If your familiy includes a cat, you may have noticed that your cat seems to have a closer bond with one person in the family compared to the others. They follow that person around, hang out in the same room as them, go to that one person for pets or playtime, or maybe want to sit or snuggle with them instead of anyone else in the house. So that makes you think, do cats have favorite people? And, how do cats choose their favorite person?
Of course all cats are individuals with their own likes and dislikes, but a big factor on why cats choose one person is that person's personality, and how well it meshes with the cat's personality. PangoVet.com gives the example that a calm, relaxed cat might prefer their favorite person to also be calm and relaxed, while a playful kitten that is full of energy might pick their favorite person by how much playtime they have with that person. A food motivated cat might also choose their favorite person based on how likely they are to give them a treat!
One way that cats form strong bonds is in their early development. Catster.com says if you adopt a kitten at under 10 weeks old they are thought to be especially receptive to social interaction, and experiences at this age have long lasting effects on them. If you provide a kitten with lots of postive interactions, chances are they will put you high on their list of favorites for life!
But don't worry if you have adopted an older cat, there are still plenty of chances to bond with them! If you're trying to stack the deck toward becoming your cat's favorite human, a good way to start is to spend time with them. When you spend time with your cat, you will start to learn their personality. What do they like and what do they dislike? Learning your cats personality will help you then better interact with them on their terms. For example, in my family one cat (Sophie) loves to be picked up and snuggle and would spend the whole day being held if she could. The other (Reggie) hates being picked up and seems to consider it an insult. When you spend enough time with your cat, you pick up on their cues and learn what they want. Your cat will also start to pick up on your personality and you can start to build an understanding between you.
Once you learn what they like, it's a easy next step to engage in that activity with them! If they like to play, make sure to incorporate playtime in the time you spend with your cat, and you'll probably next learn their favorite toys or favorite games. If they like to snuggle, make sure to spend some time snuggling! If they like treats, you can give them treats, but within reason - indoor cats can fall prey to obesity, so now matter how cute they are (or how demanding), treats are best given in moderation!
Catster.com also mentions that cats like routine, so if you are a person with a pretty consistent schedule, that is a good way to earn your cat's favor, especially if that schedule involves them, like giving them breakfast each morning or engaging in playtime each afternoon after work.
Does gender have to do with how cats pick a favorite person? There seems to be a sense that women and cats go together, but catster.com says that is a myth and that the personality of a cat and the personality of a person has a bigger influence on them than gender, so don't worry cat dads, you can still be your cat's favorite!
Cover photo by Engin Bilgiç on Unsplash
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