Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Hayles on June 08, 2009, 16:09:07 PM
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Hi, I'm sorry if this post is repeated but I posted one and it seemed to disappear!!
Our beautiful boy, Chester, used to be a very affectionate kitten. He would spend hours sitting on your lap, falling asleep there, playing with you, being stroked...he's now 9 months old and is the complete opposite. He barely tolerates being stroked. He allows you to pick him up but rarely, and only for a few seconds. He no longer sits on laps.
He gets up, eats his breakfast then demands to go outside. He only returns when he wants either to use his litter tray (he refuses to go outside) or to top up on food. He also comes in if the weather is bad.
We're worried we may have done something to upset him. We have tried giving him space and not petting him much or picking him up (this is ongoing) but it doesn't seem to affect him. I've wondered if he is just trying to assert himself, like a teenager, and this is his way of doing it. Do you think it's a phase? any suggestions gratefully taken on board!!!
(http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww107/Hayley-M/ChesterApril09079.jpg)
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is he neutered?
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is he neutered?
Yes he's been neutered. He likes to be nearby to us, like right now he's asleep just outside the door of this room...sometimes he comes in and lies on the bed whilst I'm on the PC but only becausse it's high up and he can mess with a window blind (it's ruined...and so is he!!).
He is rather spoilt, perhaps we have just ruined him!!!
:doh:
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I've got one who hates fuss of any kind - he is 4 and has only recently started sitting in the same room as us
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We wouldn't be so concerned but for the fact that it is a complete personality turn around for him!! Perhaps it is his true character and he's just changed his mind about liking being fussed :shy:
(http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/ww107/Hayley-M/ChesterApril09061.jpg)
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Has he had a check up to make sure theres nothing causing him pain? If he gets the all clear then its a case of accepting that he has become what he is, you can often find kittens grow up the opposite, much like humans do.
Continue to resist pushing attention on him and let him initiate it if he wants some loving
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He's probably just being a juvenile and showing you he is a grown up boy with street cred!
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I have 8 and 6 year olds, both since kittens, and neither comes to me very often for fuss, though they lap it up when I go to them
as they are very relaxed with strangers, I put it down to their feeling very secure and not requiring any reassurances from me - a sort of compliment really 8)
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Funny - I have just now read your post and earlier this morning, I commented to my husband that since they have been going outside, our 3 boys treat this place like a hotel! They just come in to eat, no 'thank you for having me'- nothing! Forget about cuddles etc they don't even look at me, unless I'm a bit slow with the food. Welcome to the club of neglected cat parents :)
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Funny - I have just now read your post and earlier this morning, I commented to my husband that since they have been going outside, our 3 boys treat this place like a hotel! They just come in to eat, no 'thank you for having me'- nothing! Forget about cuddles etc they don't even look at me, unless I'm a bit slow with the food. Welcome to the club of neglected cat parents :)
Yep I get that as well... from the lesser spotted teenage son as well as the felines! :briggin:
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Hi Hayles :welcome: to Purrs,
Your boy sounds like he is being a typical teenage boy :rofl:
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Maybe it's the warmer weather drawing him outside? Some cats do "disappear" - except for mealtimes - in summer, then you can't shift them in the winter!
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I agree that he's just being a typical teenager. I remember dear departed Uncle M at that age- he was very snooty for a while. A year or so later, you couldn't shift him from your lap and he stayed that way for the rest of his life.