INTERPRET YOUR CAT’S SCORE:
My cat scored mostly A’s:
If your cat scored mostly A’s, they are likely to feel comfortable and happy in your presence, be interested in what you’re doing, and are always keen for some fuss. However, some cats that are very focused on human attention can feel a little overly demanding at times, perhaps especially during lockdown when we are (from our cat’s perspective) constantly available to dish out treats and chin strokes. For such cats, you might find that they do better when you stick to a daily ‘fuss routine’ in that you designate specific times each day when they get your undivided attention. Outside of these times, provide your cat with plenty of enrichment items, such as toys, puzzle feeders, and access to the garden, which encourage them to entertain themselves.
My cat scored mostly B’s and C’s:
Your cat is likely to enjoy your company and generally feel comfortable in your presence. However, sometimes they might prefer attention from you in small doses and other times they might want a little time to themselves.To enable this, provide them with constant access to a comfortable quiet part of the house where they can go and won’t be disturbed. Also, ensure you allow them to ‘opt in’ and also ‘opt out’ of interactions with you.You can do this by crouching down and gently offering your fingers towards your cat, held at cat height. If your cat chooses to approach and rub against you, this is their way of ‘opting in’. Similarly, if you pause while stroking your cat and they continue to nuzzle or rub against you, meow, or gently paw at you, these are all signs that they are ‘opting in’ for more. However, if when you pause while stroking your cat they remain passive (i.e. they don’t try to reinitiate contact), or if at any time while you’re stroking them they go quite still or try to move away from you, these are all important ‘opting out’ signs to pay attention to.
My cat scored mostly D’s and E’s:
Your cat is likely to prefer their own company most of the time and will probably feel uncomfortable when in close proximity to you (and very likely most, if not all, other people!). While this might certainly just be part of their character, it’s also important to ensure your cat isn’t ill, stressed, or in pain, as these factors could certainly contribute to their anti-social tendencies. Especially if you’ve noticed either a gradual or sudden decline in your cat’s behaviour towards you over time, a trip to the vet’s is essential to rule out any underlying medical causes. Next, think about potential sources of stress in your cat’s environment and ensure they are not being bullied by other cats, pestered by young children, or exposed to a very busy, noisy, or unpredictable daily household routine. If none of these factors are likely to be impacting on their behaviour, the best thing you can do for your cat is to give them as much independence and freedom as possible and not expect them to return your affections (as hard as this might be). An ideal solution might be to provide them with a little ‘cat outhouse’ (containing food, water, and a warm bed) so that they can take up permanent residence in the garden, if they find living in the home in close proximity to people challenging. Alternatively, your cat may ultimately be more suited to a lifestyle closer to that of their wild or free-living counterparts. Some domestic cats (even those kept as pets) can be happiest living somewhere rural where they have food and shelter but are allowed to come and go as they please without being bothered too much by us pesky humans.
Catit interactive toys are great for stimulation. See the full range at catit.co.uk