Would you like your new kitten to be friendlier to you and trust you more? By nature, cats are independent and do not try to win our friendship at all costs. They take longer to trust humans than dogs, and they don't get seduced by food rewards. Let your four-legged friend decide the development of your relationship and make a commitment simply to make him feel safe. When he is completely comfortable in his new environment, he will learn to trust you.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Creating a Pleasant Environment for the Cat
Step 1. Get to know his mentality
You can't force him to do anything, much less trust you. You have to convince him that a particular behavior can get him a benefit. For example, your kitty may forgo a nap if you give him his favorite food. Don't be offended if he doesn't seem in the mood. By nature, cats often decide to remain aloof or unpredictable.
If you make a mess and a lot of noise, your cat will have a hard time accepting you. These animals despise stress, noise and overly dynamic people. If you are calm and relaxed in his presence, your cat will accept you more quickly
Step 2. Assign a room and points of the house to your cat
To make him feel comfortable, you should give him his own space. A warm and comfortable place to sleep, eat, play and do the business. You could buy cat shelves at a pet store. You can hang them on the walls wherever you like, to offer your cat a place from which to observe the whole room and where he can feel safe.
Step 3. Give your cat a space where she can feel safe and environments to explore
In some cases, he will feel insecure, scared or anxious. You should give him plenty of hiding places where he can take refuge when he's afraid, such as closets or blankets under your bed. Even if you know your cat's hiding places, avoid forcing him out unless absolutely necessary. You should also make sure your pet has access to elevated places (such as window sills, furniture, or scratching posts with platforms that are high off the ground) and toys so that they can fight boredom by looking around or playing.
- It is important to offer a safe place for your cat right away. If you are trying to gain the trust of a newcomer, confine the animal to a single room so it can become familiar with unfamiliar territory without feeling overwhelmed.
- You should be careful to place the litter box in an isolated spot in the room. It should be away from noisy objects (such as the dryer) and the cat should feel protected when using it (place it in a corner to take advantage of the cover of two walls).
Step 4. Give him food and water
Feed him regularly, so that he understands that you are able to provide him with shelter and good nutrition. When you place the bowl on the ground, speak in a warm, melodious voice to make him associate the sound of your voice with a positive memory, such as meal time. When the cat approaches to eat, move away and give him all the space he wants. If you want to keep him company, sit on the ground so you don't intimidate him by towering over him.
Make sure it can easily get to the food and water bowls. If he is shy, place them close to his hiding place, so that he is not too traumatized or stressed by the journey he has to make to go to eat
Step 5. Help him relax
Exposed to a new environment, he may not be able to relax or remain calm. You can buy synthetic cat pheromones (such as Feliway), to be released into the environment. This is an artificial version of the chemicals that the mother gives off to make her puppies feel safe. Pheromones can reduce a cat's overall stress levels and help them settle in faster.
You might also consider getting your cat used to your smell. You will help him recognize you when you try to touch him. For example, you could try making him sleep in one of your old shirts, which still carries your smell
Step 6. Use positive reinforcement
Your cat may be scared of its new environment, regardless of the precautions you take to make it more welcoming. This can especially happen if the specimen has been neglected or abused in the past. Never yell at your cat if you notice that he is doing something he shouldn't. Probably, he's just exploring his new home. Instead, use a calm, warm tone of voice to praise him when he holds desired attitudes.
If he still seems scared of his environment, make sure you aren't terrifying him. Never take him by surprise and don't frighten him with sudden movements. Cats that have been abused are more easily frightened when you catch them off guard
Part 2 of 2: Encourage Physical Contact
Step 1. Look for indications that your cat is ready for physical contact
Always let him approach you and not the other way around. If you clearly notice that he seems tense and looking at you intently (he stands still on all fours, with a straight tail and dilated pupils), do nothing. Stay completely still, perhaps with your eyes closed. This way you will be less threatening and the animal will get used to your presence. If, on the other hand, your cat is ready for physical contact, it may:
- Stay under your gaze when he's finished eating, instead of hiding;
- Take a few steps towards you;
- Sitting next to you to wash (a sign of relaxation);
- Sit with your back to you (a sign of confidence).
Step 2. Engage in less threatening behavior
To appear less intimidating and make your cat feel more comfortable, there are a number of things you can do. Lie down if space permits. Being on the same level as the animal, you will not be an imposing presence above him. Avoid looking him in the eye, a sign of challenge or threat in feline language. Turn your head and look away.
If you wear glasses, take them off, as the lenses can appear to be very large and threatening eyes to cats
Step 3. Let your cat decide when to approach
Do not rush. Over time, he will begin to trust you and be closer to you. It will happen more and more often, until the animal starts deliberately rubbing its head against your hand or body. This behavior serves to transfer his scent onto you and shows that he has accepted you.
You can encourage your cat to get close to you by offering him some tasty food. Put your arm on the ground and spread some treats around you. Let the animal find the courage to step forward and eat. Over time, place the food closer and closer to you so your cat can get closer without feeling threatened
Step 4. Create a peaceful atmosphere between your cat and the other pets living with you
Let them play or eat next to each other. Of course, this process will also take a long time and you will need to get the animals closer each day progressively. Help from another person can be invaluable in this case.
Step 5. Stroke it on the ears or chin
When it signals that it is ready for physical contact (by hitting you with the head), you can rub its ears or chin. Don't be in a hurry and start to stretch out a single finger to give it a caress. Do not make sudden movements and when the animal is more peaceful, you can scratch its chin.
Avoid scratching your cat too abruptly, as they won't appreciate it
Step 6. Spend time playing with him
When he gets close to you on a regular basis and purrs when you pet him, you can stop lying around in his presence. Sit down and stroke it. When she fully trusts you, she may even start curling up in your lap.
Time for play should become part of the normal daily routine. You will strengthen the bond between you and your cat, who will begin to expect this kind of attention. Furthermore, studies have shown that humans can benefit from their health (lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure and less anxiety) by touching a pet and talking to it
Step 7. Look for signs that your cat needs space
This is especially important if you are trying to rehabilitate an animal that has been neglected or abused. He may suddenly bite you as you caress him. This behavior, coupled with scratching, can indicate that the specimen is overwhelmed by physical contact and affection. Give him some alone time so he can calm down and recover from the surprise of what happened. In the future, remember not to stroke it for so long.
Never punish your cat by hitting or screaming. He wouldn't understand why you're hurting him. Just stay away for a while
Step 8. If he scratches or bites you or you are worried that he might do so, he probably needs to vent his energy
For this reason, always remember to play with him at least once a day, for example before going to bed. The cat will get tired and will learn to associate the night with the time dedicated to rest and sleep.
Advice
- Learn to pick up a cat the right way, to feel comfortable when doing it. Before holding a cat, however, always wait for it to feel comfortable in your presence or you could ruin any progress you have made.
- If your cat does something wrong, ignore it and walk away. Punishing him will only lead him to associate the reprimand with your presence and make him feel anxious when he is with you. To prevent the episode from happening again, try to understand the reasons that led the animal to behave in a certain way and try to offer it an alternative solution.
- If your cat already has a good relationship with you during a thunderstorm or New Year celebrations, these are good opportunities to try to comfort him. Probably any thunder or firework scares him. Make sure you stroke it whenever you hear a loud noise. Also, remember not to let him out, especially if he still doesn't trust you, as he may decide not to go home.
- Once your cat feels comfortable petting him, never start petting while standing. Descend to her level, also lowering your hand to bring it under her chin. Never keep your hand above his head, as cats associate objects above them with birds and often try to hit them. Just pat it on the head until it feels more comfortable. If touching a particular spot on your cat's body makes him extremely uncomfortable and he blows at you, it may not be your fault and a health problem may be affecting that area.
