Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for January 08, 2025

I’m guessing a massage is out of the question?

At least they both got massages.

You should quit doing it while he is asleep.

This could be labeled “Calvin’s Revenge” on Hobbes’ pouncing on him when he comes home from school. Except that Calvin is at a disadvantage—no sharp claws to protect himself!

Scratch that idea

I would get the same reaction from our cat.

The first time I did that to my cat, she jumped up, scared. She’s used to it, now.

Cal’s mom might have done that to his tummy at an earlier age and he liked the feeling. Hobbes not so much, especially while asleep [as Call would say it]

Save the motorboating for suzie when you get to high school.

Let sleeping tigers lie.

The tummy area is where the cat sets its Venus Hand Trap!!

Cat is on my lap as I read these funnies. I tried the belly rub and got the “soft bite” warning!

I have somewhat similar thoughts about women.

Anyone who’s familiar with cats will get this.

…having said that, (A bit of Larry David there.), l had a Tabby when l was growing up and he was incredibly docile and loyal. He’d go to bite me if we were playing and then he’d suddenly stop and lick me.

Miss you, Billy…

my kittehs loves the tummy rubs

He should try that with Suzy. >; 9

Belly Raspberries require consent, Calvin.

WARNING! Do Not Nuzzle the Wildlife!

I do this to my cat all the time, he puts up with it.

Belly blow!

This is what I tell my Missouri House Panther

He will be spitting hair for days!!!!

Wait, what?

Bad move Calvin — you should know better.

Thanks a lot, I just spewed coffee on my monitor.

maybe the surprise was the problem

You can do it safely to smaller cats, Calvin.

My cats like their tummy rubs, but I’m too fond of my skin to try doing what Calvin did.

Rude awakening.

To start with, you can’t put cats on their backs

Don’t do it. It’s a trap.

It surprises me how perfect some people are that they can spend the day here correcting others, at will.

With some cats you can do it, but only if you’ve earned enough trust to have received permission first.

LOL at the third panel! And the last time Calvin tried that, in the October 22, 1992 strip, he didn’t mind getting mauled afterwards; he looked all scratched and dirtied up like here but he was still smiling as he said “It’s a high price to pay, but nuzzling tiger tummies is one of the great pleasures of life.”

I thought that a year and a half ago when I saw a polar bear at the zoo. He looked so cuddly that, had the glass not been there, the impulse to jump in the water and snuggle with him might have been irresistible.

Careful of the pointy ends!

My kitty loved that. He was my TV buddy. He left us suddenly exactly one month ago. Now I am in tears again. Darn.

The same warning applies for the smaller felines in our lives, too!

Watch out for big Kitty ! ;-)

Parrots can be the same way :V

I only do it when I’m absolutely sure the cat is awake. Cats DO NOT like skin contact surprises.

What a friend calls the “murder button” is right there on a cat’s belly…

Boundaries, Calvin. Boundaries.

Cats don’t like surprises.

I thought everyone loved a good tummy rub.

Tummy rubs are fine. But don’t ever surprise a tiger.

Danger lurks in the heart of the jungle-cat!!

Most cats respond that way,

Crazy how the cuddliest things can be the most vicious.

Everyone wants their own space.

Calvin ought to have learned by now… Let sleeping Tigers lie…

In my family we call that a “zerbert”.