How Cats React to Strangers

Cats are known as solitary animals. Their aloof behavior makes them seem detached. Many of cats are also wary when face strangers, but there are a few tips that can help them feel comfortable with guests. According to feline experts, cats social skills develop immediately after birth. Kittens who are regularly exposed to humans and strangers when young are better in bonding with humans. Moreover, kittens who are born from feral or stray parents are also less sociable. Nevertheless, if we put an effort to teach a cat that encounter with a stranger is a pleasurable experience, we can improve their social skills. Experts suggest avoiding direct contact with an unknown person until a cat feel comfortable in her or his presence. The first step is to make a cat her ‘safe room,’ where she will be at a safe distance from unknown people. Using treats, playing, and cuddling will help a cat stay calm. After that, we can gradually introduce a stranger to the cat, but only from a safe distance. To find out more about how cats react to a strangersand how to help them socialize better, the article “Cat Social Behavior” gives us the following tips.

For adult cats that already feel threatened by the presence of strangers, the socialization process is much more time consuming. Adult cats must be given more time to familiarize themselves with strangers. If your cat is nervous around people, don’t let these people approach your cat. They will just further frighten him. You should also not force your cat to meet strangers. Instead, give your cat the opportunity to approach the stranger on his own. It may take hours, it may take weeks. But until your cat approaches on his own terms, and finds that nothing bad happens, he will not develop his own confidence to trust people. You can speed up the process by starting with a hungry cat and a trail of extremely tasty treats leading up to the stranger. Each step the cat takes toward the person is rewarded with a treat. With this set up, you and the other person should sit quietly and let the cat approach. The hungrier the cat and the better the treat, the quicker the cat will approach and overcome its fear.

Often, cats react negatively to strangers because of their approach. Namely, if we approach a cat like we greet humans, it can cause a cat’s withdrawal. We tend to greet a cat head-on, loudly and intensely. Cats love space and spontaneity. They will approach an unknown person but only due to their personal timing. Many owners are not even aware what to do when their pressure furry friends are anxious. They tend to pick them up and start cuddling. Feline experts inform us that anxious cat needs space and want to be left alone. Cuddling and picking them will only make them more troubled.