Can a cats favorite person change?

Do Cats Have a Favorite Person?

If you live in a home with multiple residents, you may have noticed your cat gravitating to a singular person more than most. We all know cats can be very particular about when and when not to interact with their people, and they have a reputation for their standoffishness. Do cats have a favorite person, or is the apparent preference a simple coincidence? We’ve done some research for you and have the answer to your questions!

Many domesticated cats do choose a favorite person. Their choice of person comes from a variety of factors dealing with communication and feelings of safety. Though most cats will choose a favorite person, some cats never express a desire for human interaction.

Now that you know cats can and often do choose a favorite person continue to learn more about how the cat decides who their favorite will be and some other questions you might have regarding your cat’s behavior. Keep reading for all the details!

How Does a Cat Pick a Favorite Person?

Let’s speak to the different reasons it is believed a cat picks a favorite person. All or just one of these reasons could be a factor, or it could be something else altogether. Cats are individuals just as we are! Even with that being said, there are some definite commonalities.

Communication

The primary reason your cat might pick a particular person is that they feel most understood by that person. Cats don’t tend to meow much at each other, but they do meow at people. If one person seems to understand what the cat is trying to communicate, either vocally or with body language, they will gravitate toward that person. If your cat feels you understand their way of communicating, then they have confidence their needs will be met, therefore showing the most attention and affection your way!

Safety

If a cat feels you provide them with safety, they will gravitate toward you and trust you with their wellbeing. This feeling of safety can develop if you frequently respect their boundaries and not force affection upon them. It’s due to the lack of feeling safe that many cats do not pick children as their favorite person, as children sometimes have difficulty respecting a cat’s personal space.

Food

A cat might choose their person because that is the person who provides the food. If you tend to be the one who fills the food bowl, then you are likely the person the cat might choose. If a cat knows you are the provider, they show their appreciation through more frequent affection.

How Do You Know If Your Cat Has A Favorite Person?

Cats show their affection and trust in a variety of ways. If your cat exhibits the following behaviors toward one person in particular, then they are likely the cat’s favorite:

• Headbutting
• A twitching tail or tail wrapped around one’s leg
• Grooming their person, such as licking of the face, ears, or hair
• Purring
• Showing their belly
• Bestowing gifts, such as mice, birds, or even pieces of trash with which the cat has played
• Slow blinking
• Following their person

Some cats will be virtually invisible to everyone but their favorite person. If your cat only shows any attention to one person, they have chosen that person as their favorite.

Remember, some cats don’t do any of these things and do not want to interact with people. These kinds of cats tend to have grown to adulthood feral and have trouble with domestication. It’s important not to try and force interaction with these standoffish kitties. They will pick a person when they are ready.

How do you tell if your cat is bonded with you?

There are many ways your cat will let you know they have bonded with you, above and beyond what is listed above. In addition to the behaviors listed in the previous section, a cat will:

• Knead a person they trust.
• Stretch and yawn when they see their bonded person.
• Get between you and your laptop or book to ensure your full attention.
• Meow at you.
• Chirp at you.

To read all the things your cat might do to show its love, read our article, «23 Signs That Your Cat Loves You».

How Can You Tell If Your Cat Doesn’t Like You?

Cats give off many signs that they are unhappy with you. They definitely don’t try to keep it a secret. In a proper abuse-free relationship between feline and human, you shouldn’t be seeing these signs. If they show up suddenly, they could signify a health issue, and it could be time to talk things over with your veterinarian.

A surefire way to tell if your cat doesn’t like you is their tail position in your presence. If they keep their tail low instead of upright, they are defensive. If the cat has its tail curled around itself, it’s definitely time to back off.

Other physical cues could indicate dislike from your cat. If their ears are pointed backward, their back is arched, or their tale is puffed out, then they are agitated. Best leave your furry friend alone when these signs are present. An agitated cat might even bite, scratch, or hiss at you. Even though cats are small, they can definitely tear into you if they wanted to, so try your best to steer clear when the cat is aggressive.

Why is Kitty staying away from you?

If your cat regularly leaves the room when you enter or stays hidden, there’s a good chance that Kitty doesn’t feel comfortable around you. This could be the case with a newly adopted cat, especially one with a history of abuse. That cat will likely be averse to the presence of most humans, possibly creating a bond with one or two.

Please take a minute to read this guide about how to help a new cat adjust to a new home. Do not force your cat to interact with you or be near you. Creating a bond with your cat takes time and patience. If you suspect your cat may have a history of abuse, also read this guide on how to help an abused cat recover.

Other cats are just sensitive to specific smells or sounds they associate with certain people in their household. If the behavior repeats itself and you can’t figure out why it’s happening, you’re welcome to start a thread in our cat behavior forum and ask for advice. Other members can help you figure out what’s wrong and how to fix the situation.

How to help a cat like you

Sometimes, the best way to help a cat like you is actually to stop trying too hard. Ensure you always keep your cat fed and watered and allow the cat to determine the rest. If you engage in play, note how your cat likes to play best and repeat, but don’t ever force the cat to interact with you. The cat will choose when and how it wants to interact. If you offer to interact with a toy, do not press the cat if it is disinterested.

Additionally, when your cat does pay attention to you, don’t hug or squeeze it or force kisses upon it. Avoid rubbing their bellies until a solid trust has been established.

Do maintain a quiet and calm environment if you wish your cat to thrive and enjoy your company. If you have other pets, do not neglect your cat or abandon them to this new animal. Keep the feeding and play schedule you’ve established with your cat to maintain a trusting relationship.

For more information on getting a cat to like you, read our posts:

Do Cats Recognize Faces?

Cats generally recognize their owners, but this could be more so because of their voices or scents. With that being said, there haven’t been many scientific studies in regards to this. This study concludes that cats can recognize some emotions on their owners’ faces, but not necessarily recognize a face as differentiating between other humans. This is an area largely untapped by science. Overall, cats don’t really use faces to identify people.

Do Cats Ever Forget Their Owners?

Cats can potentially remember their owners for several years. Cats do have rather good long-term memories, though dogs are a bit superior on this front. A cat’s instinct is to survive. And part of remembering how to survive is knowing how to get food and water. If you were a good cat owner and your pet was always fed, watered, and well-cared for, it will remember you for many years as a matter of survival.

Are Cats Protective Of Their Owners?

Cats are protective of their owners. This is because a cat doesn’t think of you as an «owner» but as their territory, their possession. Cats are territorial animals. Therefore, they are protective over a person they see as «theirs.» If you have multiple cats at home, you might notice one pushing another from your lap or staring angrily if they feel the other cat is encroaching on their territory.

Above and beyond protecting territory, you might notice your cat being hyperaware of your emotional state, and they might attempt to comfort you if your mood is less than stellar. This is another example of your cat demonstrating protectiveness.

In Closing

Many domesticated cats pick a favorite person. Several factors lead a cat to choose a specific person as their favorite. The cat must feel understood, safe, and well-fed. If you’re not your cat’s favorite, or if it seems like they might not even like you, do not worry. This can always change by learning about your cat and doing your best to respect your furry friend’s boundaries.

If you’d like to read more about cat behavior, read our post, «Cat Acting Strangely? Here’s What it Could Mean?»

Note: We may get commissions for purchases made through links on this page.

Do Cats Have A Favourite Person?

Cats are known to be not very friendly by nature and are believed to be self-centered and aloof creatures. However, in most cases, cats tend to have a favorite person. Cats have a relatively high standard for the people they allow to interact with them. But they do have one person who they prefer above all the rest. Cat behavior is complicated, especially their attachment methods and signs of affection. In this article, we shall talk about all the factors how a cat chooses its favorite person and are you one of them.

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Do Cats Prefer One Person Over Another?

Yes, cats prefer one person over another as they can deem someone fit for taking care of them for various reasons. Cats’ preferences are equally surprising and unique. Your cat’s favorite human may be the one who engages in the most playtime with her. It may be the one who feeds her the most or someone powerful and stoic who gives off a “safe” sense. Keep in mind that cats are, at their core, animals. They’re drawn to folks they know will look after them and keep them safe. Finally, some cats chose favorites based on entirely arbitrary criteria, such as who has the best odor. Your cat may prefer women to men and adults to children. One of life’s great mysteries is cats.

How Do Cats Choose Their Favourite Human?

One of the major factors in how cats choose their favorite human boils down to communication. Cats have a special affection for the person who can understand their needs. It’s possible that a cat’s attraction to one person, in particular, is due to communication. Despite their reputation for being reserved and independent, Cats are excellent communicators with particular regard for individuals who understand their requirements. Cats employ a variety of body language cues to convey themselves, in addition to meowing for various reasons. If one person can speak with a cat more effectively and comprehend what it is trying to express, the feline will be much more attracted to that individual. Cats’ preferences are surprising and unique. Your cat’s favorite human may be the one who engages in the most playtime with her. It may be the one who feeds her the most or someone powerful and stoic who gives off a “safe” sense. Keep in mind that cats are, at their core, animals. They’re drawn to folks they know will look after them and keep them safe. Finally, some cats chose favorites based on entirely arbitrary criteria, such as who has the best odor. Your cat may simply prefer ladies to men, adults to children. One of life’s great mysteries is cats.

Why Do Cats Get Attached To One Person

Cats get attached to one person as it is what their evolution taught them. To them, trusting one person is complex and would take time, and on the other hand, trusting more than one could be overwhelming.

Cats’ displays of affection can be arbitrary at times. Some cats appear to be uninterested in their owners who feed and play with them, yet they appear to enjoy strangers. With one or two exceptions, other cats will demonstrate an instinctive fear of all humans. You are not hallucinating. Cats seem to favor certain persons over others. There are numerous reasons for this. Some are caused by how the cat is treated directly, while events beyond your control cause others. Cats are naturally frightened and fearful of humans. Cats do not automatically assume a position of conformity to their owners, even when tamed. You are simply a huge, loud, and clumsy animal in the eyes of a cat. As a result, until otherwise demonstrated, humans are a menace. Cats, on the other hand, are not frigid and indifferent to humans. Cats are attracted to specific actions and features in people. Anyone who fits these requirements is more likely to receive feline adoration.

4 Reasons Why Cats Get Attached To One Person!

1. Communication

Because cats are unable to communicate verbally, they rely on body language and sounds to communicate. Any human who can recognize and respond to these indications, whether through meows, purrs, or physicality, will win a feline’s favor. This entails understanding when a cat wants to be petted and when it prefers to be left alone. If the cats want to be fed or play, you must act swiftly. If the cat is nervous or apprehensive, it implies providing reassurance. Cats also distinguish between humans based on their voices. Cats usually prefer a human who speaks to them regularly. This strengthens a link, especially if gentle, high-pitched tones are used. Loud noises, such as booming or bass-heavy voices, irritate cats.

2. Food

Their survival instincts guide cats, and few things are more crucial to survival than food. As a result, cats have developed the undeserved and incorrect image of being affectionate to everyone who feeds them. Cats remember food sources. Any human with a treat bag on their person falls into this category. If you provide such a treat to a cat, you may expect to be approached again and again. Routine is essential to cats. They prefer to have the same meal every day at the same time. In theory, this will make a primary owner a cat’s favorite person, although external events can thwart this. Some cats invade other people’s houses, ostensibly to show their affection for the people who live there. If the cat is fed in this house and the humans don’t give the cat any cause to be afraid of them, the cat will keep coming back.

3. Scent

Cats can have seemingly random phobias to some humans, hissing and avoiding them on sight. Unfortunately, this could be due to factors beyond our control. It all boils down to a feline’s ability to recall past occurrences. Things that are essential to cats are remembered. A cat would remember a human who fed them. The same can be said for trauma. This is not to say that anybody who dislikes cats has mistreated them in the past. However, the person in question may remind the cat of someone who did. This could be due to physical characteristics like clothing or facial hair and fragrances like deodorant or fragrance. Of course, the opposite is true as well. If a cat is adopted after the death of a prior owner, it will find solace in being reminded of a former favorite person. However, in many circumstances, this part of cat attachment feels beyond your control.

4. Way Of Handling

Handling is a big trigger for cats, and it’s essential to earn a cat’s respect and devotion. Cats, unlike other pets, look for a lack of handling in their human counterparts. Cats prefer to be in charge of their surroundings. This means that picking up and handling a cat without their permission is a quick method to upset them. The majority of handling is motivated by love or necessity, but cats are unaware of this. Your cat is well aware of its powerlessness. Cats will almost always prefer humans who do not handle them. This explains why cats tend to approach humans with feline allergies inexplicably, rubbing up against the unfortunate person. Cat lovers are likely to fuss over their pets, stroking and picking them up. Someone who has an allergic reaction to cats will be uninterested. This will be recognized by the cat, who will show a preference for the apathetic human. This person appears to be a safe bet to approach. A person with a cat allergy, on the other hand, will avoid all contact with cats. As a result, they’re a blank canvas for scent, perfect for rubbing.

Can Cats Have More Than One Favourite Person?

It is unlikely for cats to have more than one favorite person. However, it could happen in some cases if the cat is highly extroverted and loves the company of humans. Thousands of years of evolution had made cats highly skeptical creatures which do not trust easily. Trusting one person is more than difficult for them; therefore, trusting one than one could prove to be overwhelming. However, in some rare cases, it is seen that cats do have more than one favorite person. This could happen if the cat is not scared and humans but loves their company and enjoy being around them.

Do Cats Change Their Favourite Person?

Yes, cats can change their favorite person. Cats are highly opportunistic creatures, and if they realize the grass on the other side is greener, they will more likely go towards it. Change of their favorite person could also happen if their favorite person tends to go away for a few weeks and the sole provider for the cat changes. They could adapt to the current situation and change their favorite person as the sole provider for the cat if feeding, petting, and playing with them.

Why Do Cats Bond With Only One Person?

Cats bond with only one person as years of evolution have taught them not to trust easily, as trusting more than one person could prove to be overwhelming for them. Most cats will choose one favorite person and tend to stick with them. They can change their favorite person, but they rarely add one. Cats are highly territorial creatures and always want to be in control of the situation. By bonding with only one person, they feel that they have control over the situation.

How To Know If You Are Your Cat’s Favourite Person?

You can tell if you are your cat’s favorite person by reading their body language. Grooming behavior, along with slow blinking, headbutts, purring, and following you constantly, are all signs that you are your cat’s favorite person.

If your cat licks or grooms you, you can usually take it as a good sign that you’re a beloved part of her clan. Eye contact with a stranger, whether feline or human, is perceived as menacing by cats. She has warmly embraced you as one of her own if she is glad to stare you in the eye, especially if she slowly blinks while doing so. Cats use the smell glands on their cheeks and head to mark their territory. Your kitty buddy is fondly marking you out as hers by headbutting you or rubbing her chin against you. If your cat brings you prey that she has captured, she could be acting as a teacher, much as she would teach her kittens how to hunt. She may simply assume you’re a member of the family who needs to be educated because she’s never seen you catch your meal! Cats recognize each other by scent, so sniffing one other’s behinds is like exchanging a personal handshake. While bringing her tail to your face may appear to be a backhanded compliment, it indicates that you are one of her most trusted confidants. Snoozing on your lap is one of the most compelling indicators that your cat loves you. Being a natural predator, your cat dislikes feeling vulnerable and is especially afraid of feeling vulnerable while sleeping. She’s exposing herself at her most vulnerable and demonstrating her trust in you by sleeping on you.

Frequently Asked Question

I am not my cat’s favorite person. Does that mean she hates me?

Ans. No, not being your cat’s favorite person does not mean that she hates you. Every cat has different ways of showing affection to different people. They prefer some more than others, but this does not mean that she hates you.

What’s should I avoid doing for my cat to like me?

Ans. The best thing that you can avoid doing for your cat to like you is don’t force the issue. By forcing the issue, you would only push away your cat farther from your grasp.

Can I make my cat like me by giving it treats?

Ans. Although it is not engraved that you could make your cat like you by giving her treats, this could prove one the most effective methods to do so, as your cat will associate you with getting treats.

Final Words

Cats are living things with individual thoughts, wishes, and feelings. You cannot force a cat to choose you as a favorite person. Take solace from this, though – all cats love their owners. The independent nature of felines means they would not choose to live with you otherwise. Cats choose their favorite human for a variety of reasons. If you give your cat a happy, contented life, you’ll likely be high on the list.

References

• https://www.petplan.co.uk/pet-information/cat/advice/10-signs-your-cat-loves-you/
• https://www.purina.co.uk/articles/cats/behaviour/understanding-cats/why-does-my-cat-lick-me
• https://www.thesprucepets.com/how-cats-show-love-553978