Cats are sociable animals, but they can also be independent and remarkably adaptable! Their ancestors in the wild were (and still are) solitary animals, although when they form groups they work well together; particularly a mother and her kittens.
This was confirmed in a survey undertaken by Prof Mills and his team at the University of Lincoln, who described 5 relationship types between cats and owners – indicating that whichever of the 5 relationships a person and kitty have, can depend on the level of emotional investment that person gives invests in their cat.
These relationships were categorized as follows:
Domestic cats follow these traits and you will find that your cat can be both sociable and independent; they rely on you to provide their creature comforts and their food, but they don’t mind if you leave them alone for a couple of days while you have a weekend break!
Like humans, cats have individual personalities and the level of their social needs will vary. Sometimes, the cat's breed will have an impact on the level of independence. The RagaMuffin for example, is known to love being with people, so will be happy to spend a lot of time with you, but the Russian Blue or Persian breeds are often happy with their own company.
The Norwegian Forest Cat is a very active breed that loves hunting and climbing, so may like to spend most of their time outside, whereas a British Shorthair likes to relax and will be quite happy to keep you company while you are relaxing.
It’s important to respect the level of social interaction your cat prefers and work with them to try and develop this, to your mutual benefit. However, it is important that you do not force interaction with your feline friend – this could alienate them and have a negative effect on your relationship.
As well as genetics playing a part in your cat’s social demeanour, early experiences can also play a large part. If your kitten is handled gently and frequently by different people when they are young (between 2-7 weeks) they are more likely to develop a stronger relationship with humans.
However, since a kitten should not be rehomed until it is around 8 weeks old, their social skills will very much depend on the breeder, how much time they are able to spend with each individual kitten in the litter, and how often you can visit them and start to build that bond. It is also wise to consider your own plan for socializing your kitten once they can come home with you! For example, do you have lots of family members or children in the home who can regularly handle a kitten? Or do you plan to have visitors who can come and support your kitty socialization?
As a cat parent, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your purrfect feline friend has everything they need – but this is not restricted to making sure they are fed regularly. It also means that you provide them with comfort, safety and lots of love and attention – comfy beds, elevated spots where they can feel safe, grooming and regular playtimes. Collectively, these will help develop your cat’s social skills.
Providing a calm and relaxed environment in the home will also help your kitty to develop their social skills. FELIWAY Optimum can help in more signs of feline stress, in more situations, and calms cats better than ever.
If your cat is blinking at you, kneading your lap or staring at you, do you know what they are saying? Understanding a cat’s body language is imperative if you are going to help develop their social skills.
Although your cat will play independently too – hiding, climbing, or developing their hunting skills by chasing – you can join in the fun by replicating some of these experiences. Putting aside time each day and learning how to play with your cat, will not only keep them active and mentally stimulated, it will support their social skills and develop your relationship even more.
Cats are by nature, independent, but sometimes this is perceived as being ‘aloof’ or ‘standoffish’. Cats like to feel in control of their destiny – that’s why they like routine, and like to know how their day is mapped out – any change in routine can throw a cat into a tailspin and they are likely to take themselves off to a safe space until their day returns to normal. So, if you are planning any changes around the home, or you are having strangers to visit, the chances are your cat will not be very sociable.
When your kitty approaches you, let them do it in their own time. Keep an eye on their tail, which can be a good indication of how they are feeling – if they approach you and their tail is held high this means they are comfortable and are feeling friendly. They will probably start to rub up against you, at which time they will probably be receptive to you stroking them – but make sure you stroke them in just the right places!
The AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines, outlined 5 Pillars of a healthy feline environment and whether your cat is sociable or independent, could rely on whether you meet these standards. Do you:
Like any relationship ‘you get out what you put in’ and if you respect that your cat does sometimes like its independence, it will make all the sociable interactions you have all that more special.