Your Cat's Favorite Way To Be Cuddled, According to an Expert

All cat lovers would love to be able to snuggle with their furbabies all day, but we all know that cats are no easy creatures and only do what they want, when they want to do it—unlike their canine counterparts, who would do anything to please their humans.

While some cats are strongly against physical contact with humans, others may just not like the way you're cuddling them, and may actually be okay with cuddles if you manage to find a way to make them comfortable.

Newsweek spoke to a cat behavior expert at Rover to understand the way cats like to be cuddled, and below are the best tips to make sure that you're prioritizing your cat's needs and feelings when snuggling with them.

Let Your Cat Initiate Interactions With You

Dr. Mikel Delgado, cat behavior expert at Rover, told Newsweek that when it comes to cuddling your cat, you should let them come to you whenever they are ready instead of initiating the interaction yourself.

It turns out that cats are more receptive to petting and interactions with their human when they can make the first move. When your cat approaches you for cuddles, these interactions last longer and are more positive than if you do it.

That's because cats have boundaries that provide them with a safe and non-threatening environment where they can just let loose and relax.

Where Do Cats Like To Be Petted?

While your cat may not like cuddles at all, there's also a chance that they do, and you're just not touching the right places, which sometimes can result in hissing or even biting.

According to Delgado, most cats prefer gentle petting on the cheeks, chin, and forehead, while their least favorite places to be petted are the base of the tail, the paws, and the belly. Cats particularly hate having their belly rubbed, but they do have their reasons. The hair follicles on their belly and tail area are hypersensitive to touch, so petting there can be overstimulating,

"Of course, each cat is an individual—but if you're not sure about your cat's preferences, the safest places to touch them are above the neck!" Delgado said.

Things You Shouldn't Do When Cuddling Your Cat

When interacting with your cat, you must always respect their boundaries. You would never want your furbaby to feel uncomfortable in your presence!

One of the things you should never do is force a cat to be held. In fact, according to Delgado, if your cat does not enjoy being cuddled, you will not make them like it by trying to cuddle them more against their will.

Instead, the best thing you can do is give your cat the choice to come and go, and always handle them in ways that they like so that they come back for more! Moreover, cats prefer to have control over whether their paws are on the ground, and many of them do not like being picked up and held "like a baby."

"Cats have a 'righting reflex,' where their body tries to flip itself over when they are belly-up. This is a protective reflex that helps prevent injuries when they fall. So being held like a baby can bring out this reflex, leading your cat to squirm to get away," Delgado said.

How To Tell Your Cat Doesn't Want To Be Cuddled

While cats cannot tell us that they don't want to be bothered, they can sure send signals with their body and their behavior, and you should always take them into account.

A sign that your cat wants to be left alone is crouching. If you approach your cat and they shrink away and crouch, this is a sign that they want to be left alone. You might have guessed that the same goes for when they try to run or jump away from your embrace.

Other signs include avoiding eye contact with you, sudden grooming, turning their ears back, and flicking their tails, among others. If your cat's pupils become dilated as you're trying to hold them or interact with them, that means you're putting them under stress, and a stressed cat can also resort to aggressive behavior.

Other Ways To Show Your Cat Love

If your cat doesn't let you hold them and squeeze them, you may be thinking you're missing out on establishing a bond with them, but that couldn't be further from the truth. There are many other, better, ways you can show your cat love, which they sure will appreciate.

You can simply stroke them in places you know they will appreciate, like their neck or forehead, letting them nap on your lap. You can also set aside some time in your day for playtime with your furbaby.

You can spoil your cat with treats and training sessions, or you can even treat them to a catnip toy. Whatever you do to show your love to them, always make sure your cat is comfortable with it by reading their body language.