Mary Allen
Many cats will jerkily withdraw their paws when people gently touch the soles of their feet. It’s no secret that most kitties don’t appreciate it when you touch their tummy. But what is the reason for this? Do you really just ticklish the fur noses?
Humans and cats are very similar in some ways, and sometimes it’s just tempting to perceive our cat’s behavior as overly human. So the assumption is that cats are just as ticklish as humans. In any case, cats react to a tickle stimulus just as different as people do.
Two Types of Tickles: Knismesis & Gargalesis
Knismesis is a gentle, sometimes slightly irritating tickle stimulus, such as touching a feather or a single hair on a bare upper arm. This form of tickling sensation can be observed in many animal species, including humans and cats.
Gargalesis, on the other hand, is the intense, sometimes even painful stimulation of individual body regions, which culminates in uncontrolled laughter attacks. Researchers have various theories about the origin and function of this response, with ultimately all theories relating to social behavior. So far, however, this behavior has only been observed in humans, primates, and rats.
That means even if you assume your cat is ticklish, it will never burst into giggles wildly or take the tickle as a loving gesture. It is much more likely that your animal is just annoyed.
Why is Cat Paws so Sensitive?
The soles of the feet are particularly sensitive, not only in cats but in all walking creatures. Important stimuli from the environment are continuously absorbed via them: heat, cold, soil conditions, pain. These sensations are necessary for survival. Therefore, like the stimuli perceived via the lips and tongue, they take up more space in the brain than the stimuli conveyed by other sensory organs. So the brain is designed to pay special attention to the stimuli and information sent by these sensitive parts of the body.
What Happens When You Tickle Your Cat?
The reaction of the house tiger ranges from indifference or withdrawal to aggression – basically just like humans. The cat is most likely to associate the irritating sensation with a stimulus such as an insect bite or a sharp object on the floor. Both mean “danger” and trigger a defensive reflex. Some socialites still allow their humans to touch their soft velvet paws. This may be due to the nature of the stimulus.
A gentle massage pressure, for example, is more acceptable than a human-typical tickling with the fingertip. Last but not least, it is a question of individual nature and current mood. If your cat generally doesn’t like touching its feet, you should spare it this form of attention. It may look cute when the feet twitch, but it still means stress for your fluffy buddy.
Why aren’t cats ticklish?
Your house cat is probably not ticklish in the sense that we understand it. It’s probably rather uncomfortable because he equates your benevolent gesture with an annoying insect or a sharp object on the path. Even if it seems very tempting: better not tickle the cat!
Are Cats Paws Sensitive?
Why are cat paws so sensitive? The soles of the feet are particularly sensitive, not only in cats, but in all walking creatures. Important stimuli from the environment are continuously absorbed via them: heat, cold, soil conditions, pain. These sensations are necessary for survival.
Why are cats ticklish?
Researchers suspect that when we come into contact with something unexpected, we initially expect an attack and then realize with relief that we are not in any real danger. This theory also explains why living beings – and therefore cats too – are ticklish in the sensitive parts of the body.