40 Cute Photos Of Bodega Cats That Feel Like Masters Of The Shops (New Pics)

I was interested to find out how cats indicate that they would like to be petted and when it's best to leave these giant floofs alone. PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing was kind enough to answer Bored Panda's questions about the animals.

"Cats generally prefer to be the ones doing the approaching and will usually make it pretty clear if they’re craving some attention from you. Cats that follow you around (whether your own or one you come across while out and about), with their tails pointing to the sky like a car aerial, walk around your legs or rub their faces on the calf of your leg are all showing obvious signs that they would welcome some kind attention from you," Nina explained. However, even if a cat is craving attention, it doesn't mean that you can do whatever you want with it.

"This doesn’t mean that you should pick them up though, that would be a step too far for most; few cats appreciate being picked up, not even by their beloved owners!" she warned.

“A gentle rub around the back of their ear and along their back, stopping before you reach their tail (even the most relaxed of cats can be very sensitive of this area and turn to give you a quick swipe!) will be appreciated," PDSA Vet Nurse Nina shared with Bored Panda. "Try not to encourage unknown cats any more than this though, or you may find them getting carried away and following you home! In most cases, cats that venture out don’t want any human contact at all, they enjoy doing their own thing as they’re naturally quite solitary creatures. Cats that are minding their own business watching the world go by, should just be left alone."

Nina has also listed the warning signs we should watch out for that clearly indicate that the cats in question don't want any petting, love, or snuggles from us. "If cats get to the point where they’re warning you off through backing away, looking angry by flattening their ears and showing the whites of their eyes, growling, hissing, or spitting, it’s likely you’ve overstepped the mark and they may even lash out at you to protect themselves," she said. You can learn more about cat body language right over here.

For those of you Pandas who might not be in the know, bodegas are corner shops, typically found in New York City’s five boroughs. The term itself means a small neighborhood store in Latin American Spanish. Odds are that most of us live within walking distance of one of these, even if we’re far, far away from NYC.

I wanted to find out how people should react if they spot a local cat that appears to be ill. Of course, who you contact depends entirely on where you live. For instance, if you spot an animal that looks unwell in New York City, you could try contacting the Animal Medical Center, the ASPCA, or the ACC.

Meanwhile, PDSA Vet Nurse Nina explained what you should do in the UK. “If you see a cat that looks like they need urgent vet help, contact the RSPCA right away for advice on their emergency number 0300 1234 999. They will likely ask you to contact your local vet and arrange for emergency first aid care as soon as possible," she explained.

Handling an injured, scared cat who might be in pain can be difficult. The animal might lash out at you, so it will need very careful handling. "Use a towel to protect both yourself and the cat when moving and place them in a secure carrier to transport them. If you can’t move the cat without putting yourself at risk, the RSPCA will be able to help. Once the cat is at the vet's, hopefully, the cat will be microchipped and able to be reunited with its owner as a result. If not, placing posters around the neighborhood and using social media to try and track owners down can be really helpful," Nina detailed what we ought to do to help the cat reunite with its owner.