“Their instincts are generally to hide to avoid danger or to flee. They prefer not to fight as that increases the potential for injury. An injured cat cannot hunt and take care of themselves so 'going into battle' is not their first choice," the cat behaviorist told us.
Ingrid explained that cats really do like us best when we play “hard to get.” By being too open with our affections, however, we might just push them away and make them run from our cuddlesome grasps!
#23 Let's Take A Picture With Snuggles
“Respecting an individual cat's preferences for engagement is a good way to respect them," Ingrid detailed that each and every cat is unique and has a particular character. Some might be more open to hugs than others and you should be aware of their needs, not just your own.
There are other ways than just feeding your cat, changing its litter, and refilling its water bowl (or, well, hugging it so much it tells you to stop immediately). They need entertainment and stuff to do, otherwise, they’ll get bored without much stimulation.
"Providing a feline-friendly environment that meets the cat's needs is the best way to ensure you have a happy cat that feels safe and will 'love you back.' This means offering vertical space cat trees or cat condos, playing with your cat daily to offer opportunities to hunt and relieve stress, offering multiple outlets for scratching, and offering different substrates (they all have unique preferences) and just providing an engaging environment."
#37 "This Hooman Loves To Kiss Me - And I Hate It. But She’s Been A Good Slave"
