do cats pick their owners

Some cats do, some cats don’t. More often than not, they will show the most affection towards the person who spends the most time caring for them, including feeding them. But while some of our feline friends won’t be afraid to make their favorites known, others will be more comfortable loving you from afar.

Top 5 Factors That Affect How Cats Choose Their Person

Because they can read body language so well, cats can tell if an animal is a threat, just bothersome, or willing to share food. However, they can also learn more sophisticated ways to communicate with people they see on a daily basis.

It makes sense that if a human regularly feeds, cares for, plays with, cuddles with, and attends to a cat, the two will eventually become more adept at interpreting each other’s emotions and body language due to the sheer volume of interaction, which results in extremely subtle communication.

With time, this person will become incredibly knowledgeable about that cat’s needs. Additionally, it makes sense that cats would gravitate toward people who get them and accept their advances. Cats form attachments to people who spend time with them, tend to their needs, and allow them to communicate easily.

do cats pick their owners

7 Signs You’re Your Cat’s Favorite Person

There are other subtle but clear indicators that you are your cat’s favorite person in addition to the most common and obvious ones, like purring and kneading.

Molly DeVoss, a Certified Feline Training and Behavior Specialist and founder of Cat Behavior Solutions, says these signs include the following.

How To Become Your Cat’s Favorite Person in 5 Easy Steps

Here are five tactics DeVoss suggests if you recently adopted a cat, are attempting to win over the cat of a new roommate or partner, or want to strengthen your relationship with your current cat.

According to DeVoss, a kitten’s early social development has a crucial window. The way kittens react to people is largely determined by the first three to seven weeks of their lives. Cats that are regularly handled and exposed to a variety of sounds and scents are more likely to develop into well-mannered, bonded humans.

But during that time, if they don’t interact with anyone, kittens will become more wary, distrustful, or even afraid. According to DeVoss, it will take time for a cat to learn that they can trust anything they weren’t exposed to during that developmental stage when they were kittens.

FAQ

Why do cats pick their owners?

If you’ve ever wondered how and why cats have a favorite person, the short answer is cats loving and choosing a favorite human caregiver stems from a combination of personality, human-cat communication, routine, and environment.

Do cats usually pick a favorite person?

In a multi-human household, it seems that cats will choose one family member they want to spend more of their time with. According to a study done by the nutrition company, Canadae, they discovered that the person who makes the most effort is the favorite.

What is it called when a cat chooses you?

Cat imprinting can mean several things, but typically it is defined by an establishment of trust. “Imprinting is something that happens during the sensitive, early development period of an animal’s life,” Tamburo says.

How do you know if your cat is imprinted on you?

One of the most obvious signs is purring and kneading. This behavior, where kittens press their paws in and out on soft surfaces, is reminiscent of cat imprinting. The rhythmic purring, often accompanied by kneading, signifies contentment and security.