How To Bond With Your Cat
We know you love your cat, but unlike dogs and small children, getting a cat to grow on you is not as simple as giving it belly rubs and using a sweet voice with them.
Like it or not, the truth is, you could give your cat all the affection in the world and it still might act cold and distant to you.
While some might say this is a disadvantage to owning a cat, I like to see it as a beautiful intricacy of owning a cat.
In a way, it is a beautiful relationship that you get to build up. One thing is for certain, you have to be genuine about caring for your cat.
You cannot treat your pet as a toy that you give more attention to when you feel like it, or else you will get nowhere and will most likely just end up annoying your cat.
While the best way to bond with your cat is to genuinely care for it, here are some general tips on how to bond with your cat.
Once your cat has warmed up to its new environment and has warmed up to you, now is when the fun part begins of bonding with your cat. You can finally play with it!
When talking about how to bond with your cat, leaving them alone might seem counter-intuitive, cats are very solitary creatures.
Giving your cat a small space where it can be by itself will make it feel much more comfortable in your house environment, and will help it feel more comfortable around you as well.
Make sure your cat’s space has all the amenities it needs, such as food, water, and a litter box.
Try getting a cardboard box for your cat to hide in, as they feel more comfortable and safer in somewhat secluded and hidden areas.
If your cat is new, it should definitely spend its first day in its own little comfort zone, but be sure to constantly check on it so it gets comfortable with the idea of being around you.
The first couple of days your cat is in its new home environment let it explore at its own pace, and instead of making the first move in interacting with them, let them come with you.
The first couple of days of getting a new cat are crucial in making the cat feel comfortable.
You do not want them to be overwhelmed, as changing environments can be very stressful for cats.
Always make sure they always have access to its safe spot.
The next couple of days will be spent getting your cat to warm up to its new environment as a home.
Playing with your cat is a crucial step because it is the difference between your cat seeing you just as a caretaker to your cat seeing you as a family member or friend.
The more you play with your cat, the more it will want to be with you.
Find toys that your cat enjoys and try and keep things interesting.
I highly recommend the Ultimate Kat Toy to keep your cat entertained. Not only does it entertain your cat, it keeps it interested unlike other cat toys and has been very helpful in bonding with my cat.
One of the most jarring things for a cat is changing to a new environment and suddenly having a change in their routine diet.
Cats are very habit forming. They do not like change. Make sure you are feeding your cat the same food it is used to eating, at the same time every day while it is getting used to the sights and smells of its new habitat.
Also, make sure to give them some treats every once in a while, as they certainly can’t hurt your bond.
Grooming is a very sociable behavior for cats. Once your cat is comfortable being around you, start petting it whenever you can.
Some cats are a bit more uncomfortable being pet, in these cases, try and building trust by calmly talking to your cat and slowing down.
Take note of your cat’s preferences and hopefully, you’ll have your cat purring in no time!
Cats are very finicky creatures, so do not take it personally when seemingly out of nowhere your cat does not want to be pet by you or keeps walking away from you.
The best thing to do in this situation is to back off and wait until your cat is ready to come to you.
The worse thing to do is to try and keep doing whatever is making your cat uncomfortable.
Some signs that your cat is uneasy is flat ears, twitchy tail, and an off sounding meow. if you’re wondering if there’s any secret on how to bond with your cat, its to make sure your cat is as comfortable as possible.
While waiting for your cat to approach you is a great way to build trust early on, cats also have another social habit that you can use to further improve your relationship.
Well, not in a making fun of your clothes sort of way, but more of an I don’t care but I actually do care type of way.
What I am trying to explain in my rambling is that cats like to play hard to get. For example, you might notice that your cat will approach you for love and attention one second and walk away as if they never cared the next second (Cats are a paradox aren’t they?).
Do not get discouraged, this is actually great news! This is actually a common social behavior of cats to ensure trust between other cats and is usually done with other cats they are very close with, such as family members and potential mates.
In summary, your cat is testing you in a way, to see how interested you are in it.
Knowing when to spot this difference between genuine uninterest and playing hard to get can help you quickly build an even closer relationship with your cat.
Some signs of a cat teasing you is it suddenly walking a few feet away while you are in the middle of petting it, just out of reach.
It will then most likely look back at you, and then stretch. NOW IS THE TIME TO ATTACK!
Slowly approach, and then pet that ball of fur some more. If your cat is genuinely teasing you, it should either continue to bask in your love or tease you some more.
One way to check if your cat is actually teasing you or genuinely uncomfortable is to look at their ears when you go to pet it. If your cat puts them down it usually means they are uncomfortable.
Also, check their tails for any twitchy movement, and any purring is usually a good sign.
Notice when your cats perform this behavior, as your cat is usually craving attention when they are doing this.
Sometimes your cat might seem like they are just walking around the house, but will intentionally walk very closely past you.
This is also a form of teasing. Being aware of your cat’s behavior and taking the time to pay attention to their actions can greatly benefit your bond.
Trying to bond with your cat might seem like a frustrating ordeal at first, but just remember, the key is to be patient and reserved.
Following these tips and genuinely caring for your new family member should help your cat warm up to you in no time!
I hope this article helped give you some tips on getting closer to your cat and I hope you are one step closer to creating that special bond that only a cat could give you.
