I read the other day that the only way a cat expresses affection is by "head butting." Everything else, it turns out, is a shameless ploy for food or attention or marking territory.
Fine. AND I DON'T WANT TO START A DEBATE ON THAT. I bring it up as backstory.
The question I have is, how do I communicate to my cat that -- activate stupid doofus mode -- I wuv her to iddy biddy bits?
End stupid doofus mode.
Perhaps when I play with her, she takes it as MY shameless ploy for attention and not me trying to show her affection.
Part of this might be because yesterday I was trying to shake half a can of wet food into her plate, and I had it on the counter and she was at my feet and the can fell out of my hand and almost conked her right on the head. BONUS OBSERVATION: Keep the can firmly gripped, a dropped can will probably do some serious damage to kitty if it falls right.
Is there any method that researchers have determined a cat will instinctively understand as affection or friendliness from an owner?
Fine. AND I DON'T WANT TO START A DEBATE ON THAT. I bring it up as backstory.
The question I have is, how do I communicate to my cat that -- activate stupid doofus mode -- I wuv her to iddy biddy bits?
End stupid doofus mode.
Perhaps when I play with her, she takes it as MY shameless ploy for attention and not me trying to show her affection.
Part of this might be because yesterday I was trying to shake half a can of wet food into her plate, and I had it on the counter and she was at my feet and the can fell out of my hand and almost conked her right on the head. BONUS OBSERVATION: Keep the can firmly gripped, a dropped can will probably do some serious damage to kitty if it falls right.
Is there any method that researchers have determined a cat will instinctively understand as affection or friendliness from an owner?