General Quick question about abyssinians.

[C1407]

Do you pet them any differently because of the way their fur is? Or would you pet them the same way as something like an american?

Just wondering if petting them normally would hurt them by pushing their fur in a way it's not supposed to go

 

[pinky]

I'd just pet them like you do any other guinea pigs. I don't think most pigs like having their fur pet from the back towards the front, though.

 

[bpatters]

I sort of scritch my abby -- just put my finger tips on her and move them back and forth. She tolerates it, but whether she likes it or not, I couldn't really say. :?:

 

[magikof7]

I've wondered that myself! I have 2 Abbys, I have noticed mine don't appreciate you petting them against the grain of their rosettes. but if you use 1 finger and follow the pattern they don't complain. My Piggies prefer head, nose and especially Cheek rubs and scritches. I know they enjoy it because the go quiet their eyes drift closed and they will even reach out their heads to let you get better access. When they don't want you too They throw their head up.
At least this has been my experience.

 

[Inle_Rabbit]

I use to pet my abbies butt to head because the hair on their backs laid that way. They seem to like it when I pet them the direction their hair went. I had my last abby 10 years ago but that is my memory.

 

[C1407]

Thanks for the replies

I had 2 Americans, so I would usually go front to back when I pet them, which didn't necessarily seem like the right move for abbys whose hair is growing in different directions everywhere. I guess just gentle little finger scratches would work though, like Bpatters said.

And mine usually didn't like me petting their head and would push up, even if I just put my hand there. Sometimes though, they would let me and then give a big yawn while I moved my hand back, which I always thought was funny. They also seemed to like being rubbed under their chin. Every time I started rubbing under their chins, they'd lift their head up a little to give me easier access