Having a hard time figuring out my cats personality.

[mfoehrer]

She's a little over 2 now and I have had her since she was a kitten. To start off. She hardly ever purrs. She only does on certain occasions. When she's laying on her blanket on my bed at night and starts to knead/suckle on it, before food and occasionally when I or someone she's never met before comes home. She doesn't always when the above happens though.

Another weird behavior thing I've tried to figure out is her tail. The quick swish when angry or about to pounce something is easy to read, but the twitch at the tip of the tail isn't. She will slightly move the tip of her tail when being pet sometimes. Again even if she leans into my hand. She also does it when I talk to her. My only worry is if I'm misreading her body language. She's always been a very independent cat, but also very hard to read. She doesn't do any of the slow blinking stuff either, but she rolls over and exposes her belly after I get home from work everyday. Then will spend most of her day either in the same room as me or the cat tower roughly until bed.

 

[fluffpaws]

Does she like to play?

 

[mfoehrer]

She does play. I struggle to keep her engaged in play though. She gets bored very easily. Even after she shows interest in something. It takes her a very long time to get all revved up to play. Then play usually doesn't last to long before she lays down and seems bored again. Sometimes I think she just wants me to move the toy while she hangs out in the living room.

 

[Kris107]

Not all cats purr in a way we hear. Sometimes their throat if vibrating but you only hear it if you're up close. A gentle tail movement is usually contentment - just watch if it gets more vigorous or flicking. Rolling over for you is a good thing too. Are you wishing she was different? She clearly likes you a lot. Some cats are very independent, but she still likes being around you.

 

[Hellenww]

 

[Kieka]

Both Link and Rocket can be hard to read too thry also don't slow blink but Rocket is a velcro kitty and Link brings me all his toys. Link rarely purrs and I swear Rocket glares when she is thinking. But for mine, when just the tip is twitching it usually means they are thinking about something. Most of the time trying to decide what they want to do, be pet or do something else for example. If it's twitching when petting it's usually a sign they just wanted a quick pet and will be running off soon. Although if it's lightly twitching while they are laying down it's usually them kind of zoning out.

 

[BellaBlue82]

I want to add my experience here, as I think this might help you feel better.

When we first adopted our first girl cat Sadie (we had by pure luck always been a boy cat household) she was the cutest little fireball. Purring, laying on my chest, super playful. Gradually over the first year, it seemed like she became less engaged. Sleeping in her own hidden spots, only playing for small spurts, hardly purring, spending a lot of time by herself. I thought she would be such an aloof cat that wasn't very affectionate.
However, over the past 6 years, her personality has changed. First it was playing more. Then another year it was being around us more. Then it was laying and sleeping with us. Then another year the purring increased. Just last year, she found her voice!! She had never meowed the entire time until then!
It's been a really interesting journey with her. I was adamant she would be a "loner" for the rest of her life. Time has proven me wrong.

Also, I hate to say, I know I spent money buying silly toys just to see what she preferred. Through many, many items, she settled on a moppy cloth ball by Kong, the laser pointer, and a cloth string wand. Figuring out what she wants might help the engagement level and thus help her personality to grow.

Good luck, hopefully you will see her grow over the next few years.

 

[Krienze]

To start off. She hardly ever purrs. She only does on certain occasions.

She might be purring more than you think! Charlie purrs a lot, but it's really hard to hear him. Gracie, too. If I touch their throats or let my hand lay on their sides I can feel the vibrations of their purring, but I can almost never hear them.

 

[Furballsmom]

If it's twitching when petting it's usually a sign they just wanted a quick pet and will be running off soon. Although if it's lightly twitching while they are laying down it's usually them kind of zoning out.

Yes, I second this, Buddy-cat is very similar in regards to just the tip of his tail.

 

[GenCat]

We also have a rather aloof girlie. She’s around 3 and just this year in April started to become more vocal, affectionate and easier to read. At around 2pm she will crawl up on my chest and lay down while staring into my eyes purring as loudly as she can. Before this she never got in my lap (always preferred my husband).

I can’t tell if this behavior change is age related, or because we introduced a kitten to the household (she hated us for a month after all three younger siblings were introduced)

 

[Kwik]

Hi-lots of cats don't purr that you can hear.... that's okay and doesn't mean they are nit content,my little Bella never makes a " purr" sound and she's the biggest cuddle bum,wool sucker,mile a minute kneader of the bunch who is clearly in 7th Heaven sprawled out across my body like a velcro cat- she just doesn't purr but those deep breaths with her little nose planted next to my ears are the sound of extreme
pleasure and comfort

Usually the little end of the tail twitching when lying down is awareness & often indecision( HMMM,feels great so should I stay or go?)that's all that is.....even without being petted you may notice it while a brief little cat nap..... when the twitch stops they've resigned themselves to stay put awhile.For many felines its a very normal part of their sleep cycle before or during REMS- much like people they too dream and muscles twitch

It's another facet of cat body language saying " yep,I know your there and I'm just napping here with you where I'm most comfy for a little while"Happy cat,not same as tail swishing