Cats are for the most part social animals that enjoy our company. They are also pretty smart. Put those two facts together, and suddenly you have a cat that quickly learns how to make you heed his call. Responding to your cat’s pleas for attention isn’t always a bad thing. However, if your cat always seems to want to play every time you are on the phone, you probably need some help.

If your cat is engaging in an undesirable behavior to get your attention, the best thing to do is ignore him. This teaches him that his behavior has the opposite effect of his intentions. Yes, this can be difficult to achieve, especially if your cat tries to get your attention by standing on your head. Move away from your cat or put him in another room for a minute or two if you feel yourself losing patience. Again, cats are pretty smart, so your pet will soon learn that certain behaviors don’t work.

Be diligent about giving attention to your cat when he does something that you approve of (e.g., sitting, rubbing against your leg, lying on his bed, scratching the scratching post) to make sure that he doesn’t practice every “naughty” behavior in the book to get your attention (e.g. meowing, scratching the furniture, etc.). That way you will have a respectful feline in no time.

Finally, provide your cat with structured attention rather than more attention. Schedule two or three play sessions a day (to total 15-30 minutes) and a couple of short “quiet-attention” times for cuddling, petting, massage, grooming, or whatever activities your cat enjoys. Your cat will be less likely to be pushy and demanding if he knows that he will be getting attention at regular times each day.

If you would like information from an Anti-Cruelty Behavior Specialist regarding this behavior topic, please call 312-645-8253 or email behavior@anticruelty.org.

Recent Articles

Back to Top
Teaching Your Cat to Come To You

Teaching your cat to come is a very nifty behavior to instill in him. Calling a kitten when it is contemplating climbing the drapes or jumping on the dog is a terrific way to prevent bad habits from forming; it also saves you time from searching every nook and cranny of the house for your hiding cat. Not to mention,

Cat Clicker Training Tips

Clicker training is a positive reinforcement method of training. Studies have shown that animals respond best when an action is followed by a reward. The animal is therefore more likely to perform an action if they believe it will be followed by something good, such as a tasty treat. In clicker training, the clicker

Socializing Your Adolescent/Adult Cat

Much like dogs, and small children for that matter, cats also crave your attention. Many times cats will even misbehave just to get you to notice them. Although this behavior can be pesky at times, cats who feel ignored and are seldom handled by humans are more likely to become introverted and standoffish. Providing

Introducing a New Cat to Your Other Cats

First impressions between pets are just as important as they are between people. By providing a slow and steady introduction, the result can be rewarding for both your feline companions. Here are a few tips and precautionary steps to help make cat-cat introductions pleasant for everyone involved.

Keep the cats