this post was submitted on 17 Sep 2026
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cats

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[–] queerlilhayseed@piefed.blahaj.zone 74 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Experimental results indicate that cats can spontaneously type switch, possibly dependent upon the particular human-cat system the cat is situated in. Observations of free cats interacting with no human yields little insight.

Further study is needed.

[–] ickplant@lemmy.world 31 points 1 month ago

This research needs more funding. Preferably in Churu packets.

[–] qyron@sopuli.xyz 32 points 1 month ago

I knew a cat that allowed and demanded to be hurled across a room in a catwheel spin half a dozen times, if he felt in playful mood. Would meow loudly, paw at the pants/legs of his caretakers and raise the tail in a very specific way.

Otherwise, approaching the cat could considered an extreme sport or a hazardous activity.

[–] ABCatMom@lemmy.ca 21 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I have one of each 😺😾

[–] gogonan@lemmy.world 9 points 1 month ago

Same.

The first hides 80% of the time only to emerge screaming for wet food or to pet you specifically on her time and only if you are placed in one of her 3 pre-approved human petting zones.

The second would treat being thrown down a set of stairs as a fun game and immediately run back to being in your face on the off chance he might get a crumb of attention.

[–] dharmacurious@slrpnk.net 19 points 1 month ago

I have had both over the years. I also had one whee base of the tail was the only acceptable place to touch her, and that she barely tolerated. My mom could hang with her no problem, but no other human had better so much as look at her.

[–] Pipster@lemmy.blahaj.zone 18 points 1 month ago

My late Millie was the second, around 5pm, give or take an hour, she would start bothering me for attention. What she wanted was a cuddle on the bed where she would flip upside down,lying against my leg with her tail end pointed at me. She wanted me to rub her tummy whilst i had an unwind after work. Her last night with me was her doing that on the sofa, she was all bones and really ill but we got that last moment where i fell asleep on the sofa not wanting to disturb her by going to bed. I won't bring down the tone by going details, but it was bittersweet but so nice that our last thing together was the thing she loved so much.

[–] stopforgettingit@lemmy.world 12 points 1 month ago

My cat is gone now, RIP to the sweetest girl, but in her time she was the top one to everyone else and the bottom one for me. At the vet in her file it was written in red ink with yellow highlight "CAUTION", but she would let me roll her around all over the floor on her back and put my face right in her belly without any issues. Its good because in her later years she had stage 4 kidney disease and her being that comfortable with me made it very easy to give her Sub Q and maintain that treatment for over 2 years.

[–] Townlately@feddit.nl 11 points 1 month ago

My recently adopted cat is the second type but is extremely upset if you use two hands, in any position, no matter who you are or how much experience you have petting a cat. Loves a tummy rub, inexplicably.

[–] noretus@crazypeople.online 9 points 1 month ago

My cat started as the former because it was my parents cat and they didn't really socialize her properly. I got her now and I have 0 respect for her personal space and she's now the latter.

[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The second one needs a couple kill spots

[–] village604@adultswim.fan 14 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Our orange boy has zero kill spots. Any attention is good attention to him, unless you try to pick him up or hug him (no clue why), but even then he just walks away for a second.

He's weirdly gentle to us, but kinda a dick to the other cats.

[–] Sustolic@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

My cat is the same way, loves and is gentle with everything (including pet birds) except for other cats.

[–] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 month ago

BEWARE!

Cat A may pose like this picture of Cat B

Like the Slow Blink, it's a message "I like you enough to lower my guard around you."

It's not an invitation to touch the belly, any more than an open bear-trap.

[–] Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 month ago

Our late girl was the first one, our current boy is the second one. But to me the top image implies unfriendliness, which I don’t think is true just because of the petting preferences; our girl was also an absolute love bucket! She would crawl into my lap at every opportunity, and by contrast he gets too wiggly and excited to stay in a lap for any amount of time.

[–] HumanOnEarth@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 month ago

I feel like this could stand up to scientific testing

[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 month ago

Only my wife gets to touch the tummies.

My cats don’t let me.

[–] Wildmimic@anarchist.nexus 4 points 1 month ago

One of mine is type two, but i have a third type (or better an amalgamation of the 2 types).

He absolutely loves getting his ears and cheekbones stroked and really likes when i scratch his chin, like type 2, but the rest is type one.

[–] Logarrhythmia@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Inside your cat, lives two cats…

[–] Johanno@feddit.org 3 points 1 month ago

Mine is mostly 2 but transforms into 1 while petting him.

[–] cinoreus@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

There was a cat I knew that would rub me when I saw her, but get defensive the second I extend my hand. Cat consent works in mysterious ways.

[–] sasnak@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 points 1 month ago

I have both, actually

[–] HerbalGamer@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

I can't help but focus on the artist's last name.

[–] prettybunnys@piefed.social 2 points 1 month ago

I have brothers and so one of each!