Can cats Switch favorite person?

How Cats Choose Their Favorite Person?

Dr. Joanna Woodnutt (MRCVS) is a small animal veterinarian and writer who is passionate about helping owners to learn more about their pets in order to improve animal welfare. She loves to write and wants to empower owners to make the best decisions for their pets by giving them all the information they need. In her spare time, she takes consultations on the small island of Guernsey. View more

10 Comments on How Cats Choose Their Favorite Person? Last updated Mar 15, 2023
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Jackie Brown is a senior content editor on the cats.com editorial team. She also writes on all pet and veterinary topics, including general health and care, nutrition, grooming, behavior, training, veterinary and health topics, rescue and animal welfare, lifestyle, and the human-animal bond. Jackie is the former editor of numerous pet magazines and is a regular contributor to pet magazines and websites. View more

If your home contains a feline family member as well as humans, you might find it’s a bit of a competition about which particular person the cat likes most.

Everyone will likely believe that they’re the most deserving of the cat’s affection, maybe because they do all the feeding or clean out their litter box every morning. So, do cats have a favorite person? And if you’re a cat owner, how can you make sure it’s you?

Do Cats Have Favorite People?

It might seem hard to believe if you don’t own a cat, but many cats do seem to choose a favorite family member. You’d think it would be the person who does most of the caring for them, wouldn’t you?

But actually, the person your cat has the greatest affinity for might not be the person who cares for them the most, who feeds them, or who pays their vet bills!

Quite often, a cat’s favorite person is someone who doesn’t like cats that much at all! In some cases, it seems like the harder you try to get your cat’s affection, the less interested they are. It’s the people who avoid them and don’t invade their space who might end up being the favorite.

Signs You’re Your Cat’s Favorite Person

If your cat is fully relaxed and falls asleep, that’s the ultimate display of trust.

Cat behavior is quite complex, and cats bond in different ways. Therefore, there are different ways that your feline friend might let you know that you’re their favorite. One indication might be if yours is the lap they choose to curl up on when given a choice.

And if they fully relax and fall asleep, that’s the ultimate display of trust. Equally, if they rub against you and give you affectionate headbutts, known as bunting, it means you’re doing something right! Many cats purr when they’re around their favorite family member.

Another way you’ll know is if they’re the feline version of your shadow, and you can’t do anything around the house without them keeping you company.

Why Do Cats Choose Favorite People?

When cats choose their favorite person, it’s a sign of trust. For them, being around or even in contact with someone they fully trust means that they can completely relax and rest at ease because they feel safe from harm.

After all, if they let their guard down, they’re relying on you to protect them. But being your cat’s favorite human doesn’t just mean being a safe place to sleep, you’re also someone they can enjoy having fun with during playtime.

How To Help Your Cat Trust You More?

It’s far better to wait until your cat is showing signs of wanting to interact by chirruping at you, rubbing against you, or purring.

If you want your cat to trust you more, try to read their body language. If they’re flicking their tail or have their ears back, they don’t want to be approached. If you barge straight up to them or grab them for a cuddle at a time like this, you won’t get a great response!

It’s far better to wait until they’re showing signs of wanting to interact by chirruping at you, rubbing against you, or purring. It’s always best to let them approach you, and you can even buy some ‘cupboard love’ with a treat or two as positive reinforcement when they come to you for a cuddle.

When you watch your cat’s behavior, you can also work out what they enjoy doing. When you know what activities or cat toys your cat loves, you can try to share these moments with them.

It’s also a good idea to acknowledge your cat’s dislikes and modify your own behavior. Try to be calmer and quieter when your cat is around and avoid sudden loud noises or big movements that might put them on edge.

You can also enhance this calming effect by using calming sprays and diffusers, some of which will even help to solidify your cat’s bond with you. You can find calming products like Pet Remedy and Feliway on Amazon.

Finally, you should create a safe space for your cat. If your cat retreats to this space, you should respect their desire for alone time. Remember, each time you respect your cat’s communication and acknowledge their body language; you show them that you understand them and can be trusted.

Conclusion

Cats express trust in varied and unique ways, including vocalizations, marking behaviors, and tail position.

Everyone wants to be their feline’s favorite family member. Especially if you’re a cat lover, it’s natural to want to feel the love is reciprocated. It can feel a bit offensive if you do everything to keep your purry puss happy, but they choose someone who doesn’t even like cats to be their favorite!

Don’t take it personally, though; there’s plenty of room for your friendly feline to love you as well. If you spend some time responding to their body language, you can develop a strong bond, and, who knows, you might even become their new favorite in the family!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do cats usually pick a favorite person?

It’s very common for cats to pick a favorite person. Unsurprisingly, sometimes their favorite person is the one who spends the most time playing with them, feeding them treats, and giving them a fuss. However, it’s also quite normal if your cat’s favorite person is someone who isn’t that obsessed with cats, or even someone who doesn’t like them! After all, cats are contrary creatures!

How do you know if you’re the cat’s favorite person?

Your cat’s favorite person is usually someone they trust. They might let you know that you’re their favorite by falling asleep on you or rubbing against you and marking you with their scent. They might leave you little presents from their latest kill if they’re a hunter. They might even spend most of their time following you and meowing … or that might just be because they want more food!

What does it mean when a cat chooses you?

When a cat chooses you as their favorite, it’s a massive compliment. It means they value your bond, and they trust you completely. Cats are usually on high alert and rarely relax for fear of attack or intruders. However, if they regularly snooze on your lap, they’re letting you know that your lap feels like a safe space, and they trust you to deal with any predators.

Why Cats Get Jealous and How to Stop It

Adrienne Kruzer is a veterinary technician with more than 15 years of experience providing healthcare to domestic and exotic animals. She is trained as a Fear Free Certified Professional to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets.

Updated on 03/03/23

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Like people, cats have different personality traits. One of those happens to be jealousy—or, at least, what looks like jealousy. In fact, hissing, swatting, scratching, or spraying can all be ways that cats will attempt to control their environment. These behaviors are often symptoms of anxiety, not jealousy.

Anxious cats often crave attention and are clingier than standoffish cats, and sometimes they can act out. While it can be frustrating, there are steps you can take to address this behavior. The key is trying to discover why your cat is feeling this way.

Why Do Cats Get Anxious?

Just like some people, cats can become anxious when they feel they’re being excluded or their environment has changed drastically or suddenly. The anxiety may be triggered by any number of events:

Cats may show signs of anxiety when your routine changes. It may be the arrival of a new family member, such as a newborn baby or pet. Increased time on your computer or phone may also trigger clingy behavior. A sudden change in daily routine, including your cat’s feeding schedule, can cause anxiety.
Poor socialization as a kitten may lead a cat to become codependent on you and display signs of anxiety at times. Separation anxiety does occur in cats, so if your cat is always used to you being there and suddenly you are traveling more for work, this can cause anxiety.
An increase in noise, movement of furniture, new visitors, or changes in litter box placement can all cause anxiety in cats.
A lack of personal space, beds, or other belongings can increase anxiety, especially if a cat feels threatened by another pet.

Signs of Anxiety in Cats

Like it or not, your cat considers you as a resource. You are their source of comfort, food and all sorts of things. If they think that there is something impeding their access to this resource, they will act. When cats are anxious and feel like their territory or access to a resource is being threatened, they can act out in some aggressive ways. Behaviors such as hissing, growling and swatting at the object, animal or person that the cat is trying to move outside their territory or away from something they think is theirs are some examples of aggression based in anxiety.

Cats may also intrude on your personal space while you are holding a new baby or video game controller. They may attempt to sit on your lap while you cuddle with your significant other instead of them. These are all attempts to control their environment.

An anxious cat can be more aggressive and start scratching or biting. It may also lead to destructive behavior, including chewing or shredding furniture, curtains, and other items. Objects sitting on a countertop or table, such as a drinking glass or decoration, may be knocked over or broken as well.

In some cases, cats may begin urinating outside of the litter box. Cats use urine to mark territory and prevent other animals from infringing on their space. This is a cat’s attempt to communicate with other beings in their environment that they need space. Urine marking is one of the most problematic and frustrating behaviors for cat owners. Not only is it a sign that something is wrong with your cat, but it is difficult to clean and eliminate the odor, which can lead to continued marking.

Some cats will spray onto walls and other vertical surfaces. Spraying is another tool cats will use in an attempt to communicate. It is not uncommon for cats to spray areas that they are attempting to claim as their own. Your bed? The new dog’s bed? A spot in your closet? Typically, the more important the space is to the cat the more likely they will urinate on it in an attempt to claim it.

How to Address Anxious Behavior

It can be difficult to manage an anxious cat, but there are things you can do to eliminate or lessen the unwanted behaviors.

Determine the Trigger

The first thing you need to do is determine what exactly is provoking these behaviors. Once you figure out the cause of the anxiety, you can address the problem. Ask yourself what has changed in your home:

Did someone new move in?
Did you recently bring home a new baby or pet?
Are you spending more time doing something you didn’t do before?
Has your cat’s favorite spots in the house been disturbed?

Spend More Time With Your Cat

The easiest way to decrease anxious behavior in your cat is to simply spend more time with them. The extra attention can usually curb bad behavior and there are many ways you can do this:

Get a few interactive toys, such as feather wands and laser pointers, that allow you to play with your feline friend.
Make it a point to seek out and pet your cat when you come home or anytime you have a free moment.
Cuddle with your cat on the sofa or bed and give it your undivided attention for a few minutes.
Offer your cat treats when it shows good behavior.

Give Your Cat Personal Space

Many cats really like their own personal space. If you have introduced a new family member—whether a person or animal—you may have inadvertently taken away from your cat’s established area.

To correct this, give your cat a place to call its own again. This may mean moving the new pet’s feeding station to another room or giving your cat a new perch where it can observe the family undisturbed. Make sure your cat’s favorite toys are not available to the newcomer as well.

When it’s a new person in the home, try to keep their personal belongings out of places your cat previously claimed. It can also be helpful to have that person interact with the cat in or near that location.

Help Your Cat Cope and Learn

If you cannot completely avoid the person, pet, or item that is the subject of your cat’s anxiety, work on helping your cat adjust to the change. You can reward your cat with treats, praise, attention, and petting when it is near the object or person, for example.

For example, toss your cat treats while holding your baby. Consider white noise machines and other sound barriers if construction or work is being done in or around the home. Allow a visitor or significant other to feed and toss treats to your cat.

If you notice your cat is not improving, please contact your veterinarian to discuss anti-anxiety supplements, pheromones or medications that can help them adjust faster and help avoid escalating signs of anxiety. The sooner the issue is addressed the more quickly your cat can return to a feeling of comfort in their own space.