Posted on 09/30/2007 2:00:02 PM PDT by Daffynition
Does your cat always seem to end up in the lap of the one visitor to your home who's allergic? Or maybe it's the one visitor who doesn't like cats? Why is it that, very often, your cat-loving visitors get passed over for the one person who doesn't want to interact with Fluffy?
Most cats are friendly to everyone who comes through the front door, but other cats are very concerned with potential territorial intrusion. These cats don't necessarily want somebody barging right over to pick them up and interact. So while your cat-loving visitors may be just trying to be friendly, the act of reaching down to pet or pick up your cat before the cat's had time to investigate this unfamiliar person can cause your cat to back away.
The cat-avoiding visitor, however, makes no move toward the cat, and usually avoids eye contact. That may actually allow the kitty to feel comfortable enough to come closer for an investigation of this stranger. As the cat inches closer to sniff the visitor's shoes, the visitor makes no overtures. This is another indication to the cat that there is no immediate threat. The cat may then jump onto the couch, sit next to the visitor, and continue to check her or him out.
If YOU have a cat who's suspicious of strangers, tell your guests to let the cat set the pace! As always, it's just at matter of looking at things from your cat's point of view, and learning to ... Think Like a Cat!
We got a new cat today.
Their concerns should warrant a voice in government.
Congrats! Newbies are fun! Is she getting along OK? ;-D
A friend of mine has multiple cats and their gray tabby seems infatuated with me. Every time I pay a visit, the beast is immediately in my face, rubbing and purring away and soon fast asleep in my lap. He does this with no one else ... even the owner can’t figure it out.
She’s fine. Our older cat is very annoyed, though.
Beautiful cat!
Looks like our “Sneakers” ... she had the habit of sleeping on my face and no matter how many times I tried to throw her off ... she’d be back.
Give them a couple of weeks and they’ll be buds. ;D
I hope so ... or at least civil!
I have found, in my vast experience with cats, if you bend your knees so that you are in a squatting position, MOST cats will approach you - I have even had them cross the street to ‘snout’ my extended finger. When you are standing, I think the cat is slightly intimidated by size.
Try it...
Should the time come when it seems appropriate to attempt friendship with a cat, I’ve found it best to simply extend one finger several inches away from its face and hold it there for 10 seconds or more. I’ve had amazing luck with that technique, actually. Most cats have warmed up to me in time as the result.
One finger isn’t as threatening as an entire hand. It’s also possible that doing that signals respect or at least that the situation will be on their terms, which is fine with me. Cats aren’t dogs. Thay have absolutely no interest in being controlled or forced to do anything they’re not ready to do. All of which is just fine with me.
Good luck with new kitty! I always keep a newbie separate from the clan for a few days. Seems the transitions are simpler when everyone has had the opportunity to adjust to the scent or scents of unfamiliar cats, yet nothing bad has happened. There may still be grumbling for a day or two when they are introduced, but at least it avoids bloody wars.
You know the old adage "eyes are mirrors of the soul." Well, I think they are more the windows. Let me explain ... I've spent a lot of time in the wild observing and photographing animals. When you make eye contact with an animal, it sends a signal ... am I prey or are you prey. And if you stare an animal down, not releasing your gaze from them for a moment, they think that there is danger and survival instinct kicks in. But if you release your gaze, become casual about it, the animal relaxes and you have a better chance of it sticking around rather than fleeing in fear. This can be a special moment too, when the commonality of all sentient beings is expressed by that spirit that is the window to a soul through eye contact. ;-D
***We got a new cat today.***
Awwww, lucky you. Tell us about it.
Aw, beautiful cats! We had 2 that looked just like them, one was Stormie and the other was Baby. They died a few years back, I miss them. :(
She’s a 4-month-old calico named Shannon. She’s very friendly, especially compared to our mean old Wednesday. (The lizards are friendlier than Wednesday, too.)
The kitties seem to have worked out a detente over night. Shannon has the run of the house, but if she gets too close to Wednesday, she gets called a rude name.
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