very strange cat behaviour
By Foxfire1875
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
July 23, 2008 5:40am CST
The office my boyfriend works in has a cat that visits every day partly to get fed and partly for affection. He actually lives a few houses down.
He has the strangest behaviour I've ever known. You can grab him and tickle him under the chin and he'll struggle and appear not be happy about it but he has a full body purr, which as far as I know is a sign of kitty pleasure.
I've never known a cat to be so contradictory, every cat I've known has either purred or let you know in no uncertain way that they are not happy about it.
I know there are a lot of cat experts here so I wondered if this was completely unusual or maybe there are other contrary cats.
2 people like this
4 responses
@markvv1 (25)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I have looked up on a web site before about cats purring. Supposedly when they purr, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are happy. All that purring is is that they are having an intense emotion at the moment. So the emotion that this cat could be having is that it doesn't like being tickled. It is hard to say though because generally cats like their chins to be touched.
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
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23 Jul 08
This cat loves attention and geting his chin rubbed, that's why he comes into the office of his own free will, not just to be fed although he doesn't need to be as he has a home. He does want to be tickled but for some reason he doesn't want to be cuddled maybe. 
He also flops on the floor with his whole body stretched out and to me that means he feels very safe and secure.
He also flops on the floor with his whole body stretched out and to me that means he feels very safe and secure.@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
23 Jul 08
Usually if they don't like being touched, they will let you know that and back it up with hissing. Purring is usually when they are being stroked and it shows they are happy.
@nancyrowina (3850)
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23 Jul 08
cat's do knead you when you pick them up sometimes using their claws too which could be seen as hostile but they are actually showing affection, I wonder if this cats struggling is just an over the top version of this behaviour? I have a cat who doesn't like being picked up at all and she certainly doesn't purr if you do, you have to wait for her to come to you for affection. I've never known a cat to purr and try to get away at the same time it is unusual.
1 person likes this
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
23 Jul 08
No he's definitely not kneading, it's very much a not happy cat but he does purr. Like you I've never known a cat to purr, if it has been picked up and doesn't like being picked up. It's always the opposite hissing and trying to scratch your eyes out and then the huff.
Like you I've never known a cat to purr, if it has been picked up and doesn't like being picked up. It's always the opposite hissing and trying to scratch your eyes out and then the huff.
@Wolfechu (1193)
• United States
23 Jul 08
One of my cats is like that. She'll sit happily next to me (and is doing so right now), even on me while I'm sat at the desk, but if you pick her up, she'll push away from you, ending up 'standing' on you at right angles to gravity. Still happily purring away while you pet her.
I think some of them just don't like being picked up, but put up with it for the benefits.
1 person likes this
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
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23 Jul 08
If you pick this cat up he does struggle but as soon as you put him down, he looks at you as if to say why did you put me down pick me up.
Cats huh
Cats huh 