December 4, 2024, 9:27 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Are you one of those people who like to approach cats, but they run away from you? If so, PETBOOK editor and cat behavior expert Saskia Schneider has 7 ultimate tips for you.
“Here, kitty, kitty” – if this is how you lure cats to get a few cuddles, you’ve come to the right place. Because, unlike dogs, cats find this “pushy behavior” rather off-putting. Even when people make an effort, they often fail to lure the animal close to them – let alone stroke it. To transform you into an absolute cat magnet during your next feline encounter, I’ve compiled six tips to make cats fond of you.
These tips apply to both friends’ or family’s pet cats and street cats. Even with a new animal in your life, you can swiftly establish trust by following the advice that follows.
Overview
Tip 1: Feign disinterest
It may sound counterintuitive, but allow me to explain. Have you noticed how cats often gravitate towards individuals who aren’t fond of them or are allergic? This occurs because such individuals avoid any contact with the cat, neither looking at nor speaking to it. However, this signals to the cat: “This guy has no problem with me approaching.”
Cats communicate with each other with their eyes and posture. Staring directly and turning towards you usually means: “I don’t trust you! I’ve got my eyes on you!” Turning away, blinking, and looking in a different direction as the other approaches, on the other hand, signals: “I trust you and don’t mind you coming closer.”
Tip 2: Blink
Cats consciously blink at each other – because, unlike us, they don’t have to do this automatically to keep their eyes moist. Blinking is, therefore, a means of communication for them. It is also said that blinking is the cat’s smile. Similar to turning away, it could be translated as: “I trust you so much that I can dare to close my eyes for a moment.”
As a rule, a blink is also reciprocated by the animal. Try it out for yourself. In my experience, even big cats at the zoo respond to this signal. However, I would caution against getting too close to them.
Tip 3: Make yourself small
Many cats don’t like it at all when people bend over them to stroke them. This comes across as quite threatening – even if it is meant nicely. It is better to make yourself as small as possible on first contact. To do this, crouch down and preferably turn slightly to the side. This pose looks less threatening.
With very anxious cats, it often helps to sit on the floor and read a book or surf on your smartphone. This makes you look busy, and the animals are more likely to come closer to you for a sniff.
Tip 4: Let your cat sniff something
Cats usually greet each other nose to nose. The animals take in the smell of the other and evaluate it. It’s a bit like when we look at the other person when we first meet them. The only difference is that for cats, the olfactory – i.e., the smell – plays a more important role than the visual.
To politely introduce yourself to a cat, you should give the animal the opportunity to sniff. The best way to do this is to hold out your hand carefully. People who wear glasses can also offer the animal the temples of their glasses. Many scents are caught there, and cats are fascinated by them.
With very anxious animals, it is a good idea to look away and not stare at the cat.
Tip 5: Don’t impose yourself
To win a cat’s affection, it’s important not to be overbearing. After getting to know the cat for the first time (blinking, presenting scent), it is best to turn your back on the cat for the time being. If the animal is interested, it will probably follow you immediately. If not, you won’t have lost your advantage if you go one step further and try to touch the cat.
Tip 6: Let the cat come to you
You might be wondering: When is the right moment to finally pet the cat? You should only initiate this step when the animal actively makes contact with you and sends clear signals, such as
- rubbing your leg
- climbing onto your lap
- tilting its head towards you
Attention! Showing their belly is not a sign of “I want to be stroked” but often a request to play, which brings us to the last and most important tip.
Tip 7: Play, play, play
Here’s the ultimate tip to not only endear yourself to cats but to become their champion: initiate playtime! The ideal way to do this is with interactive toys like wand toys. But you don’t always have them to hand. A good (and safe) alternative is paper balls that you can throw around. There’s usually always a scrap of paper within reach.
It’s crucial to avoid using your hands as toys at all costs – this is particularly true for strays! Laser pointers are also no good, as they frustrate cats if they never catch the dot. In doing so, you’re more likely to elicit frustration instead of fun.
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Finally, a few “no-nos”
Without realizing it, we often engage in behaviors that cats perceive as outright offensive or impolite. So here are a few things you should never do:
- Talk loudly to the animal
- Approach the animal head-on and stare at it
- Approach the sleeping animal to get a quick cuddle
- Simply sit next to the cat on the sofa or chase the cat away from a seat
- Grab the animal’s bottom, paws, tail, or belly (most cats are very sensitive here)