Content
- How does a cat behave
- What causes "unexpectedly aggressive" reactions in the cat
- Preparation for taming a very skittish cat
- Step by step on how to tame a skittish cat
- 1. Know that time varies
- 2. Notice if he feels threatened
- 3. Let the cat get used to you
- 4. You can use a spray with pheromones
- 5. Start the caresses from a distance
- 6. Make direct caress
- 7. Take him in your arms
Cats are generally very independent and solitary pets, although this can vary greatly from according to the race and, of course, each individual. They also enjoy an “unfair” reputation, being considered by many people to be treacherous, but we are well aware that their personality and behavior match their instincts very well.
We often come across very suspicious and rebellious cats and their actions are often misinterpreted or even misunderstood. Know that such behaviors can even be caused by ways of acting of the tutors themselves.
Do you live with a skittish cat or do you want to get close to a stray kitten and don't know what to do? In this article by PeritoAnimal we present a step by step of liketo tame a skittish cat and, thus, domesticate it so that you can make the most of living with a feline. Good reading.
How does a cat behave
the cat is a lone and territorial predator. Its territory is the house or the place where it lives and shares it with some animal and some human (not all, as some human member can be considered as “not grateful”). It tolerates the presence of other cats relatively well, although always with hierarchical tensions, as it does not develop a linear type (it would be the one that once defined who is the dominant one, this will be for everything).
This means that a cat can be dominant in accessing food and the other when approaching his tutor. The establishment of the hierarchy for resources can occur more or less aggressively, with war of eyes or even with aggression between them.
All cats love to sleep and have short periods of activity and play (As they become more adults, they play less). Unlike puppies, who are constantly looking for their tutor's caresses and games. Know that they will only do this at certain times and when they want to.
From the way we're describing the normal behavior of a cat it sounds like everyone is skittish. Compete for each of the resources more or less aggressively, he chooses the moments to share with the tutor and is also lonely. However, there are very sociable cats, but there are also some very aggressive ones, so far the behavior of a normal cat has been described.
In this other PeritoAnimal article you can know the most affectionate cat breeds.
What causes "unexpectedly aggressive" reactions in the cat
Aggression after caressing is frequent. That is, the tutor arrives at his house (for the cat it is his territory) and the cat runs to him. At first, the cat body language indicates it is friendly (straight tail up). The cat enjoys sniffing the tutor's legs and starts rubbing himself from head to tail.
The tutor, at the sign of “caring”, catches the cat and it turns and tries to run away, but the tutor insists on his love and the cat responds aggressively. In fact, the cat it's not welcoming us, it's marking us with its scent and nullifying the smell that can be brought in from the street or other feline territories.
You stares they also tend to provoke this type of reaction. Staring between two cats indicates defiance and tension, which can lead to an escape or a fight. The human being likes to look at the face of another human, it is a sign of communication, we even smile (we show our teeth) but, for a cat, this can be a sign of threat.
The constant caress on your head and back changes from a pleasant sensation to an excruciating sensation in tenths of a second (it has a large number of odor-generating glands in this area, as well as nerve receptors sensitive to touch and pressure). the cat usually goes out when the caress starts to bother you, therefore you have to let him go. If you force him to do something, it will be very difficult to follow the step-by-step instructions on how to tame a cat.
Perhaps you might be interested in this other article in which we explain how to pet the cat.
Preparation for taming a very skittish cat
if you want to find out how to tame a cat risky, know that the first thing to do is to know your natural behavior through observation. One cat doesn't behave like a dog and therefore the same answers cannot be expected of them; on the other hand, it must be taken into account that although it has lived with the human being for thousands of years, it was not domesticated like the dog.
The cat can live very well alone, without depending on the tutor, because keep your hunting instinct (a hunter has to be aggressive) and this quality is the one that has been selected for thousands of years (hunting mice and rats, to protect human homes and crops).
Until just 70 years ago, there were few breeds of cats, selection criteria based on beauty and behavior are relatively recent.
The second thing you must do if you want to tame a skittish cat is to be aware that by being territorial, it marks and defends its territory. He doesn't pee outside his box to cause annoyance, is expressing a behavior that says what the boundary of your territory is or is expressing stress. This behavior can be reduced or eliminated, but it can never be misinterpreted.
Thirdly, it is advisable to use the immediate reward method for a behavior that you want to reinforce (operant conditioning with positive reinforcement). In cats (and in general any animal) punishment is never advisable after performing a behavior that the human being considers inappropriate. Next you'll see what you should do about taming a cat.
Step by step on how to tame a skittish cat
We now present a step by step how to tame a skittish cat. Pay attention and follow each of them in their order so you can start a beautiful friendship with the feline.
1. Know that time varies
Know that the process of taming a cat can take more or less time and that depends on the cat's previous experience with other humans and, of course, its own individuality.
2. Notice if he feels threatened
You should look at the cat's personality and body language. If he is constantly with his ears back, pupils dilated, he goes around with the tail and the by the goosebumps, that means he feels threatened and is ready to defend himself.
3. Let the cat get used to you
The third step in taming a cat is to let the cat get used to you little by little. try to get closer to him, maybe even sit close and talk to the feline in a quiet voice so that he gets used to your voice and then you can offer him food.
During this step it is important that you do not try to touch or hold the kitten. After three days like this, you can try to get closer and observe your reaction when giving food. If he is still apprehensive and showing signs that he feels threatened, you need to give him more time. The important thing here is to gain your trust little by little.
4. You can use a spray with pheromones
If the cat is very fearful or suspicious, you can use a pheromone spray in the house to make him feel more comfortable. However, avoid using the spray near the feline, as the noise can scare it even more and make it difficult to tame the cat.
5. Start the caresses from a distance
When the cat allows a closer approach without signs of fear or aggression, you can get close to him while eating and caress it with a long spoon or spatula, which will allow contact but still at a certain distance, so that he does not feel threatened. It may take a few days for him to accept your direct affection. Remember that if the cat runs away, it's important that you don't run after it, just leave it in its space.
6. Make direct caress
Finally, it's time to establish a direct contact with the cat. To pet the skittish cat for the first time, it's best to wear an outfit that can protect you from scratches and bites, such as a long-sleeved shirt.
After stroking it with the spoon for a while, you can run your hand over your head and shoulders, but it's best to avoid stroking the lower area of the head and belly, as he's not quite tame yet.
7. Take him in your arms
When you see that the cat trusts you enough and is relaxed and calm, hold it wrapped in a towel or a blanket after repeated caresses. This step can take more or less time to reach and the truth is that some cats will never like to be held in their arms. If he tries to escape, let him out, otherwise it will be possible to traumatize him and put into play all the steps taken so far.
In time the cat will get used to you and will let you be petted. Remember that if you are a very skittish and suspicious cat, the process of taming the cat can take a long time and will demand a lot of your patience.
Now that you know how to tame a skittish cat, you will probably be interested in this video we show how to gain a cat's trust:
If you want to read more articles similar to how to tame a cat, we recommend that you enter our Behavior Problems section.