head or rub his chin; when I do he loves it. oozing contentment and purring loudly, but his staying power is much shorter. When he’s had enough he lets me know…I have the scars to prove it.

    I’m still deciphering the complexities of his non-verbal language. It’s plain throughout every moment of our relationship that there’s only one of us in charge, and it’s not me!

    Like

    Reply

    1. The tail is a major indicator for most cats. If it’s starting to swish you’re already in overstimulation territory. Larger pupils, twitching “helicopter ears,” whiskers that go from relaxed to tense, and of course cessation of purring.

      We have been well trained by our feline overlords! That said, it seems like Caramel is fairly tolerant.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a comment