Do Pets Have Tickle Spots?
My Pekingese loves to have his belly scratched. We
often find “tickle spots” as we scratch him
(he’ll make a silly face and thump his hind leg).
He seems to enjoy being tickled–he’ll
sometimes move so we’ll hit a tickle spot. Some
days he’ll be more ticklish than other days. I
don’t remember my Dachshund ever having a
ticklish tummy.
What’s going on? Are they really ticklish spots,
why do they vary, and are they normal?
Thanks!
Jen
San Francisco / East Bay, CA
I have known plenty of dogs (and a few cats) who thumped their hind legs when they were scratched in the right place. There is no doubt that they enjoy being scratched in these places. Animals instinctively try to escape from unpleasant stimuli. I have never seen a pet try to get away from someone who was scratching the right spot. I suspect that they enjoy this activity in the same way that we enjoy having unreachable areas of our backs scratched.
I do not know the neurological mechanism that causes pets to thump their hind legs when they are scratched. However, I do know that in most cases it is harmless.
Unfortunately, there are exceptions. Animals suffering from skin conditions that cause itching may suddenly develop “tickle spots” in troubled areas. For instance, flea allergies often cause sensitization of the skin near the tail. Dogs with flea allergies are more likely to thump their hind legs when scratched at the base of the tail. Cats may lick the air or gnaw on their front legs or chest (although plenty of perfectly healthy cats do this too).
If your pet suddenly develops a sensitive area, I’d recommend a checkup. If he does not seem excessively itchy, and if his “tickle spots” have been consistent over time, I’ll bet nothing’s wrong.
You have questions. 
[...] Vital information: are animals ticklish? [Dogster] [...]
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I always imagined that the neurological mechanism is a simple feedback loop, like how we cry when we’re sad but we’re also sad when we cry, or like we smile when we’re happy but are happier when we smile. There seem to be a lot of two-way links in the nervous system of all animals, where a once causal link (I move my leg and THEN feel scratching) becomes more of a general link (I move my leg and I feel scratching, or I feel scratching and I move my leg). The reverse association is usually much weaker than the direct one, but it almost always exists.
I doubt it’s something that dogs or cats are born with, but more something that they develop over time (a good test would be to see if little puppies have such “tickle spots”… I might be surprised by the outcome). Either way, I always knew from a very young age that the best way to get my Rottweiler to thump his leg is to scratch with my hand areas that he frequently scratches with that leg.
As a more recent example, I’ve been able to get a cat to lick me by rubbing areas of her fur in ways that simulate the feeling of her tongue licking it. It’s harder to pull off though, and best done soon after she has recently stopped licking the area… or not. As I’m sure most of us know, being licked by a cat isn’t a very pleasant experience :-)
I always figured that when I scratch my dog on those areas I’m just sending
oops, I sent that last one before I was done typing it. But the main point was made, I think. I’d love your thoughts on the matter
hi. I like the story here about tickle spots on cats. I thought that they usually roll around whenever they play. I lvoe to watch that. thats really cute.atre they ticklish in the stomach as well? shari