Can you 'make' a cat be affectionate?

• 05-09-2008 4:01 PM

  IrishSetterGrl Joined on 05-19-2007 Posts 714 Points 110

  Can you 'make' a cat be affectionate? Reply Contact Ok, so I've never had a cat (dogs = 7, cats = 0 lol) so this question may be dumb but oh well..if you get a cat as a kitten and get it used to being touched and petted etc., will it be affectionate and come up to you even as an adult? A lot of cats that I've seen just seem to stay behind the couch all day and only come out when the food is put on the floor. But will heavily socialized kittens be like little "dogs" in a certain way? Where they don't run if you go to pet them? Lol, like I said, I've never had a cat so bear with me. I play with some at the humane society when I need a break from the leash-pulling dogs but I really don't know squat about cats. Some of them have been really sweet though. : ) And I can definitely see why some people prefer them over dogs - much easier to keep them happy it seems and easier to keep up after...no walking, no letting out to go potty, no crate training, etc. Sometimes I wish Riley was a cat. : P ~ISGrl Cadie - 8.5 yr/o Irish Setter Riley - 1.5 yr/o Irish Setter I love my shelter dog. Adoption IS the BEST option! =)

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• 05-09-2008 4:12 PM

  In reply to IrishSetterGrl

  Liesje Joined on 03-02-2007 Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts 7,058 Points 850

  Re: Can you 'make' a cat be affectionate? Reply Contact In my experience....no.  I have three cats right now, and two of them are completely different now than they were as kittens (all of our cats have been rescues).  All three ARE affectionate, but in different ways.  Beckham was shy and timid as a kitten, he was sometimes clingy.  Now, he is the ALPHA, even above the dogs.  He is a diva and he knows it.  He does not appreciate being picked up or carried around, but he will sit on my lap, rub on my leg, and meow for me to scratch him.  My Posh, as a kitten she was a firecracker.  I set her down and instead of hiding, she acted like she owned the place.  Now, she has matured into a quiet and very quirky cat.  She is the most "cat-like" of my cats, in that she doesn't approach strangers in the house, she is very fast and has the best hunting instinct.  She also doesn't like to be picked up or carried, but like Beckham she will sit on my lap, sleep on my pillow wrapped around my head, and LOVES belly rubs.  Marijke is the only one that stayed the same.  She has always begged for attention (literally...howls) and she LOVES being held and carried.  I also had other cats that belonged to my housemates in college.  In my experience, kittens are not really that affectionate at all.  They prefer to be playing and acting crazy and are really only affectionate when dead tired.  They can certainly be outgoing, but I think all three of my adult cats are MORE affectionate now, even though the first two don't like it when you pick them up, they'd rather come to you. vankelderdogs.dutchbingo.net U-CH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop RA CL1-F CL1-R TT HIC TDI CGC (GSD) VPC's Coca-Cola CGC (All American) Alta-Tollhaus' Bono (GSD)

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• 05-09-2008 4:14 PM

  In reply to Liesje

  jenns Joined on 09-10-2007 NE New Jersey Posts 1,044 Points 10

  Re: Can you 'make' a cat be affectionate? Reply Contact Every cat I've ever had was super affectionate...with me.  Not with strangers though.   If your cat gets exposure to different people on a regular basis then he can be friendly with others as well as opposed to hiding behind the couch. Zoe - 3 year old chocolate and tan miniature dachshund Zack - 10 month old toy manchester terrier Ally - 9 year old black and white domestic shorthair cat

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• 05-09-2008 9:07 PM

  In reply to jenns

  Myra Joined on 03-24-2007 North Carolina Posts 328 Points 0	Re: Can you 'make' a cat be affectionate? Reply Contact If I had my heart set on a super-affectionate cat, I'd find an adult to adopt.  That's a much safer bet IMO than taking a chance on being able to "make" a kitten that way.  I think handling/socialization can make a kitten feel more comfortable around people, but I'm not so sure that it would make one more affectionate. Myra
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• 05-09-2008 9:54 PM

  In reply to IrishSetterGrl

  erica1989 Joined on 02-21-2007 Clearwater, Florida Posts 2,678 Points 260

  Re: Can you 'make' a cat be affectionate? Reply Contact haha, nooo! I would get an adult cat - if you are looking for a set personality. I've been pretty lucky with my guys - all friendly, with us. I have 5 cats - and they all are so different! My oldest, Tillie -  I've had her for 14 years - can be almost obnoxious with her 'loving' behaviors - she grabs you when you walk past, begging to be pet. She's not a lap cat though, more like a 'look at how pretty I am. Yes, you may pet me.' lol Sammy - I've had him for almost 2 years now, he's my dog-cat. Meets you at the door - friendlist cat I know!! I got him when he was 6-7 years. Best kitty ever, if you ask me! Not too annoying, but sweet and affectionate. Smokey was my feral rescue. He's about 7 now, I've had him since he was almost a year. He loves his family, but hides from company. Tonka - hurricane rescue - is about 5 now. Was really friendly as a kitten, but got standoff-ish as he got older. He's not a fraidy cat or anything, very social, but has better things to do with his time than sit and play with us lowly humans. Carliegh is just shy of 6 months. Her personality is still up in the air. She acts more like a dog though, I think it's because she has been raised with the two foster pups I have now. She loves to wrestle with the dogs... like she is a dog. But she's friendly, and loves to be around people. She's not much for sitting in your lap, but she'll lay at your feet. And she almost always sleeps in bed with me....unless she's too busy clearing the counter of all it's residents....(coffee mugs, forks, fruit, papers...you name it, it's on the floor....). So... long story short (lol) each cat is very different, and it really all depends on what has happened in their lives. This last kitten wasn't supposed to stay - I wanted to get another older cat, but she fit in so perfectly, I cannot picture her in anyother house. She grooms Casey, for crying out loud! She HAS to stay! haha

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• 05-10-2008 5:42 PM

  In reply to erica1989

  chelsea_b Joined on 09-10-2007 Costa Mesa, CA Posts 2,730 Points 280

  Re: Can you 'make' a cat be affectionate? Reply Contact erica1989: 'look at how pretty I am. Yes, you may pet me.' lol Hahaha, this is my Mom's cat Lucifer exactly. I'm sooo weirded out right now, because this cat is 11 years old, we've had him since 12 weeks, and right now, for the first time EVER, he climbed on my lap and is now just laying on me purring. He's a super sweet cat, purrs a lot, but a lap cat he is most definitely NOT. I feel reeeaaally bad that I have to get up in a second... Chelsea &

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• 05-13-2008 12:02 AM

  In reply to chelsea_b

  tiffy Joined on 09-10-2007 Tacoma, Wa. Posts 1,612 Points 130	Re: Can you 'make' a cat be affectionate? Reply Contact Peaches, is definitely a lap cat and always sleeps with me. She tolerates being picked up, but really doesn't like it. I would say she is very affectionate.
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• 05-13-2008 8:59 PM

  In reply to tiffy

  oranges81 Joined on 10-13-2007 BC Canada Posts 1,846 Points 130

  Re: Can you 'make' a cat be affectionate? Reply Contact Crombie was HIGHLY affectionate, bordering on annoying. He LOVED to cuddle and he drooled.. A lot. But he was still a kitten so his personality was in the process of changing so if he would have stayed loving, I don't know. Kameo on the other hand is a rescue my BF adopted. He loves his family but is a little stand offish with strangers. Just recently, since Crombie went missing, he's become more cuddly and vocal and he's going on 8 or 9. Lol. So it all depends on the cat. I guess.  ~Kitty Rest In Peace Crombie. You will be greatly missed - 07/25/2007 - 05/??/2008 -I may have ears and a tail but I'm still the person you used to know- He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

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• 05-17-2008 5:36 PM

  In reply to IrishSetterGrl

  Kyda Joined on 09-15-2007 Arkansas Posts 572 Points 385

  Re: Can you 'make' a cat be affectionate? Reply Contact Ofcourse you cna make a cat be affectionate to you, give them food. My normally antisocial old tom cat we become you bestest friend for a peice of cooked fish or ham. Its the opposite with my mixedbreed girl cat, shes TOO afectionate. Always in my lap, following me around the house, sleeping on my head, swatting at Charlie when he walks by. Very pesky. "There is an art to flying, or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. Clearly, it is this second part, the missing, that provides the difficulties." Charlie- 8 y/o agility mutt Frankenstein(Frankie)- 9 month old raccoon slaying Bull Terrier mix Hammer Head(Ham)- 3 y/o horse guardian retriever

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