Cats are mysterious yet adorable creatures, and we know it can be hard to befriend one, but we hope this guide will make befriending cats atleast a bit easy!!.
But…if it’s still avoiding you, please walk away unless you want those adorable paws to leave you with quite a few scratch marks!
So, let us take a look at some cat-approved methods to get the little one to get close to you.
HOW TO START?
Don’t just walk towards the cat. It will scare them away. Cats don’t like a lot of affection, so you need to have patience.
Start by giving it some food. Get some and put it down in a corner. Stand a bit far away from the food. After a few days, start getting closer but remember you need to be calm and patient. Try talking to it. Talk in a soft voice. Once the cat feels comfortable, it will get close to you by itself.
Cats choose us; we don’t own them.
– Kristin cast
So next time you see a cat on the streets, remember not to walk towards it, be patient. Let the cat decide when to get close and when to get away. And let me remind you again that if it’s hissing at you, just walk away, don’t bother it anymore.
Cats have it all: admiration, endless sleep, and company only when they want it.
-Rod Mckuen
Now that it’s already close to you, don’t forget to visit the vet. But for now, let me tell you more about these mysterious little creatures.
WHAT DO THEY LIKE?
They love grooming and being groomed; you can often see them licking themselves; they would also love it if you occasionally brush their fur. They also love it when you touch them between their eyes and nose and their neck.
They love scratching things. It not only sharpens their claws but also relaxes them. So make sure to give your kitty something to scratch, or else…you might need to bid farewell to your furniture.
They love things which move, running water, moving laser pointers, a mouse, birds…or get them something shiny. These toys fascinate them.
These things are key to befriending cats, so don’t miss them!!
WHAT DO THEY HATE?
Cats are really picky. And I mean it.
In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.
-Terry Pratchett
They are high maintenance. Get them groomed, clean their litter box more often instead of once a day. Don’t forget to get them things they like. You don’t choose by yourself. They might not drink or eat if the bowl is not to their liking or if the food is not to their taste.
Even though they hate a lot of affection, not giving them attention is also what they hate. If you see your cat acting up with the expectation of getting a pet from you, don’t ignore it. If it’s walking away, then let it walk away. But again, remember to love it “enough”.
Don’t make loud noises, don’t scold them, respect their space, stop teasing them. Trust me, it’s frustrating. And yeah, please don’t dress your cat up. They don’t like it. Don’t touch their back or tail.
KEEP THEM AWAY FROM STRONG AROMAS
And let’s not forget the most important thing. “Smells”. These tiny creatures can smell 14 times better than us. Hence they hate strong smells like citrus, rosemary, thyme, banana, mustard, pepper, cinnamon, mint, pine. The aromas of lavender, geranium and eucalyptus are toxic for cats. So keep your cats away from them, and if allergic to them, never think of using it as a way to repel them. You can freely use some oranges or lemons. That will do. They also don’t like the smell of dirty litter boxes, so they clean them more often.
Unlike dogs, cats don’t like changes. They won’t like new smells, food, or environment…sometimes, they might even attack a recent guest at your place.
And cat owners should stop doing this, getting rid of their claws. It is not only painful but also going to affect it mentally. Those claws are for its defence. Not having them will make it feel defenceless and frustrated.
Well, that’s a lot of dislikes…this only says one thing, be careful around them. I know it looks like befriending cats is REALLY hard, but once you do, they are REALLY independent creatures. As long as you respect their way of living and loving, no harm shall be done.
Check out our other article about befriending dogs if you’re an avid pet lover!
