Cats can be particular about who they like and don’t like. While cats bond strongly with their owners, they can also take an instant disliking to certain people. There are a few key reasons why your cat may dislike someone.
They Have Poor Cat Communication Skills
Cats communicate differently than humans and can be put off by behavior they find inappropriate or threatening. Some common cat communication mistakes include:
- Staring – Direct eye contact is seen as threatening by cats.
- Approaching Head-On – Cats prefer to be approached from the side.
- Loud Noises – Yelling or sudden loud noises frighten cats.
- Petting Against the Fur – It’s better to pet with the direction of their fur.
- Touching the Stomach – Most cats dislike having their stomachs touched.
- Restraining – Holding a cat that wants down can upset them.
People who lack proper cat communication etiquette can quickly offend a cat without meaning to. Learning to read feline body language and appropriately interact with cats can help build trust.
They Have an Unpredictable Nature
Cats are often wary around unpredictable humans. Signs someone may seem unpredictable to a cat include:
- Making erratic movements.
- Speaking loudly or shouting.
- Making direct eye contact.
- Reaching out to pet them without warning.
- Coming up quickly behind them.
Cats like routine and prefer calm, predictable human behavior. Unpredictable humans break their sense of safety, making them anxious.
They Have a Fearful Personality
Some cats are simply more fearful than others due to genetics and early life experiences. Skittish cats are quick to distrust new people. Signs a cat may have a fearful personality include:
- Hiding frequently
- Freezing or crouching when approached
- Aggressive hissing or swatting when frightened
- Avoiding being petted or held
Fearful cats need extra patience, predictability, and positive associations to overcome their inherent distrust. But they may always dislike strangers compared to braver cats.
They Invade the Cat’s Personal Space
Cats have clear boundaries they expect humans to respect. People who violate a cat’s personal space are likely to get a negative reaction. Some examples of invading a cat’s personal space include:
- Putting your face close to theirs
- Restraining or holding them tightly
- Petting their stomach or picking them up uninvited
- Cornering them or cutting off escape routes
- Entering areas they have claimed as their territory
It’s important to let cats initiate contact and interact on their own terms. Pushing affection on a cat before trust is built almost always backfires.
They Act Too Enthusiastically
Some people scare cats off by coming on too strong. Moving too quickly, speaking loudly, and staring can signal aggression. Other enthusiastic but frightening behavior includes:
- Constant hovering and petting
- Sudden hugging or restraint
- Chasing a fleeing cat
- Cornering them
- Getting in their face
Give cats space and let them acclimate to you at their own pace. Bombarding them with attention is counterproductive.
They Smell Like Other Animals
Cats depend on scent signals to gather information about people and other animals. Someone who smells like other animals, especially dogs or predators like foxes, will put a cat on edge. The smells may indicate:
- You have a competing cat or dog at home
- You recently handled wildlife like rodents
- You have food or residue on you cats find offensive
Strong perfumes and scented products can also contain chemicals cats find unpleasant or alarming. Offensive odors overwhelm a cat’s sensitive nose, making them distrust the source.
You Punish Unwanted Behaviors
Cats dislike people who punish them for normal cat behaviors like scratching furniture, knocking things over, or not using the litter box. Punishments like yelling, squirting with water, or swatting them causes them to become afraid and mistrusting. They associate you with the punishment, damaging your bond.
Positive reinforcement training is more effective for modifying a cat’s behavior. Never physically punish a cat – it will only make problems like biting and aggression worse while destroying trust.
You Force Interactions They Don’t Like
Forcing a cat to accept forms of touching and handling they don’t like is a sure way to get scratched or bitten. Some types of handling cats commonly dislike include:
- Belly rubs
- Restraint
- Being held or carried
- Having legs or paws touched
- Being brushed if they have sensitive skin
Let the cat communicate it’s boundaries. Don’t restrain the cat or force contact once they indicate they want down or away. Respect their dislikes.
You Have an Intimidating Physical Presence
Some physical traits or behaviors may register as intimidating or alarming to cats at first. This includes:
- Very tall stature
- Large physical size
- Broad shoulders
- Facial hair
- Deep voice
- Direct eye contact
- Looming over them
Make yourself appear smaller and non-threatening. Avoid direct eye contact, looming, and sudden movements. Let the cat approach you first before attempting to pet it.
You’re Too Loud
Cats have very sensitive hearing optimized to detect high frequency sounds. Very loud talking, laughing, sneezing, or tones can hurt their ears and seriously startle them. Signs of noise sensitivity include:
- flattened ears
- crouching
- fleeing the room
- hiding
- acting agitated
Use a soft tone of voice around cats and avoid sudden loud noises. Turn down music and TV to reasonable levels. Look for ear discomfort and take noise complaints seriously.
You Show Signs of Aggression
Cats dislike people who show signs of anger or aggression through body language or tone of voice. Signals of aggression to avoid include:
- Clenched jaw
- Pointing fingers
- Raised voice
- Looming posture
- Sudden movements
- Sustained direct eye contact
- Yelling or shouting
Even playful roughhousing can scare cats, as they view hands as weapons. Keep body language calm and non-threatening.
They Pick Up On Your Dislike of Cats
Cats are good at reading human facial expressions and body language. People who dislike cats may unconsciously display subtle signs cats read as antipathy or a threat, like:
- Avoiding eye contact
- Tensing up
- Leaning away
- Turning their body away
- Scowling or frowning
- Clenching hands
Even if you dislike cats, avoid signaling your distaste. Remain calm and neutral in the cat’s presence.
You Stare Too Intensely
Prolonged direct eye contact is intimidating for cats and can signal aggression. Intensely staring at a cat may make them freeze, flee, or lash out defensively. Better eye contact etiquette includes:
- Brief glances instead of a fixed stare
- Slow blinking rather than direct eye contact
- Looking away if they sustain eye contact
- Avoiding eye contact if they seem uncomfortable
If a cat stares with an unwavering gaze or dilated pupils, look away. Don’t challenge or try to outstare the cat.
Conclusion
Cats rely heavily on reading human body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice to gauge intent. Be mindful of signaling any type of threat. Move slowly, give them space, and let them make the first move. Avoid punishment or forcing interactions the cat dislikes. Instead, be patient and allow them to set the pace while associating you with calmness and positive experiences. With time, proper cat communication, and respect for their boundaries, most cats will come to see you as a friend rather than a foe.