are animals ticklish, or is it just humans?

[coolman]

i had a thought today as i was playing with my cat. it may have already been thought before, if so, sue me.

i think its safe to assume that we all know that most humans are ticklish. but has the same blessing been placed upon animals as well? cats seem to like it when you 'tickle' them under the chin, but isit tickling or do they merely like being stoked there?

if animals are ticklish, then is it all of them, or is it selective (like in humans). do we know and will we ever know? are humans they only ones who will ever enjoy tickling?

 

[kwildoctr]

It's been many years since I've actually read them, but I know of several articles & chapters in psychology texts that refer to animals being ticklish. One special one in particular spoke of researchers who were trying to communicate with chimpanzees by sign language, & discovered that the chimps would often ask to be tickled, & they seemed to really enjoy it (the researchers pointed out that the chimps seemed to regard tickling as a reward). Another mentioned a study about tickling pigs......no comment on THAT one 😉 😀 .

From personal experience, I know that all of my (now deceased) dogs had ticklish paws. When I lightly tickled, the toes would curl over with said paw being jerked away.

Hope this sheds some light for you.

R

 

[Krokus]

Yea!

I *love* torturing my helpless Pup!! LOL!! j/k 😀 I just found this thread kinda funny.

 

[amk714]

Aren't we animals too?

😀

 

[duo_maxwell]

Aren't we animals too?😀

well, now that thats been resolved, whos going to find out if there are any ticklish plants?🙄

 

[amk714]

Good ?, duo, but now you've got me thinking about plants wrapping up and tickling humans!

 

[Haltickling]

I remember reading articles about gorillas and chimpanzees being ticklish under the arms; they even demand being tickled as a reward if they do something right.

Another article reported an experiment with lab rats, showing that they were ticklish on a small spot of their neck; they even utter some sounds resembling high-pitched laughter.

Plants certainly don't have the ability to express their feelings that clearly to us, so we will probably never know if they are ticklish. At least the mimosa is highly touch-sensitive...🙂

 

[Haltickling]

Speaking of plants wrapping up and tickling humans...

😎

BTW: This picture of Tukano (colored by Jerome) inspired me to write my SF-story "Eating Laughter", somewhere deep down in the story section:

http://www.ticklingforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1588 (pt 1)
http://www.ticklingforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1589 (pt 2)

 

[starfires]

It was a long time ago and the memory is somewhat blurry, but I beleive I have once succeeded in tickling a neighbor's cat. As I was petting her, the thought occurred to me and I started running my fingers over her ribs. I think she tried to get away but fell/lay on her side instead, looking vaguely uncomfortable. When I stopped tickling about a minute later, she ran away screaming like I had never heard a cat scream before.

 

[amk714]

After seeing that pic, Hal...

I might just take up gardening! 😀

 

[BigJim]

I know for a fact that my Beagle, (called Snoopy-now there's originality for you!😀) is ticklish as hell. He's got spots on either side of his rib-cage, where his ribs meet his abdomen. When scratched or tickled there he goes completely spastic. He flops on his back, his back legs kick in the air like a canine Bruce Lee and he bonks the top of his head on the carpet, with his tongue hanging out one corner of his mouth.