How to build a good relationship with a strange cat when meeting for the first time?
How to communicate with strange cats, what will affect the cat's first impression of us
(1) Avoid visual impact
In the animal kingdom, it usually seems that the bigger, the more dangerous and the tougher to deal with. Therefore, compared to "monsters", cats will be more inclined to get close to smaller creatures. You can squat, sit, lie down, and half-kneel.
(2) Avoid olfactory shock
· Do not leave other strong smells (perfume, disinfectant, etc.) on your body, which will defeat you when you meet for the first time. If you happen to bring the food that the cat likes to eat, and it can emit a strong fragrance, then the kitten will definitely be more fond of you.
(3) Avoid auditory impact
Because cats have very sensitive hearing, when dealing with cats, they either keep quiet or say hello softly. Especially the first time you find a cat, don't yell "Ah!" "Ah!", the first impression will be directly negative.
(4) Other elements that may affect the first impression. If you are going to a friend's house, try to avoid wearing clothes that generate static electricity, which may make the cat "unable to approach you"; try to walk softly, avoid large-scale running and jumping movements, but also make a sound, so as not to be scared by "sudden appearance" Cats; although some cats like to play with hair and whiskers after getting familiarized, it is usually recommended to avoid too fluffy hair (like fried hair) for the first time. Giving the cat a good first impression can prevent the cat from running away or hiding at all when it sees you.
But if you want cats to get closer to you, you need good interaction: the impression changes depending on how you interact. In 2021, researchers from Nottingham Trent University and Battersea Cats and Dogs Home (adoption agency) designed a set of " CAT Instruction Manual". And through 120 volunteers, 100 cats to be adopted (average 6 years old), and 535 observation tests, its effectiveness was verified:
Cat hostility reduction: from 27% to 16%
· Reduced behavior of cats avoiding people
· Reduced behavior of cats hiding in cages (shelter)
Let's take a look at the CAT manual for specific instructions:
C: Let the cat choose (choice) and control (control)
Reaching out gently in the direction of the cat...
· Let the cat choose whether to touch or interact with you (don't touch it directly);
· Let the cat control the strength of your stroking TA (don't apply force);
· Let the cat decide whether to continue (pause every 3-5 seconds).
A: Pay attention to cat body language, pause at any time
Pausing in time before the cat gets impatient will shorten the time it takes for the cat to come to you again.
So pause when you observe the following cat actions:
· Keep your body away from you
· Flatten ears or turn around
· Tail wagging or fur twitching
· TA starts to lick hair by himself
· nose licking
· Turning head suddenly towards you or your hand
T: Limit contact with cats (Touch) to places they like
When first meeting a cat:
· Only touch the chin, cheeks and the base of the ears;
· Even if your friend’s cat turns its belly and likes to be scratched at the root of its tail, don’t try these sensitive parts when you are in primary contact;
· When touching the back and chest, pay close attention to the changes in the cat's limbs.
Don't neglect aftermath and details:
• For cats, food rewards are always more tangible than other forms of rewards.
·The reward can be seen and smelled by the cat at the beginning, but it is best to give it after the interaction. Let the cat's associative memory be: "After playing, there will be something to eat" instead of "After eating, you will have to be touched".
·It is best to sit away from doors and windows, where it is not easy to be disturbed when interacting; there is a shelter in the room, even if the cat is not used, it will reduce the tension.
·If the cat is frightened or impatient in the middle, and wants to attract the cat's attention again, don't use your hands or other previous tricks. Instead, you can start with a cat teasing stick.
·If the timid cat feels anxious, ignore the cat and avoid visual following. After the cat calms down, it may come to explore you curiously.
You must learn to refuse to welcome and to accept when you are good, so that the cat can experience the taste of it, and the cat will never forget you.
(1) Avoid visual impact
In the animal kingdom, it usually seems that the bigger, the more dangerous and the tougher to deal with. Therefore, compared to "monsters", cats will be more inclined to get close to smaller creatures. You can squat, sit, lie down, and half-kneel.
(2) Avoid olfactory shock
· Do not leave other strong smells (perfume, disinfectant, etc.) on your body, which will defeat you when you meet for the first time. If you happen to bring the food that the cat likes to eat, and it can emit a strong fragrance, then the kitten will definitely be more fond of you.
(3) Avoid auditory impact
Because cats have very sensitive hearing, when dealing with cats, they either keep quiet or say hello softly. Especially the first time you find a cat, don't yell "Ah!" "Ah!", the first impression will be directly negative.
(4) Other elements that may affect the first impression. If you are going to a friend's house, try to avoid wearing clothes that generate static electricity, which may make the cat "unable to approach you"; try to walk softly, avoid large-scale running and jumping movements, but also make a sound, so as not to be scared by "sudden appearance" Cats; although some cats like to play with hair and whiskers after getting familiarized, it is usually recommended to avoid too fluffy hair (like fried hair) for the first time. Giving the cat a good first impression can prevent the cat from running away or hiding at all when it sees you.
But if you want cats to get closer to you, you need good interaction: the impression changes depending on how you interact. In 2021, researchers from Nottingham Trent University and Battersea Cats and Dogs Home (adoption agency) designed a set of " CAT Instruction Manual". And through 120 volunteers, 100 cats to be adopted (average 6 years old), and 535 observation tests, its effectiveness was verified:
Cat hostility reduction: from 27% to 16%
· Reduced behavior of cats avoiding people
· Reduced behavior of cats hiding in cages (shelter)
Let's take a look at the CAT manual for specific instructions:
C: Let the cat choose (choice) and control (control)
Reaching out gently in the direction of the cat...
· Let the cat choose whether to touch or interact with you (don't touch it directly);
· Let the cat control the strength of your stroking TA (don't apply force);
· Let the cat decide whether to continue (pause every 3-5 seconds).
A: Pay attention to cat body language, pause at any time
Pausing in time before the cat gets impatient will shorten the time it takes for the cat to come to you again.
So pause when you observe the following cat actions:
· Keep your body away from you
· Flatten ears or turn around
· Tail wagging or fur twitching
· TA starts to lick hair by himself
· nose licking
· Turning head suddenly towards you or your hand
T: Limit contact with cats (Touch) to places they like
When first meeting a cat:
· Only touch the chin, cheeks and the base of the ears;
· Even if your friend’s cat turns its belly and likes to be scratched at the root of its tail, don’t try these sensitive parts when you are in primary contact;
· When touching the back and chest, pay close attention to the changes in the cat's limbs.
Don't neglect aftermath and details:
• For cats, food rewards are always more tangible than other forms of rewards.
·The reward can be seen and smelled by the cat at the beginning, but it is best to give it after the interaction. Let the cat's associative memory be: "After playing, there will be something to eat" instead of "After eating, you will have to be touched".
·It is best to sit away from doors and windows, where it is not easy to be disturbed when interacting; there is a shelter in the room, even if the cat is not used, it will reduce the tension.
·If the cat is frightened or impatient in the middle, and wants to attract the cat's attention again, don't use your hands or other previous tricks. Instead, you can start with a cat teasing stick.
·If the timid cat feels anxious, ignore the cat and avoid visual following. After the cat calms down, it may come to explore you curiously.
You must learn to refuse to welcome and to accept when you are good, so that the cat can experience the taste of it, and the cat will never forget you.