Im jealous of dog people.
you might meet a dog by just walking up to it on the street.
A typical dog trusts you instantly.
But the average cat must bewon over.
I knew they dont have all the selective breeding of dogs.
Humans have been breeding dogs for 100,000 years, he says.
Weve only kept pet cats in the house for the last couple of centuries.
So theyre not that different from each other, or from their wild ancestor.
You could steal a North African wildcat kitten, he says, and itd make a pretty decent cat.
I know that sounds insulting to say, but we always default to looking at cats through dog-colored glasses.
We have to afford cats the same sort of dignity we do with a human.
A cat starts picking up signals as soon as you enter a home.
If youre really going all-in, you could spray your shoes with a pheromone likeComfort ZoneorFeliway.
Once you get inside the home, avoid blocking any perceived exits, says Galaxy.
Cats are territorial and wary, so theyre looking at the whole room strategically.
Youre trying to classify yourself as an ally instead of a threat.
That should dictate all your behavior around the cat.
Wait for the cat to come to you, while you look down at the floor.
Dont tower over the cat.Slump your shoulders, hands in your lap, or sit down on the floor.
Have the owner sit with you, says McNamee.
The cat gets the idea that youre an ally.
Dont make noise.Talk very quietly.
Keep away noisy kids or dogs.
Dont point or hold your palm out.
Galaxy recommends a move he calls the Michelangelo, where you dangle your hand with a finger hanging out.
Your fingertip looks like a cat nose, says Galaxy.
And you could introduce your nose to their nose.
Take your time building up to a pet.
Go for the cheeks and behind the earspots with glands, where kittens get licked by their mother.
If you reach too soon, you could break the cats trust.
Galaxy adds, In my show, youll see my first encounter with these cats seems to go horribly.
I can always get them to forgive me.
Its a preemptive strategy to keep that fear out of the equation, she says.
It helps them feel confident and relaxed around you.
You want a confident cat, and not just because that is the cutest thing to imagine.
A confident cat isnt as afraid.
you’re able to trick their little cat brains.
The one little trick is to trigger whats called their seeking circuit, says Nagelschneider.
Galaxy is skeptical of this approach: Confidence only comes on their terms.
There is no way to bypass what their ancestry is telling them to do.
You might try the play method after youve established some trust.
you’ve got the option to also go for straight-up bribery.
Put a treat on the floor, maybe three feet out, says McNamee.
Then leave treats closer and closer.
Feeding the cat its normal meal is another great opportunity, says McNamee.
Put the food down in their usual place and then sit next to it.
In fact, he believes bribery should be more fundamental to treat-giving.
Im not a fan of just doling out treats for nothing.
Food is all weve got.
They dont give a rip about making us happy.
Its just not part of their wiring, as opposed to dogs.
He suggests reserving one jackpot treat for guests alone to hand out.
Ideally, a visit from a guest should be like a visit from Santa.
As an owner, you could advocate for your cats and give visitors all the advice above.
You want to help them understand what appeals to your cat.
Raise a friendlier cat
Fear is always present in a cat, says McNamee.
Theyre very easily spooked.
A lot of cat behavior is set during its childhood.
After that, its a lot more work for the cat lover.
This story was originally published in 2018 and updated with new information on 2/19/2020.
