@LennartMathiassen @georgia
I don't know, tummy rub is ultimate trust level. Not for everyone, ask any feline.
@LennartMathiassen
It is a very vulnerable area, in a fight you might be ripped open by an opponent's claws if your belly is exposed.
I think that's why they react in defense mode, most of the time, instinctively.
Totally!! The cat I grew up with never liked being touched on her stomach (or being held on her back), even if she was totally relaxed and purring as a machine 😊