Why do cats and dogs like to be petted?

Question

Why do cats and dogs like to be petted?

Answer 1

why do you like it when somebody massages your back? it feels nice.

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Answer 2

It feels good to them. Plus attention is essential to life. Think about it.  

Answer 3

It is the human analogue to the grooming behaviors which they do between eachother.  They respond by l*****g you, which is, essentially, grooming.  

They groom each other to show affection, so they understand it as affection on our part as well.  You're "speaking" their language so to speak.  When being groomed, the animal knows that it is loved and accepted as part of the pack (dogs) or that its pet human is properly performing one of its functions (cats).

Oh, yeah, and it feels good, too.  Remember: humans can scratch an itch in a way no other animal can (well, maybe a lower primate, but how often does THAT happen?).  We can reach spots they can't, too.

Answer 4

The same reason humans like being touched......it feels good!

Answer 5

Why do we like to be massaged?  Because it makes us feel good...same thing with dogs and cats...they see it also as a sign of love...

Answer 6

because those lucky b******s are spoiled. that's why we get them in the first place. to have someone to love.

Answer 7

well don't  you like getting a massage? same thing

Answer 8

Pretty much all animals crave touch and affection.  If you look at studies done on animals held in captivity, those who received affection from their mothers or another caregiver developed much better than those who didn't.

Answer 9

doesnt it feel good to be lightly scratched or even just to have human contact at all? its affection and its bonding. animals have the same instincts but not the inhibition that humans have. plus sometimes they have fleas in places they cant reach (head and ears) and want a little relief.

Answer 10

What Amoo says