Source: Li Chen on Mastodon
Transcript
Panel 1: (Cat is laying on a blanket, being pet by an unseen person's hand.) Cat:Stop! I need to smell your hand. Panel 2: (Cat sniffs the hand.) Sniff, sniff... SNIIIIFF. Panel 3: Cat: Yep. Smells like hand. Panel 4: (Cat, now looking relaxed, allowing the person to give pets.) Cat: Proceed.
Well, yeah. Cats identify others primarily through smell.
Until the cat smells your hand, you're a stranger trying to pet them. And most cats don't like strangers.