Tail wagging and sometimes protective, dogs have long held the title of man's best friend. Meanwhile, cats -- often silent and solitary -- can seem more like man's aloof neighbor. But if you introduce yourself properly, cool cats can become warm companions.
“People misunderstand cats simply because they are more independent than dogs,” says Pamela Reid, PhD, a certified applied animal behaviorist and vice president of The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (ASPCA) Animal Behavior Center. “But cats can become very bonded to people and they can be extremely affectionate, depending on their personality.”
Like dogs, cats have very distinct temperaments and personalities.
“Some cats will want to be lap cats and will purr and want to be stroked,” says Barbara J. King, chancellor professor of anthropology at the College of William & Mary and author of Being With Animals. “Some cats want to play but not to be lap cats. Some want to sit near you but not with you. And some are interested in communicating across the room.”
Want to be the cat’s meow when it comes to bonding? These steps will bring you purrs and head-butts for years to come.
Hello Kitty Time
Kittens learn key social lessons between 2 and 9 weeks of age, so it’s a perfect time to bond to you and to have contact with other humans, cats, and dogs, in a controlled setting.
“Make sure they get a lot of exposure to different types of people and make sure those exposures are insanely positive,” says Jackson Galaxy, a Redondo Beach, Calif., cat behaviorist whose TV mini-series, My Cat From Hell, debuted on May 7 on Animal Planet.
Bonding with a kitten or younger cat depends on the animal’s personality and history. If it has had human contact, it’s likely to be relatively friendly and used to people handling it. Give the kitten a comfortable area to rest, such as a cat bed, and the basics - meals, treats, toys - and plenty of attention. Some enjoy brushing and grooming; others might not.
If the kitten appears timid or frightened, put it in a bedroom or small room where it will feel safe. Don’t force yourself on the animal. Sit quietly on the floor, read a book, and scatter treats to see if the kitten will come out of hiding. Petting or trying to play might be intimidating at first. But a laser pointer or toy on a long wand might work.
Adopted and Rescue Cats
When bonding with an adopted cat, knowing its personality can help. The ASPCA’s Meet Your Match program helps shelters predict cat personalities with categories that include active and playful (Party Animal) to more sedate (Love Bug).
Again, give the cat time to explore or restrict it to one room until it’s comfortable. “Some cats are confident and will just march into a new house and be totally fine,” Reid says. Others may be terrified and hide.
Figure out if, where and how much the cat likes to be stroked or petted, and when they’ve had enough. Dilated pupils, fur twitches, and a tail that looks like a dog wagging are telltale signs the cat may be over-stimulated.
“If you don’t listen to what your cat is saying, you’re actually doing more harm than good in the bonding arena,” Galaxy says. “It’s really about what they want.”
“You’re Marrying Him?”
Cats aren’t big on change. Getting your cat to bond with a roommate or new spouse can be a challenge. Some can be downright aggressive.
“Cats can have some pretty significant reactions if they move to a new household or if you have a new roommate,” Reid says.
Acclimate the cat slowly. If you’re moving in with someone, take the cat to spend time there in advance. Bring her favorite chair, toys, and scratching post.
If you want the cat to sleep on your bed and both parties agree, go for it. But if you plan to kick the cat off the bed after the initial bonding period, don’t bother. “The cat won't understand why it was once OK and now isn't,” Reid says.
If a roommate or partner is moving in, have the new person take part in activities the cat enjoys, such as regular feedings or playtime with a favorite toy.
Wild Things
Bonding with feral or wild cats that have had little or no human contact is difficult, but not impossible. Many have limits on how much they can trust and relax.
King likes to speak in a calm, low-pitched, musical voice, to avoid sudden movements and to sit on the ground. Instead of staring wide-eyed at a cat, she says she also lowers her eyelids “like a lazy cat in the sun ... where you mimic them.”
In the end, it pays to take time to learn your cat’s like and dislikes.
“The big payoff is the moment the cat climbs into your lap and looks at you and purrs lovingly when you don’t have food,” King says.
Dos and Don'ts
Here are more tips on how to make friends with a feline:
Do be patient. Bonding with a cat -- particularly one with a troubled or questionable history -- can take “a lot of time,” King says.
Don’t expect the cat to bond equally with every person in the home. Some cats get more attached to a particular person.
Never raise your voice and don’t spank or swat a cat. “Punishment means nothing to a cat,” Galaxy says. “All you are doing is eroding the bond.” But it’s certainly OK to issue a firm “no” if you catch your cat doing something risky.
There’s no quick correction for a cat’s aggressive behavior towards a person, but a time-out may work. Safely remove the cat from the situation, putting it in a darkened room where it can calm down. If it’s a new issue with a cat you’ve had for a long time, there may be an underlying medical problem, so check with your veterinarian. Otherwise, a behaviorist can help determine the cause of your cat’s aggression, Galaxy says.
Don’t leave food out 24/7. “You being the food source is of paramount importance to your cat,” Galaxy says. “If you want to bond with your cat, then you have to be the giver of the food.”
Do get your cat spayed or neutered. In addition to reducing the unwanted pet population, “it tends to even them out and makes them more focused on the type of relationship that you want to have,” King says.
