Kitten Kindergarten - San Francisco SPCA

From the San Francisco SPCA Cat Behavior Program
The “Elevator Butt”
A misinterpretation of body language can also happen when
you’re petting your cat’s lower back and he or she gets
“elevator butt” (the cat pushes upward with his/her rear end
while your petting near the tail). While your cat may seem to
really enjoy this type of petting, this area is especially
sensitive and likely to get the cat over-stimulated quickly. A
recent study at the Massey University in New Zealand looked
at cats’ reactions and tolerance levels according to certain
body areas. The study found that cats preferred petting on
their head and cheeks the most, with petting on their lower
back being the least favorite spot. However, if you know your
cat enjoys or tolerates this type of petting, it is okay to do it
in moderate amounts.
How to work with petting-induced aggression:
The first thing to keep in mind is that it is very important to avoid getting the cat to the
point where it is over stimulated or irritated. Even if you feel okay with the aggressive
behavior (some people may think, "it’s OK if he bites, I don't mind”) you should remember
it indicates that the cat is under stress. It also reinforces the biting habit and may
increase aggressive incidents and/or intensity. This is probably due to the kitty feeling
less trustful of handling. So, if you know the cat may get over stimulated after about 5
minutes of petting, then only pet the cat for 4 minutes. Or, if you know the cat doesn’t like
to be petted a certain way or in a particular area of the body, avoid doing so as much as
possible. In time you can increase the duration of each petting session a little, and see if
the cat’s tolerance level has changed.
In many instances, if the cat has the freedom to get away from a
situation that is over-stimulating him, he will choose to do that
instead of aggress. The following will help in behavior modification:
• Pair petting sessions with something pleasurable, such as treats.
Always get your veterinarian’s approval if unsure as to whether
a treat will be okay for your cat- or tell your vet that you need
treats for behavior modification, and ask them to recommend
some. Some popular treats are meat-based baby foods (make
sure they are made of meat only, without onion or garlic, which
are extremely toxic to cats), Bonito fish flakes, or Pounce.
Petting-Induced Aggression page 3 of 5 updated 05/22/09
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