Do you want to know the most frequent question I get as a therapy cat? When someone goes to pet me and I raise my rear end, they ask, “Why did she do that?!” It’s always the sign of someone who isn’t around cats much because if they were, they’d know an elevator butt when they saw one.
But even many experienced cat lovers don’t know much about why we kitties raise our butts high when our behinds are patted. They just do it because we like it. Although sometimes we’ll also turn around and bite the hand that pets us too. So let me tell you a little bit about how we cats really feel about bum pats so you get more fun and fewer bites.
Why Cats Love Butt Pats
Being patted at the base of the tail feels good
I know, it’s kind of a “duh!” answer, but it is true. The area around the base of a cat’s tail is full of feel-good nerve endings. It’s a hit of dopamine and oxytocin, and who doesn’t love that? It’s similar to tapotement, that kind of massage that involves tapping and slapping.
It’s a little bit sexual
Don’t worry, I won’t get too X rated here. Suffice it to say that these nerve endings also play a role in cat mating activities. And even though most cats you encounter are spayed or neutered, that doesn’t involve removing or desensitizing those nerve endings. So even though the purpose behind that part of it is gone, the pleasurable feelings remain.
It might also stimulate the glands near this part of a cat’s anatomy
Glands play a big part in a cat’s well being, especially those glands around their rear end. In fact, this article explains that butt patting may help your cat stay regular, if you catch my drift.
Accepting butt pats is a sign of trust
When a cat raises their butt for pats, they are exposing a vulnerable part of their bodies. And the fact that they are letting you have physical contact with it means a lot!
But what about the elevator butt?
It’s a natural response to butt patting! Besides, it helps get those all important nerve endings closer to the hand that’s patting. It’s definitely a sign of approval, so all those worried hospital patients I mentioned at the beginning have nothing to worry about.
But Not All Cats Enjoy Butt Pats
Because of all the nerves in this area, bum pats can feel too stimulating for some cats. They will lash out or bite your hand to get you to stop. Usually it’ll just end there, but a small number of cats might get more aggressive. Keeping that in mind, here are some tips on butt pats and how (and when) to do them.
Only offer butt pats to cats you know
As I mentioned above, allowing butt pats, and even asking for them, is a huge sign of trust on the cat’s behalf. Usually they are best enjoyed between a cat and a human who already know each other. (I know, I know, I break that rule every time I go on a therapy cat visit, but I’m the exception to the rule.)
Start off slow and gentle, and let the cat lead you
Don’t go right in, slapping your cat’s behind. Begin with gentle strokes, and maybe a few skritches at the base of the tail. If the cat responds positively (standing still on their tip toes, raising their behind), you can continue. You can also move on to patting, if the cat seems like they may want you to be firmer.
Know when to stop
Cats will give you signals that they don’t want their butts patted, or if they’ve been enjoying it, that they want you to stop. They will move away from your hand. They will swish their tails. If they’re a vocal type, their meows may intensify or deepen. The signs are pretty clear if you know to look for them. A cat that is violently flipping their tail is definitely telling you it’s time to end the session!
When a cat nips or slaps you
Obviously, if a cat is upset enough to bite or take a swing at you, stop right there. But also think about what they were doing leading up to that. They will give you clues they were done before they reacted. So live and learn.
Never continue to pat a cat’s rear end after they’ve signaled they no longer want it. It’s not cute for a cat to act out. It’s stressful for them. They’ve entrusted you with a delicate part of their anatomy and you abused that trust. It’s better to stop while you both are feeling good.
I hope I’ve answered some of your questions about bum pats and elevator butts! Have anything more to add? Let me know in the comments.
