A year ago, I didn't like cats. They were contrary creatures. Loving a dog was so much simpler. You sit on your haunches, make "Shona, bohchai" sounds and chances are they will come running into your arms and give big, fat wet ones on your cheek. If you smell of bacon, chances of reciprocal love - 100%. And then there were ways to pick up a dog. Scoop one arm under the lower belly, support front legs with arms. That is the kindest way. Or upside down like a baby, with his brown eyes looking up trustingly at you. You could break his spine that way but no reproachful glances. You could also drag him towards you with its back legs, prop him on your chest, carry him over one shoulder. More licks shall ensue. In short dogs have no quality control.
But a cat, ahhh, a cat. Approach with small clicking noise made with your tongue, hand outstretched. If the cat is interested, you shall be given a small sniff and the ears will be straight. If they are not in the mood, the ears will immediately flatten across their skulls and the large eyes will look up unblinkingly at you. If you have got the first green signal, go ahead and scratch gently behind their ears or the joint where the neck and cheek meet. The head will now go into this rolling movement where it will try coming closer to your hand, eyes closed in ecstasy. You might even get a purr or two. Next proceed to stroke its back, gently drawing your hand across, right down and over the tail. Done right, the tail will be straight and then flick through your fingers. Then procced to scratch lower back. Never try to scratch a cat's tummy till you know it well. By this time the cat will be in the mood to be picked up. But unlike a dog, the cat loves using its claws to leave little parallel red welts across your hand. So Get This Right. Pick up the cat with one splayed hand, using your fingers to keep the front legs separate, so as to prevent any indignant struggles and support it across the side of your body and use the other hand to stroke it into submission. It works most of the time. This position gurantees 15 mins of petting time. When the cat starts wiggling, drop it the floor. When you become a regular, it will come and rub itself across your jeans and make little dancing movement towards your hands, begging to be picked up.
Now the moot point. Why do I now like cats? All because several have licked me on the palm of my hand. Its addictive and the buggers know it.