Booping a cat is the ultimate way to ask a cat’s permission to give them some love. It generally involves taking one finger, touching your cat’s nose, and then holding it out for a cat to investigate. Some, but not all, cats enjoy a good boop, provided it’s done respectfully and without forced or unwanted contact. Cats interested in interaction often take a sniff and move in for more contact, giving you the green light to boost your petting game.
However, it’s not really an appropriate way to introduce yourself to cats you don’t know, as they may find it too threatening, and if you attempt to approach them, remember not to stare and to hold your hand out until they decide to approach you, as cats generally like to be in the driver’s seat when it comes to interacting with new people. Cats that know and trust people often see boops coming and respond by moving in and holding their heads up in anticipation of some love.
How Do Cats Greet Each Other?
Cats have incredibly sensitive noses, so they usually recognize each other first by smell. The feline sense of smell is about 14 times sharper than the average human’s.1 When two familiar cats greet each other, they approach, touch noses, rub heads, and then slide along each other’s bodies, allowing both to pick up the other’s information-laden pheromones while creating a comforting joint scent.
Pheromones are powerful chemicals cats leave behind that contain information about their identity, reproductive status, and emotional state, all while being used to mark their territory and maintain social bonds. Feline scent glands are located on the sides of the face, around the mouth, under the chin, and on the forehead, tail base, bottom, and between the digits of their paws.
When a cat rubs their head against you, they leave a bit of their scent behind and pick up a bit of yours, creating a unique shared scent signature cats associate with comfort, familiarity, and love. And when cats scratch in the wild, they’re marking their territory and leaving pheromones behind that are packed full of important chemical signals for other cats.
Do Cats Like Nose Kisses?
Many cats enjoy giving their favorite people nose kisses, and although most felines don’t enjoy wet human kisses on their noses, others are fine with it. But many cats are happier to receive kisses directed towards the top of their heads between their ears. But kissing a cat’s face, as cute as it can be, does not come without its own set of concerns.
Your cat spends a lot of their time grooming themselves, including their private areas, and this is something you may come in contact with if you’re giving your cat kisses or accepting one’s from them on your face. This is not suitable for children, older people, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals due to increased risk of exposure to zoonotic diseases.
Do Cats Like to Have Their Noses Rubbed?
While there are always exceptions, most cats don’t enjoy having their noses rubbed. The point of a boop is to provide cats with a way to determine if they’re interested in further interaction. Most cats are likely to become mildly irritated by sustained nose-rubbing contact.
Where Do Cats Like to Be Petted?
Generally, safe places to pet cats include the tops of their heads, backs, and sides. Many enjoy a good chin stroke, and most like to have the area around behind their ears gently scratched. But a great deal depends on the cat and your relationship with them. Cats sometimes allow those they know well to pet and cuddle them but prefer to keep their distance from strangers.
How Can I Make My Cat More Comfortable Around Strangers?
Cats sometimes take a while to warm up to strangers, but there are things you can do to improve the chances that your pet will eventually make an appearance and be comfortable around visitors. Consider giving your cat a nice safe, high perch to hang out on when you have company.
Elevated Platforms
Put a cat tree and a few cat shelves in the rooms where you most often entertain visitors so your buddy has a place to retreat to where they can feel safe and comfortable enough to investigate the situation further. However, it’s fine if your cat prefers to hang out elsewhere when you have company.
Cat Bed and Toys
Leave toys in the room where you plan to sit with your friends so your cat has something fun to draw them out when they’re ready. Provide your cat with a comfortable bed somewhere in the room where they can sit if they want to be closer to the action. Make sure your visitors know to let your cat do the approaching and how to interact with your buddy when they come out for a look.
Treats and Pheromone Sprays
Have treats on hand to reward your cat when they decide to hang out. Consider letting your visitor put down a few treats for your pet so your cat starts associating yummy things with visitors. Calming pheromone sprays sometimes help calm anxious cats making it easier for them to remain relaxed around visitors.
Playtime With Your Cat
Before your company arrives, a bit of playtime can release feel-good endorphins, which may lower your cat’s overall stress level and allow them to be more relaxed while your friends visit.
Conclusion
Many, but not all cats, enjoy a good boop, as it gives them a chance to investigate new people in a non-threatening way. Allow unfamiliar cats to take the lead in interaction, and some of them will even accept a boop. To increase your chances of success, avoid looking directly at the cat and consider crouching down or sitting on the ground so you’re not towering over them. Stay calm and let the cat choose if they want to say hello.
Familiar cats are often quite happy to be booped. Remember that most cats don’t like having their noses rubbed; the ears, sides, and backs are usually better options. Always let the cat’s response to your attention be your guide.
Featured Image Credit: DCM Images, Shutterstock
How Do Cats Greet Each Other?
