Cats have such fascinating, beautiful and sometimes mysterious personalities, don’t they? Some kitties love to be held and snuggled while others keep a safe distance. Some are talkative while others are may lash out – seemingly for no reason. For us cat parents, doing our best to love and understand our cats – and respect their space – is the best way we can build a deep bond with them. Even if they still don’t want snuggles.
Personally – I get it. I have a bubble space sometimes. I don’t always want to be touched or hugged – and sometimes I would like to just ignore people altogether. Many cats are like that too…. maybe I was a cat in my last life. 😉
Those who love me respect my bubble space and accept me as i am – so I genuinely empathize with our less snuggly kitties. I think we should respect our cat’s ‘bubble’ space too.
When we adopted Pooh Bear he didn’t like to be touched. He would hiss or even scratch at us if we tried to pet him. Taking him to the vet required thick gloves and an overcoat to protect ourselves. His bubble space was clearly very big.
We quickly learned that he was more apt to ask for attention when we ignored him – so we did. When in close proximity we would not look directly at him. We talked to him, fed him and loved him from a distance… giving him his space. Slowly he would start coming closer to us – and eventually he would rub against our legs. 🙂
Fast forward a few years and now he sleeps in our bed and snuggles near enough for his belly rubs. He knows we love him – and over time, he’s come to trust that we also respect him.
Meeting Your Cats On Their Terms
Don’t force your kitties to do things they don’t want to do. As much as we wanted Pooh Bear’s big snuggly belly in our face, respecting his space is what gained his trust in us. Honor the wishes of your cats, let them be in charge of their own bubble space. You’ll be well pleased with the results if you’re patient enough. 🙂
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