Despite their reputation for being standoffish creatures who would rather spend all day alone than socialize, cats require the same amount of love and attention usually reserved for dogs.
They are just wired to be very cautious of things and people they do not know, which is why they often choose to maintain their distance. It’s on you as their owner to show that approaching people can be rewarding.
Of course, convincing your pet to give socializing with people a try is easier said than done. If you would like some help in that department, take note of the top included below.
Start Young
If you happen to be the happy owner of a kitten, then you’re in luck because it’s much easier to encourage a younger feline to socialize with people. According to The Spruce Pets, kittens no older than seven weeks old are more open to interacting with people they don’t know compared to cats who are older.
Take Things Slow
Assuming that you don’t have the opportunity to work with younger kittens, you can still teach an older cat to socialize with people more. However, expect the process to take much longer.
Even if a person has not given a particular cat any reason to fear him/her, the pet in question will still continue to be cautious.
To help things along, the person hoping to interact with your pet can offer treats. Some gentle pets and scratches can also be provided. Hopefully, your pet cat will be more open to interactions after all of that.
Keep the Initial Interactions Brief
Once a cat shows a willingness to socialize, it’s easy to assume that he/she will be fine with just doing that 24/7, but that’s often not the case. Cats can get stressed after a while and continuing with the interactions may only agitate them further.
The ASPCA notes it’s best to limit the interaction sessions to about 15 minutes each early on. This will give your pet a chance to relax and also leave them with a positive impression of the person they just met.
Getting your pet cat to socialize more is not an easy task, but it can be done. By exercising patience with throughout this learning process and providing plenty of love and attention, your pet may understand that interacting with other people can be fun.
Having trouble getting your cat to interact with your guests? We at TAILored Cat Services will work with your cat to show that there’s nothing for him/her to fear. You can find out more about how we can help by calling us at 425-923-7791 or reviewing our website.
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