Help with my Catattitude! anyone with cats:O) please help...

i have one just like her and i had to do the opposite of ignoring her, i had everyone else in the house ignore her. that means don't let her up by them, no petting, no anything. but i would pet her and talk to her and show her attention. now she knows she is safe with me, will run and curl in a ball next to me when something scares her, comes to bed with me to sleep, we "talk" to each other.....ect....she's my shadow and i adore her.

I have had several cats over the past decade, and currently share my life with 5 of them :)
I had one cat (male) who, for the first year or so that we had him, did not like me, either! He would ignore me, or try to bite me if I petted him or tried to pick him up. Never understood why....then slowly, over time, he came around, and finally became my friend - don't know what changed his mind, but he finally decided on his own I guess!
Also - maybe it's something you use or wear that the cat doesn't like. I don't mean clothes, but maybe a perfume or scented shampoo,etc that you use? Maybe there's a certain scent the cat just doesn't like (too strong, etc) so she tries to get away from it?
Another thing that will spook some cats is the way you move or walk - especially a kitten. If you walk really hard/heavy - make a lot of loud thumping noises, etc. she may just be scared (imagine that, to a tiny kitten, we must seem like giants walking around!)
The final thing is: did the cat have a previous owner? If the cat had a negative or traumatic experience in the past with a female, it will remember, and it will take a while for her to realize that the situation will not be repeated...
Good luck - be patient, gentle and calm with her...she'll most likely come around eventually :)

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Annholloway

Try giving her a slow blink if you get eye contact. It's cat talk for I'm friendly.

Exactly, it's a message that you are not threatening to her as opposed
to a direct stare.
Try it with a wild animal just before being mauled on a hiking trail and
let me know if it worked.

[SpiritCarrier]

I noticed that you have dogs too. Are you what you would call a dog person? Cats can sense the difference in us when we are around Dogs verse Cats. Make a fool of yourself in front of the dogs to show her she is special. I know you may think me silly in saying this but in a pack of dogs how you treat them is according to the pecking order, it is similar with different animals living under the same roof. The Kitten my have the idea that she is your husbands and the dogs are yours. By showing her that you adore her in front of the dogs she may start to understand that you are a dog and cat person. It might take some time but do this every chance you get. You see the kitten probably notices you giving the dogs attention and it could be that she doesn't quite know her place in the pecking order of your household. Also remember that cats are not dogs. They do not respond the same way to the same things. Cats do as they please, they own you, they allow you to pet them and care for them. Dogs are just happy to have you, you are their best friend and they would do anything for you. The difference in how we treat them is just as dramatic; to pat a cat on the head will get your fingers bitten to pat a dog on the head will get you licked to death. I hope this is helpful. Don't give up all animals cats, dogs any pet, they all just want to be loved but it has to be on terms they understand.

[Sarian]

I have had many cats over the years and have a few now. My husband is an absolute jack-***, but two female cats I have love him. They act in heat almost when he is around for his attention. (they are spayed)...lol

Cats have such varying personalities. My daughter is the animal magnet...they all love her, it's not uncommon to see them all lounging around her on her bed. It's quite amusing looking.

I've had cats that dont' want to be bothered period...I've had cats that only want attention when THEY want attention. Some love every kind of attention and wont' scratch or bite, others that's how they play. I have one cat that is so shy, but not for my daughter. She doesn't want to be around other cats and she's one of a litter of five, but she is shy. Then she will go for a period where she wants my attention as well as my daughters and for the longest time, she wanted no part of me as she was too shy and only trusted my daughter. I have one cat that I swear if people can incarnate as animals, this one did. Gizmo for some odd reason just reminds me of a person. He's fascinated with everything. He wants to know everything works, sits on the toilet, absolutely has to be in the bathroom when my daughter takes her shower, or he will try and open the door with the door knob. I've never had a cat like him and to describe him, I'd write a book. anyway, all cats are different with their quirks and personalities. To me, it just sounds like your cat has decided that your husband is her favorite. My female cats adore my husband like I said, except for Lilly who is shy.

I've seen my cats act strange when they are spooked by something, and they don't want to be anywhere near something that's spooking them, well, except for Giz, then he's got to explore it more.

You know if I'm super depressed in a really bad off place, Giz has to practically lay on my head, face, neck...and keep watch. When I wake in the morning, he and the boys will be laying around me like protection lol.