I've spent alot of time to get my cat to be a shoulder cat, and im so happy he loves it, im like his personal taxi when its cold or raining out. He just jumps right up, claws up my back, and stands on my shoulders
I'm fairly certain my pitty was raised by cats, loves lay in sunbeams, walks through our legs constantly, attacks my hand when I'm not giving her attention, super lazy with bursts of lunacy.
Yeah, that lady did no research before getting that cat. Reminds me of my coworker who listened to all my cat stories and said "I didn't know cats could be AFFECTIONATE!?!"
Cats have a reputation for a reason... Everytime I've adopted, they give you a "free week" to return animal, no questions asked. Once, like 30 years ago, we adopted a mutt from the SPCA. I've never had dog allergies, but even on prescription meds after a week I couldn't focus, my face was swollen like I'd been stung by bees. We had to send him back, there was simply no way we could function with him. He found a super loving home, but rescuing isn't linear.
Not what you meant about spectrum, but I brought up my cats to my ADHD/autism consultant and how I think autism is the norm for cats because mine will starve themselves if their food is in the wrong place, eg their wet food bowl is where the dry food bowl goes when those bowls are directly next to each other. The consultant not only agreed but had previously assessed his own cat and diagnosed it as autistic based on it's behaviours. Apparently research is being done in it.
I found male cats are just more social than females. They’re almost like dogs and enjoy company. If your male cats are around many different people when they’re kittens, they tend to be more dog like. This is more pronounced in Siamese males. He’d greet people and walk them to the door when leaving.
I had a half Siamese orange cat who was a shoulder kat. Dude was so long he could drape around your neck and both his front and back legs would be dangling down by your elbows. Dude was pretty much a scarf, with claws.
Orange cats really need to be classed as a whole different animal. They don't act like cats or dogs or foxes but a combination of all 3 and sometimes extra animals for fun. The only thing my orange boy does that is cat like is the in/out door thing. He eats and drinks like a dog. He runs around like a fox. He's just him. Never had a cat like him before and I've had other orange cats.
That's awesome! Mane coons are another dog like cat lol My orange goblin goes on walks with me and my dogs. Sits for treats and knows how to shake. He was dumped and lived in the sewers by my house. He just walked in one day and never left
I had a calico who wanted to be around me all the time & loved meeting new people. I kept saying she had the soul of a dog. Hated other animals though, she had to be the only cat in the house.
Contrary to the myth of cats being independent or loners, they are very social creatures. They can become loners when the owner wants a living fixture in the house and hardly interacts with the cat.
I recall Jackson Galaxy mentioning Male cats, which orange cats are mostly male, tend to be social, curious, playful, and mischievous. Female cats, however, tend to be less social, reserved, and protective. And this is because of the dynamics of cats and child raising. Now, this isn't a 100% case, cats can also adopt their owner's personality on top of this.
Some of them are just loners, but animals are wildly individual. My current two cats are from the same feral cat colony, and both were very human-shy, wild adults. One is loving but shy and jumpy and needs her space; the other is completely outgoing and confident now. The second one went from running away from the sight of humans to casually throwing himself at a stranger's feet, which is a WILD shift, and totally opposite the other, who will hide under the bed if someone passes the building.
Girlfriend texted me this morning to tell me that the antisocial of the pair of brothers I have was whining at the front door for me after I left for work. Never would've thought that.
my girl also loves to do the same when I'm gone, but then pretends she wasn't bothered at all when I come back. Then it's DON'T TOUCH ME! I ONLY CAME TO SEE WHO'S AT THE DOOR.
Well, they CAN be very social creatures. Some are loners by chance. Some are very sparing on the affection, if they give it at all. Conversely, some are total love fluff balls that don't have a care in the world and want you to touch them all over (except maybe the paws). I'm also convinced that it's innate. My mother's cat was raised with a lot of affection, but he gets really mean if you give him affection when he doesn't want it. He'll bite, scratch, and hiss at you if he's not in the mood!
In the wild, they're often traumatized into the solitary+territorial lifestyle. Their moms chase them away once they're old enough to fend for themselves and develop a distinct smell. Makes sense since a territory can only support so many cats, plus it helps prevent inbreeding. But imagine the psychological impact of seeing your loving & caring mom become an aggressive stranger. A lot of normal animal behavior is the result of what we call trauma. E.g., small prey animals are kept alive by PTSD.
Yep. I was lucky enough to adopt a year old cat who hadn't been traumatized by much, and I lived alone at the time so there was nobody else to confuse her with different body language or inadvertently training in an obnoxious behavior because it was cute one time. I actually trained her to enjoy belly rubs, being brushed, massages (she now violently headbutts people to demand one), and having her nails trimmed just by giving her treats and not forcing things once she indicated she'd had enough.
Point being, the kittens would much rather stay with their mother and siblings. Sometimes sibling pairs hunt together for a while, but the experience does a number on them regardless. Just like humans become socially withdrawn if they experience abuse from caretakers during formative years. But if this event never happens, it's not surprising that cats grow up to be very social & attached. All mammals have the capacity to bond & be social since it's so crucial for successful offspring rearing.
Small caveat: This applies to genus Felis in its natural environment, including stray / feral "domestic" cats in rural areas. When there is abundant food and less dependence on hunting, even stray cats live in large groups and exhibit less territoriality. See Rome, Istanbul, Japan's cat islands etc.
And recently the Puma of South America. Efforts to restore their native environment has seen an increase in population and, with it, surprising behavioral changes such as sharing kills, even with total strangers.
SocoFox
I always prefer male cats and female dogs. Male cats always seems to be like furry little brothers.
SpanishLisp
Independency?
RhinoNaut
yah that's a shoulder cat
punderstorm
I've spent alot of time to get my cat to be a shoulder cat, and im so happy he loves it, im like his personal taxi when its cold or raining out. He just jumps right up, claws up my back, and stands on my shoulders
VadersCallGirl
Had one of those...he wanted to live in my skin...man I miss that boy every single day
FunnyPlatypus
Tactical shoulder orange
Jelhammer
I'm fairly certain my pitty was raised by cats, loves lay in sunbeams, walks through our legs constantly, attacks my hand when I'm not giving her attention, super lazy with bursts of lunacy.
GuyLuomo
#3 . . . I had to laugh . . . it's so true!
LariCheltsy
#1 I haven't seen one of those sweaters and 30 years
mcbotulism
#justorangethings
PileOfWalthers
Ornj = permanently stuck to you. Enjoy.
InspiringBadger
Yeah, that lady did no research before getting that cat. Reminds me of my coworker who listened to all my cat stories and said "I didn't know cats could be AFFECTIONATE!?!"
BananaForScaIe
Cats have a reputation for a reason... Everytime I've adopted, they give you a "free week" to return animal, no questions asked. Once, like 30 years ago, we adopted a mutt from the SPCA. I've never had dog allergies, but even on prescription meds after a week I couldn't focus, my face was swollen like I'd been stung by bees. We had to send him back, there was simply no way we could function with him. He found a super loving home, but rescuing isn't linear.
MagosDotarius
Both my cats sleep in bed with my wife and I every night lol
yossyiTerror
Hey
blinkonceforyes
Our latest cat we had did NOT want you to touch her and was fiercely independent, so ya, there is a spectrum
InspiringBadger
Oh absolutely! But I didn't think this lady (or my coworker) realized that.
Wombatish
Can literally be within the cat. Head pets and her stage 5 clingering on you? All the yes. Try to pet the body or pick her up? You get tha chomps.
agentmcgee
Not what you meant about spectrum, but I brought up my cats to my ADHD/autism consultant and how I think autism is the norm for cats because mine will starve themselves if their food is in the wrong place, eg their wet food bowl is where the dry food bowl goes when those bowls are directly next to each other. The consultant not only agreed but had previously assessed his own cat and diagnosed it as autistic based on it's behaviours. Apparently research is being done in it.
feraldope
Our black cat was like that when we got her from the shelter, but within a couple of months of showing her she was safe, she turned into a cuddler.
unsneakyLurker
"He needs to be on top of me 24/7" That's what she said hue hue hue
absolutelymad
I'd be all over her too 😉
sry... I'm lonely ðŸ˜
Cilvaa
#1
Cilvaa
johnblood616
Independency? Is that right? It seems weird
tampacl
It’s wrong, it should be independence.
johnblood616
Irregardlessly, it sounded wrong.
tampacl
It’s a perfectly cromulent word.
johnblood616
I feel embiggened
OliverClothesoff70
Yeah, he's a good boy.
cytherians
Django!
MostAwesomeDan
#2 that is the face of *no thoughts, brain scrampled egg* 😄
EricPisch
I miss my shoulder boi very much
wylkyn
#1 Most cats that I've owned want to at least be next to me if not sitting on me.
Johnsky
Copilot cats are the best.
migratingotter
I found male cats are just more social than females. They’re almost like dogs and enjoy company. If your male cats are around many different people when they’re kittens, they tend to be more dog like. This is more pronounced in Siamese males. He’d greet people and walk them to the door when leaving.
UserNamesArentEasy
That's because you got an orange cat. They are just built different.
LoligoTX
I have two. They're special, for sure.
shorey66
I had a half Siamese orange cat who was a shoulder kat. Dude was so long he could drape around your neck and both his front and back legs would be dangling down by your elbows. Dude was pretty much a scarf, with claws.
Magnar1183
Are you sure he wasn't also â…“ Maine Coon? Lol
ShaNayNayThe2nd
They really are.
Clayman8
Can confirm. My idiot amuses me on the daily
UserNamesArentEasy
ikeseff
(with poor quality control)
DnZeroes
That's no shit, I've had more vet visits in the first year with this one than I have in the last 10 years with the other one
agentmcgee
Orange cats really need to be classed as a whole different animal. They don't act like cats or dogs or foxes but a combination of all 3 and sometimes extra animals for fun. The only thing my orange boy does that is cat like is the in/out door thing. He eats and drinks like a dog. He runs around like a fox. He's just him. Never had a cat like him before and I've had other orange cats.
agentmcgee
I mean look at him.
UserNamesArentEasy
Something about how orange cats sleep is both peaceful and WTF mate.
DnZeroes
Can confirm. Have a long haired siamese, brought an orange into the family, TOTALLY different
Feralkyn
I've a couple clingy, loving, gentle cats; one was a Bengal mix (brown tabby) and the other is a white-spotted (piebald) brown tabby!
oddoregano
Dog software. Cat hardware.
UserNamesArentEasy
My wife's half mane coon cat was raised by shelties and he would meow at the door when it was knocked on.
oddoregano
That's awesome! Mane coons are another dog like cat lol My orange goblin goes on walks with me and my dogs. Sits for treats and knows how to shake. He was dumped and lived in the sewers by my house. He just walked in one day and never left
UserNamesArentEasy
That a mane coon. Just the sense of ownership and idgaf is amazing.
CrackedActor
I had a calico who wanted to be around me all the time & loved meeting new people. I kept saying she had the soul of a dog. Hated other animals though, she had to be the only cat in the house.
DALLASLAVOWNER
#1 just wants to be closer to additional braincells
netprincess
Orange cat doing orange cat
Ricdesan
Welcome to the world of Orange you hooked
Eldibs
Yeah, cats and dogs are like us - each one is an individual, they don't get formed out of a mold.
SJBSavageInk
Some cats are. And those cats, you are the one bothering them. You only get those two options. Not enough love or too much. 😂
pjm82
Yeah, you got a good one
rdewalt
I was wondering who the YMMOT clothing designer was for way too long.
terajack2048
New Japanese clothing trend
Nivvi
Contrary to the myth of cats being independent or loners, they are very social creatures. They can become loners when the owner wants a living fixture in the house and hardly interacts with the cat.
FetteredJuvenescence
To be fair... they also have individual personalities and some are just prone to being little introverts.
5m4llP0X
I recall Jackson Galaxy mentioning Male cats, which orange cats are mostly male, tend to be social, curious, playful, and mischievous. Female cats, however, tend to be less social, reserved, and protective. And this is because of the dynamics of cats and child raising. Now, this isn't a 100% case, cats can also adopt their owner's personality on top of this.
Feralkyn
Some of them are just loners, but animals are wildly individual. My current two cats are from the same feral cat colony, and both were very human-shy, wild adults. One is loving but shy and jumpy and needs her space; the other is completely outgoing and confident now. The second one went from running away from the sight of humans to casually throwing himself at a stranger's feet, which is a WILD shift, and totally opposite the other, who will hide under the bed if someone passes the building.
SineClone
Girlfriend texted me this morning to tell me that the antisocial of the pair of brothers I have was whining at the front door for me after I left for work. Never would've thought that.
basti0731
my girl also loves to do the same when I'm gone, but then pretends she wasn't bothered at all when I come back. Then it's DON'T TOUCH ME! I ONLY CAME TO SEE WHO'S AT THE DOOR.
cytherians
Well, they CAN be very social creatures. Some are loners by chance. Some are very sparing on the affection, if they give it at all. Conversely, some are total love fluff balls that don't have a care in the world and want you to touch them all over (except maybe the paws).
I'm also convinced that it's innate. My mother's cat was raised with a lot of affection, but he gets really mean if you give him affection when he doesn't want it. He'll bite, scratch, and hiss at you if he's not in the mood!
vegivamp
Cats are very big on consent.
THEIR consent, of course. Cat wants to be on top of you, your consent is implied and assumed.
FiftyShadesOfBroccoli
In the wild, they're often traumatized into the solitary+territorial lifestyle. Their moms chase them away once they're old enough to fend for themselves and develop a distinct smell. Makes sense since a territory can only support so many cats, plus it helps prevent inbreeding. But imagine the psychological impact of seeing your loving & caring mom become an aggressive stranger. A lot of normal animal behavior is the result of what we call trauma. E.g., small prey animals are kept alive by PTSD.
dpidcoe
Yep. I was lucky enough to adopt a year old cat who hadn't been traumatized by much, and I lived alone at the time so there was nobody else to confuse her with different body language or inadvertently training in an obnoxious behavior because it was cute one time. I actually trained her to enjoy belly rubs, being brushed, massages (she now violently headbutts people to demand one), and having her nails trimmed just by giving her treats and not forcing things once she indicated she'd had enough.
netutoring
Yeah, bunnies aren't twitchy to look cute.
FiftyShadesOfBroccoli
Point being, the kittens would much rather stay with their mother and siblings. Sometimes sibling pairs hunt together for a while, but the experience does a number on them regardless. Just like humans become socially withdrawn if they experience abuse from caretakers during formative years. But if this event never happens, it's not surprising that cats grow up to be very social & attached. All mammals have the capacity to bond & be social since it's so crucial for successful offspring rearing.
FiftyShadesOfBroccoli
Small caveat: This applies to genus Felis in its natural environment, including stray / feral "domestic" cats in rural areas. When there is abundant food and less dependence on hunting, even stray cats live in large groups and exhibit less territoriality. See Rome, Istanbul, Japan's cat islands etc.
KrowWithAK
Thank you, erotic vegetable. You are my favorite person today for dropping wicked cat knowledge.
TheDoctorCrankenstein
And recently the Puma of South America. Efforts to restore their native environment has seen an increase in population and, with it, surprising behavioral changes such as sharing kills, even with total strangers.