小譯說
愛貓的小夥伴們都知道，有的喵主子不喜歡被摸肚皮。這是為什麼呢？讓我們來一探究竟吧！
You're sitting next to a purring cat when he rolls over with his belly pointed up. You reach in to rub his tummy, but instead of appreciating it, he attacks your hand instead. What just happened?
你正坐在一隻打著呼嚕酣睡的貓咪旁邊，這時它一翻滾露出了肚皮。你伸手去摸它的肚子，但它不但不領情，反而攻擊你的手。這是為什麼呢？
Some cats don't like belly rubs. Why? Mainly because the stomach area is a very sensitive part of a cat's body. This soft underbelly protects some of their most vital organs, according to the South Boston Animal Hospital.
有些貓並不喜歡被擼肚皮，原因在哪兒呢？這主要是因為腹部對於貓咪的身體來說是非常敏感的區域。據南波士頓動物醫院稱，柔軟的腹部保護著貓咪們最重要的器官。
In addition, the hair follicles on a cat's stomach and tail are "hypersensitive to touch, so petting there can be overstimulating," Lena Provoost, an animal behaviorist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, told National Geographic.
此外，貓咪腹部和尾巴上的毛囊「對觸摸非常敏感，所以撫摸這些部位可能會使貓咪受到過度刺激，」賓夕法尼亞大學獸醫學院的動物行為學家萊娜·普羅沃斯特在《國家地理》雜誌中提到。
If a cat shows you its belly and seems to want affection, try scratching under the cat's chin or around the cheeks. If you're not sure if the cat wants a belly rub, slowly reach your hand toward the tummy and gauge the cat's reaction. If the cat reacts angrily and try to grab or claw your hand, don't try it again. This is an instinctive reaction — try not to take it personally.
如果一隻貓向你展示它的肚子，似乎想要得到你的愛撫，那麼你可以試著撓撓它的下巴或臉頰部分。如果你不確定貓咪是否想要撫揉腹部，你可以慢慢把手伸向它的腹部，觀察貓咪的反應。如果貓咪很生氣，並試圖抓住或者撓你的手，那不要再嘗試了。這是一種本能的反應——並非針對你個人的。
If they don't react, you're likely clear to proceed.
如果它們對此沒有反應，那麼你就可以繼續下一步了。
Why cats show you their belly
為什麼貓咪對你展露肚皮？
When a dog rolls over and shows you his belly, it's often because he wants attention. There's a good chance he's asking you to rub or scratch his tummy. So naturally, when a cat does this same behavior, people assume it's for the same reason.
當狗狗翻過身來向你展示它的肚子時，通常是因為它想引起你的注意。它很可能想讓你揉一揉它的肚子。所以，當貓咪做出同樣的行為時，人們會自然而然地認為它是出於同樣的原因。
But that's not true. When a cat shows her belly, it's a way to communicate one of four things. You'll likely know which mood your cat is expressing by reading other behavior signals.
但事實並非如此。當貓咪露出肚皮時，它們表達的是以下四種情緒的其中一個。通過閱讀貓咪的其他行為信號，你就很有可能知道你的貓主子在表達什麼情緒。
1. She's relaxed and trusts you a lot.If she's relaxed, she may purr or rub up against you. She be sleeping and may show you her belly as she stretches or changes positions.
1. 它很放鬆，也很信任你。如果貓咪很放鬆，它可能會發出呼嚕聲或者磨蹭你。在睡覺時，當貓咪伸展身體或改變姿勢時，可能會向你展露她的肚子。
2. She's playing. Relaxed also can mean playful. For example, she may go belly-up to have all of her paws free to bat at her favorite toy.
2. 她在玩耍。放鬆也可能表現為喜歡玩耍。例如，貓咪肚皮朝上可能是為了讓所有的爪子都可以自由地拍打它最喜歡的玩具。
3. She's feeling defensive. Turning over on her back gets her best weapons out front: the teeth and all of her claws. You'll be able to tell if your cat is upset — she may flatten her ears or make growling or hissing noises.
3. 她在防禦。當貓咪翻轉身體肚皮朝上時，它最好的武器就亮出來了: 牙齒以及所有的爪子。你能夠判斷你家貓主子是否心煩意亂——它可能會垂下耳朵或者發出咆哮聲或嘶嘶聲。
4.She's in heat. If you have a female cat who hasn't been spayed, this may be mating behavior. It's a sign of affection to a potential mate. It's probably best to leave her alone until it passes.
4. 她覺得很燥熱。如果你有一隻沒有做過絕育的母貓，那麼這可能是貓咪的一種交配行為。這是它在對未來的伴侶表達喜愛之情。這段時期也許最好讓它獨自靜一靜。
親愛的小夥伴們，你們有沒有真正get到喵主子的情緒呢？
本文為百度翻譯原創內容
翻譯：趙亞蘭 （北語）
編輯：Judith
文章來源：MNN