Why Doesn't My Cat Like Me?  

Why doesn't my cat like me? How many times have I heard that phrase used by cat owners? The typical cat owner in their quest to have their cats love them actually drive them away by smothering their pets with love. The truth of the matter is you have to understand cats and their behavior before you can hold them and give them the love you want to express to them. The process to get your cat to love you is for house cats as I don’t believe in having my cats roam the neighborhood. 

The best way to have a cat that will be a loving creature that you’ve always imagined is to start out by obtaining a kitten from a breeder or animal shelter in your area. When you bring your new kitten home show it around the house introduce it to the litter box and let in explore the house on its own. 

After your cat has acclimated itself to its surroundings you can gently pick up the kitten and hold it close to you. If the kitten resist then put the kitten down and give it more time to get used to its surroundings. If the kitten allows you to hold it and let it sit on your lap then you are on your way. Talk to your kitten in a low sweet voice while gently stroking it starting from the head down to the tail or rub it on the side of its face and repeat the process. Anytime your kitten wants down let it do so, or it will feel threatened and will not want to be with you.  

After a period of time has passed and your kitten still doesn’t want to be handled try giving it a kitty treat or small piece of meat like chicken or tuna in your hand to entice it to come to you. Your new kitten will usually respond to your affections as they still have that need for a warm body and the feeling of security that they had with their mother. 

If you have an adolescent or adult cat it will be harder but not impossible to get them to be affectionate and want to be around you all the time. The first thing you want to do is let the new cat explore the house as I mentioned above, call out to it by saying its name or use a chirping noise or whistle, (yes they do respond to a whistle like a dog would) extend your hand to the cat and let it sniff you and the cat may let you start petting it. 

Use the same method of petting your cat as with the kitten, keep doing this several times a day everyday until your cat warms up to you. Another method that can be used for older cats is to talk to your cat in a soft loving voice (not a loud harsh voice) and if your cat is receptive he or she will plop down on its side letting you know that it’s ready to receive you. It’s a good idea to approach the cat in a squatting position so you don’t look so tall and menacing.    

Cats are finicky creatures and have to be treated the way they want. Not all cats will respond to the same tactics, you will have to determine what works best. If you follow the process I have outlined there is a greater than ninety percent chance that your cat or kitten will grow up to be an affectionate creature wanting to be with you almost all of the time, which is a good feeling if you are a true cat lover.