Letting cats choose when they are petted is more likely to earn their affections.

A cat

A cat

A new study has found that paying close attention to the behaviour of felines, body language and thinking about where to stroke them is key to improving interactions with the notoriously individual animals.

Experts in cat behaviour from Nottingham Trent University concluded that felines were less likely to behave aggressively towards people and were also more affectionate when the interaction guidelines were adhered to.

Dr. Lauren Finka, the lead researcher on the study, said: "The results demonstrate a clear preference amongst cats for a more ‘hands off’ approach to petting, which ultimately lets them call most of the shots.

"Cats are not necessarily known for being overly expressive when it comes to communicating how they are feeling.

"This can often cause issues during petting because many cats may feel a little uncomfortable at times, but this isn’t something that is always easy for us to pick up on."