How to Make Cats Love You

Cats need love and attention to lead a healthy life. If loved and cared for properly, your cat will love you too. This article will help you nurture a bond with your pet cat.

Table of Contents

Know your cat

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/09/Stop-Cats-from-Peeing-on-the-Front-Porch-Step-11-Version-2.jpg/ v4-728px-Stop-Cats-from-Peeing-on-the-Front-Porch-Step-11-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/ 0/09/Stop-Cats-from-Peeing-on-the-Front-Porch-Step-11-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Stop-Cats-from-Peeing-on-the-Front-Porch- Step-11-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output “></div>”}

Treat your cat like an independent animal. Although cats depend on your care, they still have a great need for independence and privacy. Although cats love to be petted, they are often not interested in human interaction. If you can strike a balance between playing with your cat and giving them some alone time, the cat will love you more.

One of the common mistakes pet owners make is treating cats like dogs. Remember, they are two very different animals.
Dogs are a group of animals domesticated to work with humans. In contrast, cats are solitary animals, which help humans by single-handedly eliminating harmful rodents. ^{[1] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}
Don’t get too attached to your cat or get annoyed when they sometimes hide from you. It’s part of their natural character.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/94/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-2-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-2-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/94/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-2-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-2-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Avoid using penalties. When cats are punished by yelling or other violent actions, they tend to run away. In general, cats do not submit to their owners through discipline. Cats won’t love you if you’re a mean owner.

Never hit a cat as this will only make things worse.
While spraying your cat with water to punish her bad behavior is a common trick, it will scare the cat and distrust you. ^{[2] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/75/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-3-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-3-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/75/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-3-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-3-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Find a snack your cat likes. Just like humans, there are certain foods that cats like more than others. Find out what it is, and instead of punishing it, use it to encourage good behavior. Cats have different tastes, but cooked chicken and tuna buns are often irresistible to cats. Rewarding your cat from time to time will make the cat love you more. ^{[3] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

Do not give your cat milk. Contrary to popular belief, dairy foods are not good for cats.
Do not feed your cat chocolate, candy, raw eggs, raw meat or fish. ^{[4] X Research Sources}
Remember that junk food can’t replace a cat’s full meal.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/7f/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-4-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-4-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/7f/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-4-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-4-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Appreciate your cat’s individuality. Although cats share common behavioral traits, there are significant differences between them. Take the time to find out what your cat likes and dislikes. Knowing and respecting your cat’s personality is crucial to winning their affection.

Communicating with cats

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/ba/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-5-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-5-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/ba/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-5-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-5-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Learn and respect your cat’s body language. Like humans, cats use body language as a way of communicating to express all emotions, from trust to fear. Their looks contain important messages. For example:

An arched back, raised fur along its spine, and spread of its claws are all signs that the cat is feeling threatened. For now, leave the cat alone.
If the cat rubs against you, it may want to play.
If the cat wraps its tail around you, it may be showing satisfaction.
If the cat has its tail down or between its legs, the cat may be feeling anxious or insecure ^{[5] X Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/68/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-6-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-6-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/68/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-6-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-6-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Listen to the cat’s meow. The sound of “purring” represents love and satisfaction. Screams and screeches mean stay away. The “meow” is a sound to attract attention, expressing all emotions from hunger to wanting to be petted.

Cats don’t meow to each other, they do it to communicate with humans.
Cats that meow continuously can indicate that they are sick and need to be taken to the doctor ^{[6] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/c4/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-7-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-7-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c4/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-7-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-7-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Avoid prolonged eye contact with the cat. When communicating with other people, this is an act of politeness, but for cats it is threatening. If the cat blinks while you’re there, it’s a sign of trust.

The next time your cat blinks at you, imitate the action.
By blinking slowly, you’re showing confidence and openness, and nurturing affection for your cat. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/11/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-8-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-8-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/11/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-8-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-8-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

When picking up your cat, bend down to their height first. Slowly bend over before picking up the cat. If cats can see you before being held, they will be less afraid.

Cat Care

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/6d/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-9-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-9-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6d/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-9-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-9-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Keep your cat away from danger. When cats are safe and protected, they will love you more. Make sure your cat has a safe place to sleep, feels secure when going to the bathroom, has adequate food, and is not threatened by other people or animals in the home.

Make sure your cat can’t come into contact with toxic substances.
Close kitchen cabinets and cupboards, as cats are curious animals and they can get in trouble.
Have the cat wear a collar with an easy-to-remove buckle (in case the cat gets stuck), with contact information on it in case the cat gets lost.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/8b/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-10-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-10-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/8b/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-10-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-10-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Feed your cat according to the schedule. Cats are creatures of habit. Don’t change your cat’s feeding times too often. When the cat does a good job, reward the cat with food, but don’t let that interfere with the main meal. To make your cat love you more, don’t change their foods often.

Cats will be perfectly healthy when eating dry, canned or a combination of both. ^{[8] X Research Sources}
Most experts recommend no more than two meals a day for cats. In developed countries, one in five cats is obese, which causes serious health problems. ^{[9] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/70/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-11-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-11-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/70/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-11-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-11-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Don’t mistreat cats! When you leave the house, make sure the cat has enough food and clean water. If you have to be away for a long time, make sure someone takes care of the cats, cleans the litter box, and plays with them a bit. An abused cat will not love its owner.

Although cats are independent animals, they still need human attention and regular cleaning.
If you’re going on vacation, hire a cat sitter.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/b/be/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-12-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-12-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/b/be/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-12-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-12-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Regularly clean the litter box for the cat. Cats love cleanliness; If their litter box is dirty, they will find another place to go to the toilet. Add clean sand to the pot every day. Wash the sand basin regularly with soap and water. ^{[10] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to Source}

Don’t suddenly change your cat’s litter.
When you want to change to a new type of sand, slowly mix the old and new sand together.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/50/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-13-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-13-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/5/50/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-13-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-13-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Regularly brush your cat’s coat. They love it! Regular brushing will help keep your cat’s coat and skin healthy. Grooming is also a great opportunity to spot tumors, lice, or wounds. Grooming is also an opportunity to become closer to your cat. ^{[11] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to Source}

Avoid brushing against the direction of your cat’s hair growth, which can make your cat uncomfortable and stressed.
Always brush gently with long strokes, instead of strong, short strokes.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/8c/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-14-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-14-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/8c/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-14-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-14-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Play with cats. Cats love simple and cheap toys — use tethered toys to pretend to be mice. Make the toy move as fast as a mouse or fly like a bird. The cat will enthusiastically chase the toy. Cats will love their owners who know how to play with them.

Encourage the cat to pounce on the toy, not your hand!

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/c5/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-15-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-15-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/c5/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-15-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-15-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Invest in buying nail grinding columns. Cats instinctively sharpen their nails on surfaces in your home, such as furniture. However, they may also prefer to scratch certain objects, especially those with rough surfaces such as thick carpets or sedge mats. Cats will love you more if they have a suitable nail polisher in the house. ^{[12] X Research Source}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/dd/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-16-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-16-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/dd/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-16-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-16-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Buy or make your own “treehouses” for cats, they are both a nail pole and a playground for cats. Cats will love to climb and play with this toy.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/6c/Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-17-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make- Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-17-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6c/Make-Your-Cat-Love- You-Step-17-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Make-Your-Cat-Love-You-Step-17-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,” bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Take advantage of your cat’s “food-loving” trait. Many cats love their feeders more than others. If your house is full of people, be the one to feed the cats. Cats will get used to that and will always come to you when hungry or when it’s time for dinner.

The shortest way to a cat’s heart is through their stomach!

Advice

All of these things take time. You can’t force a cat to love you.
Scratch all over the cat to find out where they like to be petted the most.
Many cats love to be scratched under their chin.
Recognize signs when your cat no longer needs attention, such as petting. Some signs include: not purring, looking at you a certain way, or simply standing up and walking away.
Let the cat wrap around you, don’t push them off your lap.
Give them snacks a few times a week.
If the cat won’t let you hold it, don’t try to do it anymore, the cat will get even more angry.
When the cat hisses, leave the cat alone.

Warning

If the cat hisses or reaches out to scratch, stop touching the cat. That will make the cat angrier. Instead, leave the cat alone for a while and try again later.
An injured or seriously ill cat may purr to reassure itself. This is not an expression of satisfaction but rather the opposite. If your cat is visibly unhappy or defensive, but still purring, you may want to take her to the vet.
Never hold or pull a cat’s tail, cats don’t like it.

Steps

Know your cat

Communicating with cats

Cat Care

Advice

Warning

Related Posts