Cat experts: A question

[I Have A Dream]

Quite often, my neighbor's cat will start rolling on her back when she sees me. Does this mean that she likes me, or does it mean that she's begging for treats?

Thanks!

[LeftyMom]

1. She likes and trusts you and would like her tummy rubbed

Some cats will still nip and claw your hand if you cough up the tummy rubs though.

[I Have A Dream]

7. Yes, this is what she does. If I touch her, I'm likely to get...

scratched. Talk about mixed signals! :eyes:

Thanks!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

2. It depends on the cat.

For three of our cats, that means they want to play. For Midnight, it's a ploy to lure the human/fellow animal in so they can be viciously attacked. However, Midnight is by no means indicative of normal cat behavior.

[I Have A Dream]

12. Cats have such individual personalities, don't they?

I don't think that I'll ever understand them.

[huskerlaw]

3. Both

Cats won't roll on their backs if they feel afraid or threatened in any way, so she must like you at least a little.

However, she is trying to get your attention and be cute so that either you'll pet her tummy or give her a treat...or, most likely, she wants both.

[I Have A Dream]

14. She's not so big on the tummy rubs, so I guess that it's...

the treats.

Thanks!

[MorningGlow]

4. Both, probably

But if a cat (or any animal) shows his/her stomach, that's a sign of trust, because it's a weak spot open to attack. I say give the kitty a treat! :)

[I Have A Dream]

15. I've heard that dogs will eat until they get sick. I think that...

this cat would do this with treats! Every time I open my door, she's right there begging. We don't want to give her too many because it's my understanding that it's not good for her. However, she's definitely not pleased when I go past her without giving her one. (I'm likely to get scratched if I don't act assertively.)

Thanks, MorningGlow! :)

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. Both! It means she likes you AND she wouldnt be averse to treats.

:hi:

[I Have A Dream]

18. She'd eat treats 'all the livelong day', I think.

I often give her treats and food at the same time. She eats the treats and then just sniffs at the food as though to tell me that this is not her preference. (I know that she likes the food because she'll eat it if it's the only thing that I give her and she's been outside overnight.)

Thanks, MrsG! :hi:

[Fredda Weinberg]

6. Charles Atlas (see avatar) says he's relaxed n/t

[I Have A Dream]

19. From what I can see, he's a cutie pie! VERY relaxed!

:)

[Sanity Claws]

8. She likes you and she feels safe enough to expose her

belly to you.
However, do not take that as an invitation to rub said belly. If she doesn't like your rubbing her belly, you will feel the cat quickly curl up into a ball around your hand and viciously bite and scratch.
If you want to tell the cat that you like her too, you should just bend down to her and say something soft and soothing like, "you're such a pretty kitty." After a few seconds, you can slowly raise your hand to her nose, let her sniff your hand and then pet her head.

[I Have A Dream]

10. I'll definitely try this, isos! I'm allergic to cats, so I really...

don't want to touch her too much anyway. I've just been confused by the behavior because sometimes when I walk past her, she'll scratch my leg. I'm thinking that she's mad at me for not dispensing a treat at the same time. (Sort of a toll fee for the honor of walking past her, I guess. :))

Thanks! :hi:

[Sanity Claws]

23. Scratching you while you walk by

I assume that she is touching your leg and you feel the claws, not that she has latched onto your leg and is drawing blood. If it's the former, I think it's a cat's way of saying, "notice me. Sit and talk to me for a while." One of my cats extends his paw with claws out as I walk by. It's just his way of asking for some attention and affection.
If it's the latter and she draws blood, that means she's insane and you better steer clear of the little furball.
As for treats, I haven't known cats who were treat crazy. What do you give her? Do you carry cans of tuna with you?

[dysfunctional press]

9. it's a sign of trust, affection, and submission.

nt

[I Have A Dream]

11. The 'submission' part made me laugh! I've had to make...

it really clear that she is not the boss of me! :) I think that she sees me as a walking treat dispenser.

[dysfunctional press]

21. it might be different in females.

in males it can be a sign of submission- at least that's what the vet told me when i asked her about it- our male cat would always greet me at the door when i came home, and lay on it's back as i entered.

[grasswire]

13. it's a trap

some cats do that, then bite you or scratch you

[I Have A Dream]

16. Yes, she does that. However, I don't think that that's the...

reason that she's doing it. I think that she's trying to communicate with me, and I don't understand 'cat' the way many people here do.

Thanks!

[Arkansas Granny]

17. This is how my cat greets me every evening when I come home

from work. I always assumed it was her way of saying that she's glad I'm home. She doesn't do this for anyone else. She doesn't like me to touch her tummy, but she loves that scratch around her ears and neck.

[I Have A Dream]

20. Does she usually expect a treat also? Is begging a part...

of it? I strongly suspect that any affection that she feels towards me is because I give her treats. She certainly feels entitled to treats from me. She makes it very clear that she's not happy when I don't give her any.

Thanks, Arkansas Granny!

[Arkansas Granny]

22. I don't give Toots treats because I've not found any that she

really likes. She always has dry food available and sometimes I give her some canned food that she really likes, but other than that, no trats. I'm really flattered when she does this because she is a little feral cat that my daughter rescued. I've had her for about 4 years now, she has been spayed and prefers to spend her time outside, but she never leaves the yard. She is still a "spirited" animal, but she trusts me implicitly.