When we visited relatives in Albuquerque, N.M., a couple of years ago, we received two different receptions from their cats. Lucy struck up a friendship with us right away, but Lilu was more cautious.
Maybe it was the lingering scent of dog clinging to our clothes. By the next morning, though, she sat next to me on the kitchen island while I prepared my tea.
Last month, I visited my mother, who had recently acquired a new cat. Tracy, a pretty but shy lynx-point Siamese, ran as soon as she saw me walk in the door. She continued to do so anytime I made a move. By the next evening, however, she was content to stay in my presence — and even jumped up on my chair and let me pet her.
So, what's my secret to getting a cat's attention and trust?
Play hard to get.
That's right. Ignoring a cat is the quickest way to gain its interest and display your expert-level knowledge of feline etiquette.
Let them come to you
People who dislike cats often wonder why cats seek them out. It's because cats appreciate people who don't approach them and instead let cats make the first move.
Dr. Wailani Sung, a veterinary behaviorist at San Francisco SPCA, explains why. She says that while cats are predators of small creatures, they are also prey to larger predators. To protect themselves, they prefer to wait and watch when strangers enter their territory.