Cat behavior experts at Nottingham Trent University have discovered that our pets actually hate being stroked in the direction of their fur, around their legs, on their sides and around their throats.

If your pet does allow you to touch these areas, scientists believe it is tolerating it in the hope that it will be rewarded in the form of food.

The Daily Mail writes about it.

According to Dr. Lauren Finkey, she and her colleagues found that actually the best way to pet a cat is to only touch the parts around its face, such as the cheeks, the base of the ears, and the area under the chin.

Scientists believe that this is due to the fact that these areas have the largest number of skin glands that produce odor.

Therefore, cats are highly motivated to use these areas to spread their scent.

Owners should also remember that cats by nature are not social and tactile creatures, and therefore we should better learn how and where to pet them.

For example, scratching the belly can actually be unpleasant for pets, because at this moment they feel vulnerable - the cat's vital organs are exposed at this moment, and therefore even a gentle touch to the belly can be perceived by the animal as a threat.

Previously, scientists proved that

cats

can not only understand human speech, but also associate the names of some objects with words. 

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