Article: Extend a hand or finger and allow the cat a chance to touch his/her nose to you. If s/he shows no interest in your hand or just stares at it suspiciously, reconsider your intention to pet her. Try some other time when the cat may be in a different mood. When a cat bumps his/her head into your hand, it's a signal s/he wants attention. If you are busy at the moment, at least pet her once or twice, to let the cat know you aren't ignoring his/her. See if s/he fidgets. If s/he does, it may be that s/he just wants to lie there and relax, as humans are a great source of body heat. If s/he doesn't fidget, you can continue to lightly stroke his/her spine or in the spots described in Part 2. Cats love to be petted when they are on their sides. Lightly stroke the side that is facing up. If it meows or purrs, it may be communicating enjoyment. Avoid the belly, though (see Part 3, Step 3). The cat makes some low audible sounds (called purring). Purring is one way a cat signals that it feels sociable and wants attention. When accompanied by hip bumps, ankle twining or head bumping, it means your cat wants you to pet it right now. Sometimes one stroke is all the cat wants, like a handshake or a greeting, rather than a long hug and snuggle session. The loudness of a cat's purring denotes its happiness level. The louder the purring is, the happier the cat is at the time. A soft purr means that it is content, a loud purr means very happy. Excessively loud purring means over-excessive happiness, which can sometimes switch quickly to annoyance, so be careful. Sometimes even petting that feels good to the cat can become overstimulating or irritating, particularly if it is repetitive. If you're not paying attention, the sign to stop may come in the form of a soft, inhibited bite or scratch. Often, however, the cat gives several subtle signals before biting that she does not want to be petted anymore. Look for these advance warnings, and if you see them, stop petting: Ears flattening against the head Tail twitching Fidgeting Growling or hissing
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Let the cat sniff you before you pet it so it can become comfortable with you. Wait for the cat to bump his/her head against you. Pet the cat once if s/he jumps into your lap and lies down. Stroke a cat when s/he's on her side. Understand how your cat communicates. Watch for signs that the cat does not want to be petted anymore.