How to make your cat like you

By nature, cats tend to be more independent than dogs ^{[1] X Source} and that makes them seem cold and aloof. However, your pet cat can still be extremely close to you. That closeness will help to improve and deepen the bond between you and your baby. Depending on the personality of each cat, it may take time and patience for them to love and bond with you. Don’t worry though – the more he likes you, the happier he’ll be, and so will you.

Table of Contents

Establish positive interactions with your cat

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Learn your cat’s body language. Once familiar with you, through body language, your cat will let you know that he likes you. Understanding that body language helps you determine how comfortable your baby is with you. For example, your baby may rub his head – lowering and rubbing the top of his head against your head or other body part. ^{[2] X Research Source} This is a clear sign that your baby has feelings for you.

Cats have scent glands near their ears and so rubbing their heads is a way for them to keep your scent on your body. ^{[3] X Research Source} It’s also possible that your baby will rub his cheeks to mark you with a scent. ^{[4] X Source of Research} It’s one of the ways to show that your baby likes you.
To let you know that he likes you, your cat may establish eye contact and gently blink. Eye contact shows your baby trusts you. ^{[5] X Research Source} Gently wink back to let your baby know it’s mutual trust.
Imitating some cat language, such as rubbing her head or gently blinking her eyes, will strengthen the bond between you and your cat. At the same time, show your baby that you love him too.
Examples of other emotional gestures include moaning softly, rubbing your front paws (“stomping” on yourself), sitting on your lap, and licking you. ^{[6] X Research Sources}^{[7] X Research Sources}

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Give your baby lots of toys. Toys that spark excitement in the home, both physically and mentally. This abundance is a great way for cats to come to like you. Depending on personality, your baby may prefer certain toys over others. For example, if your baby likes to chase, he may like things that swing. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

If she’s older and/or calmer, she may like something that doesn’t require much running around, such as a cat mint stuffed toy, which she can play with while lounging. ^{[9] X Research Source}
Don’t forget to rotate the toys regularly so that your cat doesn’t get bored. ^{[10] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to Source}
If you don’t want to spend too much, you can turn ordinary household items into toys for your cat. For example, a roll of toilet paper or a paper bag with the handles removed can be fun items for your baby. ^{[11] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to Source}
Watch out for items that should n’t be let your cat play with, such as ribbons, coils, and rubber bands – they could be swallowed by your baby. Any of these items can get stuck or wrap around your cat’s stomach when swallowed. These problems can even lead to death.
Also, watch out for toys with small parts that can be disassembled and swallowed by your cat, such as plastic eyes. ^{[12] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to source}
If you’re not sure which toy is best for your little one, check with your vet or local pet store for more advice.

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Spend regular time playing with your cat. Cats are usually very independent and have the ability to find their own fun. ^{[13] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to the source} However, your baby still needs regular interaction to bond with and like you. Cats are usually most active when it’s early morning or dusk. ^{[14] X Source of Research} Therefore, you should schedule playtime with your baby at these times.

If schedule allows, arrange to play with your cat at dawn or dusk, 5 to 15 minutes at a time. Remember that an older or overweight cat may not be able to play continuously for long periods of time. ^{[15] X Research Source}^{[16] X Research Source}
No matter what time of day you play, make sure it’s the same time each day. This way, your baby has something to look forward to and you can build and maintain regular, positive bonding sessions with your baby. ^{[17] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to source}

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Maintain a regular feeding schedule. You may not realize it, but feeding is a great bonding opportunity. Plus, it’s extremely important that your cat sees you as her food source. Therefore, instead of having food available all day, you should feed it at certain times. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Ideally, the first ingredient in your baby’s meal should be protein, such as regular turkey or chicken. ^{[19] X Research Source}
Because there are countless cat food options at local grocery and pet stores, consult with your veterinarian to determine the best food for your cat. Depending on your baby’s age and current health, some foods may be a better choice than others.
The age of the pet cat plays a role in determining the number of meals a day. Kittens 6 months of age and younger should be fed three times per day. From six months to one year of age, you should feed twice a day. After one year of age, once daily is enough. ^{[20] X Research Source}
Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, can also affect your feeding schedule. ^{[21] X Research Source}
The amount of food per meal depends on a few different factors, such as your cat’s size, activity level, and age. ^{[22] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to Source}^{[23] X Research Source} Although there is no “one-for-all” method for determining feeding dosage, one Some general recommendations based on pet cat’s weight that apply to dry food are: 2-2.5 kg (1/4 to 1/3 cup), 4.5 kg (3/8 to 1/2 cup) and 7 kg (1/2 to 3/4 cup). ^{[24] X Research Source}
Consult with your veterinarian about the amount and type of food to give your pet cat.

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Give your cat a snack. Regularly feeding your cat treats is also a great way to make your cat love you more. Snacks should only be a small part of your baby’s diet (10% to 15% of a daily diet) ^{[25] X Source of Research} because they have little nutritional benefit. A good rule of thumb is to give your cat treats no more than 2 to 3 times per week. ^{[26] X Research Sources}

Cat snacks can be found at pet or grocery stores.
In general, do not give your cat human food. In fact, some human foods (such as grapes, onions, raisins) are toxic to cats and should therefore be kept away from them. ^{[27] X Research Source}
Cat mint is a great choice for your pet. ^{[28] X Research Sources}
Snacks are very useful in rewarding children when they are obedient.

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Pet cat. Petting is another great way to bond with your cat and get her to like you. Cats like to be petted near the scent glands: under the chin, the ear area close to the head, the cheek area behind the whiskers and the body right next to the tail. Your baby will probably really enjoy rubbing these areas against your body or objects to mark their territory. Similarly, babies will enjoy being cuddled in these areas. ^{[29] X Research Sources}

Remember that your cat may not want to be petted all the time or for long periods of time, even if she seems relaxed and content. If body language indicates your baby is overstimulated by petting (dilated pupils, ruffled fur, tail wagging like a dog) ^{[30] X Source of research} or if baby tries to move away from you, stop and leave the baby alone. Let your baby tell you what level of petting is right for him. ^{[31] X Research Source}
When petting, gently stroke the areas your baby likes with your hands. You can also talk in a calm and gentle voice to make it more comfortable for both of you.
Besides petting, you might consider brushing and bathing ^{[32] X Source} if your baby allows it. Brushing and bathing are ways to help you learn what areas your baby likes/dislikes to touch.

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Gently interact with your pet cat. It is especially useful when your baby is shy or stressed. Maintaining a gentle and calm interaction will help your baby get used to and more comfortable with you. For example, you can sit still on the floor or read in an armchair when your baby is in the same room as you. ^{[33] X Research Sources}

Avoid what your cat doesn’t like

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Try not to stroke your cat’s belly. Knowing what your baby doesn’t like will help you avoid doing things that might threaten your bond with your baby. Unlike dogs, cats usually don’t like to be petted on the belly area. In fact, when he does, he may instinctively react defensively by raising his claws and trying to bite you. ^{[34] X Research Source}

In the wild, cats are aware that they are hunters and, at the same time, prey. The abdomen is home to many vital organs ^{[35] X Source of study} and therefore, without your awareness of your harmless intentions, when the abdomen is touched, prey state may be activated and baby will do everything in their power to protect that area of the body.
When stretching and exposing the abdomen, it seems that the pet cat is very relaxed and comfortable in his space. ^{[36] X Research Sources} However, your child may have a defensive attitude. ^{[37] X Research Source} Just to be on the safe side, don’t mistake your baby for inviting you to stroke his tummy. ^{[38] X Research Source}
While some cats may not mind when you do, it’s still best to avoid the belly area and only pet places that you know your cat likes. ^{[39] X Research Sources}

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Don’t force your cat to interact with you. As mentioned above, indulge your baby’s desire to interact with you. ^{[40] X Source} Forcing your baby to play with or try to cuddle when she doesn’t want to can damage your baby’s feelings for you. She may even be scared because she doesn’t believe that you will respect her privacy.

More than just showing affection (purring…yeah, head rubbing), your cat can also let you know when she’s feeling enough and wants to be left alone. For example, when he starts growling, hissing, or spitting, give him space and alone time until he calms down. ^{[41] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to source}
Your cat may simply get tired of playing too much and stop playing on its own.
If it’s a shy, timid cat, it’s extremely important to avoid forcing her to interact with you. ^{[42] X Research Source}

Advice

Please be patient! Your cat will decide how comfortable she wants to be with you and when that will happen. So don’t rush and push the baby’s familiarization process.
Remember that not all cats like to be cuddled or cuddled. ^{[47] X Research Source} Pay attention to your baby’s body language to see if she wants or enjoys being hugged.
If there are many people in the house, be aware that your cat may not bond equally with all members of the household. Maybe she’ll end up liking or getting along better with one than the other. ^{[48]X Research Source}
While catnip can help keep your baby entertained during playtime, not all cats react the same way to catnip. Some may be very relaxed while others become overstimulated and start to become more aggressive when playing. ^{[49] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to the source} Follow your cat to see what her reaction is.
If your cat doesn’t seem to be getting any closer to you, consider talking to your veterinarian or feline behavioral psychologist for more instructions on how to bond with your pet cat.
When you turn away and hide, it’s usually when your cat wants to rest and relax.
If your cat has just arrived, don’t forget to give her time to explore and get to know your home. Don’t worry if you lose your baby’s shadow for a while, maybe he’s scouting a dark corner or under your table and chairs.

Warning

Coils, ribbons, and rubber bands can lead to serious and potentially fatal health problems for your cat when swallowed. Keep them out of reach of your pet cat.

Steps

Establish positive interactions with your cat

Avoid what your cat doesn’t like

Advice

Warning

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