Why cats don't let you touch their bellies

Cats refusing to let you touch their bellies may be due to innate personality, sensitivity to the belly, lack of trust in the owner, jealousy, or abdominal discomfort. If a cat doesn't allow strangers to touch it, this is a normal phenomenon because cats are naturally vigilant and don't like unfamiliar people touching them, nor do they like unfamiliar smells. If the cat doesn't let its owner touch it, it could be a sign of insufficient trust or jealousy. In addition, if the cat refuses to let anyone touch its belly and shows signs of depression, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, etc., it could be due to abdominal discomfort and it is recommended to consult a veterinarian promptly.

Innate personality

Cats are solitary animals, so they have independent and aloof personalities. Sometimes they are not very accepting of human intimacy.

Belly sensitivity

For cats, the belly is a vulnerable and sensitive area. If the cat is not familiar with you, it may refuse to be touched. If you suddenly touch the cat's belly, the cat, out of instinct to protect itself in the wild, may mistake this behavior as an attack, avoiding it. Some cats with凶猛性格甚至会下意识反击。

Lack of trust in the owner

If the relationship between the cat and the owner is not particularly close and the cat doesn't trust the owner enough, it won't let you touch its belly or any other part of its body. To gain the cat's trust, spend more time playing and interacting with it, and offer it some of its favorite snacks as a treat. It's best not to force the cat to be affectionate with you at the beginning, as this will only make it more vigilant.

Jealousy

Cats can also be jealous. If the owner's hands have the smell of another cat, the cat will refuse to let you touch its belly out of jealousy. Therefore, after interacting with another cat, the owner should wash off the residual smell of the other cat to prevent the cat from getting jealous.

Abdominal discomfort

If a cat is experiencing abdominal discomfort, it won't let you touch its belly. The cat usually assumes a chicken-like posture, and may show signs of depression, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, etc. If you notice these symptoms in your cat, it's recommended to take it to a pet hospital for inspection and treatment.