How many times a day should you pet a cat? A mistake most owners make

Have you noticed how a cat sometimes purrs from your petting, then suddenly bites your hand and runs away?

It seems like a whim, but in reality you are breaking her limit.

Cats are not plush toys, but living creatures with clear boundaries. And if you pet them "like everyone else", you make a fatal mistake that turns affection into torture.

The main secret is that cats need quality, not quantity. They hate being petted without asking, even if you do it out of love.

Rule number one: never start with the head. For cats, it's like a stranger suddenly touching your face.

First, reach out and let him sniff. If the pet rubs against your fingers, you can pet it. But only in "safe" areas: chin, cheeks, base of the tail.

The back and belly are off-limits. Many cats tolerate back stroking, but their nerve endings there are super sensitive. After 2-3 minutes, they start to get irritated, and you don't even notice.

The second myth is “the more often, the better.” Cats value predictability. If you pet them 10 times a day for a minute, they lose their sense of control.

The ideal regime is 2-3 sessions, but 5-7 minutes each. It is important to finish before the pet gets tired.

Signs that the cat has had enough: twitching tail, flattened ears, attempts to move away. If you stop at this point, she will remember the affection as a pleasant experience and will come for more.

The worst mistake is to pet a cat when it eats or washes itself. For it, these are sacred rituals, and your intrusion upsets all the settings.

Imagine someone touching your shoulder while you're brushing your teeth. Irritation guaranteed.

The best time is when the cat is relaxed: after sleep, near a warm radiator or during an evening rest.

But how do you know how many times a day your cat needs? Experiment. For a week, pet her only when she comes to you.

Record how many such "requests" there are. For some cats, once a day is enough, for others - five. This is their personal limit. If you adhere to it, the pet will stop biting and will begin to trust.

Remember: cats don't have to love your hands. Their love is in allowing you to touch them at all.