Are animals ticklish?

Question

When looking after my brother in law's dog, I have noticed that she looks having her tummy tickled, but she doesn't seem to react in the same way as humans. So it begs the question are animals ticklish?

Answer 1

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Well, they don't giggle but my snakes are definitely "ticklish" on their undersides. When you touch them there, they pull the muscles away. Came in handy when the python crawled in a hole and had to be pried out using those reflexes to make her loosen her "belly grip".

I don't know about my goldfish, though.

BTW Flax: I have tickled myself many times by accident.

Answer 2

my cat is on its paws, hee hee bless it, and my dog has tickilish ears

Answer 3

no.

Answer 4

Could be, but I dont think that they have that part in their brains...

Answer 5

my x did but he was a completely different type of animal ;)

Answer 6

Being ticklish is a mental reaction which requires sentient thought, it is not just a physical reaction - you can't tickle yourself.

Answer 7

I am

Answer 8

No, I don't think they are. It would be funny to hear a dog giggle!

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

my terrier is! she is a "Skye"best dog I have ever had!!!

Answer 11

animals are not ticklish as they do not have the same amount of nerve endings as we do, however with regards toyour brother in lasw dog, i think its a comfort thing

Answer 12

they are but they enjoy the sensation unlike we dont enjoy it quite the same. animals find it relaxing almost like a massarge

Answer 13

my puppy likes when i rub her belly and it does look like shes smiling but i don't think they're ticklish they just enjoy having that sensation where they can never reach themselves you know like having someone scratch your back..

Answer 14

Yes of course as all animals have nerve endings and being ticklish is a response to being touched and realising it's not a threat so you laugh.

Animals just react differently because animals can't laugh so they twitch or move or whatever.

Answer 15

my corgi is very ticklish around the collar......my cats are no amused by this....they are snobbish

Answer 16

I'm not really sure, but perhaps in a way they are, like when you scratch a dogs ribs.

Answer 17

YES! I used to tickle my cat all the time....he was most ticklish on the soles of his feet, and would move away everytime i touched them!! LOL!

Answer 18

Tickle my dogs paws when he is asleep and he jumps a mile, so yes they are.

Source(s):

Mr Cruft

Answer 19

i know that dogs are ticklish but i do not know about other animals

Answer 20

For sure they have their spots where they are ticklish, my dog was ticklish on her side and her paws.

Answer 21

Yes, my dog is on her stomach

Answer 22

Hyenas R

Answer 23

Well, I think they are anyway no matter if someone else doesn't think so. I tickle my dogs all the time under the armpit (not hard) but when I do they get really rowdy and jump around. If you saw them you would think they were too.

Answer 24

Of course they are, my dog has a couple of places - both his hind legs and somewhere around his rib cage, but he loves it when you tickle him and he pulls the cutest expressions.

Answer 25

yes my dog used to be

Answer 26

Yes my Dog always jumps if you tickle her on her feet. xxx

Answer 27

Yes, animals are ticklish. Horses switch their skin when flies land on them and walk around, dogs jump if you hit their ticklish spots. The groin and feet are ticklish spots.
Your brother in laws dog likes having her belly stroked for comfort and to make it clear she is subordinate, not because she is ticklish.

Answer 28

If your dog likes it, I think she percieves it as a massage, because animals are usually annoyed when tickled.

Answer 29

Yes. Both my cats have ticklish paws and so does my dog.

Answer 30

they do feel tickled at mine does********************************

Answer 31

yes my huskie loves to be tickled especially on his belly and paws