Cats are Independant: A Myth

Chances are, if you own a cat or two, you’ve been sucked in by the myth that cats are independent animals. At first glance, some cats are quite aloof and stay away from people, but this is almost always a result of their upbringing, as opposed to a natural trait. Cats enjoy humans and actually require attention. If you’ve always thought that a cat could just be left to its own devices while you are out and about, think again . . . they are pets that require love and interaction.

Social Animals

Cats tend to be stereotyped as preferring to be alone, but nothing could be further from the truth. They thrive on plenty of social interaction with their humans, as you can see if you have a kitten around. Unfortunately, most people assume that cats don’t need much attention and they leave them to entertain themselves. When this happens as a kitten, you will end up with an undersocialized or aloof cat. However, this isn’t the only reason we see adult felines who run away and hide from people, something that is not a natural behavior.

Kittens need to be treated with kindness right from the start. This is why breeders should seriously consider having kittens in the house where they are underfoot and someone is always available for a quick game of chase the string or a cuddle. Cats are social creatures and when their need for attention is filled right from an early age, they grow up to make wonderful companions, happy to snuggle in with their human or play with them.

As important as it is to play with kittens and give them the attention they crave, it’s also important that they are not taken too early from their mother. People can give them plenty of attention, but a cat who was removed from its mother’s side too soon will feel insecure and tend to be a frightened, nervous adult. Most breeders keep kittens with their mothers until 12 or more weeks of age. If you get a kitten too young, you will very likely find that kitten grows up with bad habits or insecurities that make it shy or even fearful.

It’s also vital that cats are treated right and not abused. Often, when an adult cat is too aloof and wants nothing to do with people, it’s because of bad experiences in the past that have created a mistrust. This can be overcome, but it’s far easier to start with a cat who has already enjoyed plenty of time and love at the hands of humans.

Breeders who follow this principle from the beginning have a huge leg up on those that keep cats separate and treat them coldly. When a kitten is played with, cuddled with and loved, it quickly learns to form a bond with its humans and will be eager to repay those attentions with cuddles, purring and games. It’s easy to see which cats were poorly treated or taken from their mothers too young and which were given much needed attention with proper socialization. They grow up quite differently and can be very different types of pets. These are loving, trusting companions with a constant purr. Kittens that are properly socialized are ideal for small children too – they make the best family pets.

Changing your ideas of how cats should behave can be difficult if you’ve always believed that they are independent and aloof. However, keep in mind that your pet is a companion and needs you as much as you need him. The reason people are drawn to keep animals is for the companionship of having another living being to communicate with and share a connection with. The same goes for your cat. As you may know, many cat owners say they are owned by their cat, not the other way around!

Give cats the love and affection they long for and you’ll be rewarded with an animal that loves you right back. If you treat your pet as a companion that you value, they will be more than happy to give you all the companionship necessary.