I remember getting a new kitten some three years ago, and things didn’t work out the way I wanted at first.
The cat was so aggressive, and she would often scratch and bite me whenever I tried to make any contact.
However, with time she got used to me, she is such a cuddly cat that loves playing with me and anyone I invite into my home.
Below I’ll give you some important tips that will help you make your cat stop hating you.
If you’ve just gotten a new kitten and are worried that they don’t like you, there has to be a reason. Understanding these reasons might not be easy, but I can give you my general opinion on why your kitten hates you.
Below are the top reasons why kittens don’t like us, humans:
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My Kitten Doesn’t Like Me, Why?
1. You’re excessively affectionate
Although most cats love physical displays of affection, your new kitten might like that in excess.
You need to respect their boundaries and stay away to give them independence.
Avoid interrupting the cat every time as it might lead to distrust and anger.
2. A past bad experience
Some people hate cats, and it’s possible that your new kitten was ever abused by someone else.
An abused cat will always remember how they were abused, and psychologically, they think that any human is dangerous.
3. You’ve not connected yet.
Most cats will easily bond with humans, but some might need time before this happens. They need to trust you before any form of connection happens.
Remember, this cat is going through many changes: a new owner and a new home, so it’s only right to give them time to settle and adapt to the changes.
Also learn the most effective ways to communicate with your kitten as it’s not the same way you communicate with humans, see the Cat Language Bible…
4. They feel neglected
Cats are domesticated animals, and they need us to provide primary care such as food, shelter and play. If you don’t offer these needs, the cat might feel neglected and uncared for.
Therefore, the cat will see you as a source of threat instead of a source of security.
5. A significant change in the environment
Cats need to feel secure and protected, and the environment they live in plays a major role. If you’ve just gotten a new kitten, they’ve changed their environment.
As a result, they become insecure and fearful. This is especially common with cats that have never been raised in a home.
5 Signs Your New Kitten Dislikes You
1) The tail is a good barometer
Looking at the position of your kitten’s rail is a great indicator as to how your kitten is feeling.
If their tail is upright or shaped like a query mark, in kitty language this is very positive!
If the tail is lower than the horizontal this is telling you that your kitten is feeling afraid and in an older cats this can be a sign of aggression too.
Basically the lower the tail, the more stress in your puss cat.
2) Your kitten keeps hiding
If your kitten keeps hiding, it is not you that they they are unsure of, but their environment.
If it is just a few days since you brought your kitten home, they might just find everything overpowering.
When you first brought your kitten home, did you put them in a small safe area such as the bathroom or another small room?
You need to put your kitten in a small room with their bed, food and water for a few days. Keep popping in to keep them company.
After a few days, if they seem settled, give them access to one other room and repeat this process every few days until they have the run of the house.
Do not let them outdoors for a few weeks until they are feeling happy and confident in their new home surroundings.
If you have had your kitten in your home for a few weeks and they have only just started hiding, take them along to be checked out by your Vet as there could be a health problem.
3) Your kitten keeps biting
Just like puppies, kittens want to bite you or gnaw on your knuckles as they are teething and their mouth is sore.
This is a stage that your kitten will grow out of. If you are bitten by them as an adult cat, this is definitely a sign that they are not happy with you!
4) Your kitten runs away and won’t play
Kittens do have their own minds and cats in general do what they want to do and when they want to do it and this is not something you will ever be able to change.
Cats are creatures of habit and it is a good idea to play with them a couple of times every day at about the same time for 15- 20 minutes.
You should both enjoy this playtime, but be very gentle as your kitten is very small.
Invest in a few little kitten toys including one of the catnip filled soft toys on a string – kittens usually find these irresistible.
Having said that, some kittens don’t enjoy playing but just adore a cuddle session!
5) Your kitten is hissing and growling
This certainly can be off putting – especially from such a small creature!
Fear not, this is just your kitten growing up and developing by trying out the noises they can make – a little like a baby does.
Learn To Communicate With Your New Kitten…
Also learn the most effective ways to communicate with your kitten as it’s not the same way you communicate with humans, see the Cat Language Bible…
How to Get Your New Kitten to Love You
You can use different tricks on your cat to make them love you. The first step should be understanding your cat because each cat is unique.
Once you’ve done that, try to do the following:
• Provide them with a sense of control – you can do this by letting them choose when to interact and when not to. In doing so, you’ll be boosting your relationship.
Avoid handling your cat when they don’t want to be handled because you’ll overstimulate them, and they hate that.
• Give the cat a chance to choose – in case you aren’t sure your cat is ok with what you’re about to do, stop and give them time. Give your cat some space and let them show you what they want to do next.
At this point, the cat will either walk away or stay. Some cats will even give indications by rubbing up against you.
• Be less threatening – you can help your cat open up more and love you by appearing less scary. The best way to do this is by always getting down to the cat’s level and reaching out to them.
As you do this, be keen to observe any signs of irritations and if you note any, stop what you were doing and give them space.
• Understand what the cat likes – you can only achieve this by paying attention to the cat’s body language. It’s actually the best way to make your cat grow closer to you.
Once you’ve learnt what your cat likes, keep offering them that, and with time, they’ll start being affectionate.
• Feed and play with the cat – most cats love being fed, and they also prefer humans playing with them once in a while. You can initiate multiple small meals in a day to interact with your cat more.
You can also play with them using cat-approved gestures and toys.
In conclusion, cats are affectionate pets, but it’s normal for a new kitten to not like you at first.
Learn To Communicate With Your New Kitten…
Also learn the most effective ways to communicate with your kitten as it’s not the same way you communicate with humans, see the Cat Language Bible…
How Do I Get My Kitten To Bond With Me?
There are three important keywords to successful bonding with your kitten:
Time
Consistency
Patience.
If there are several family members all trying to bond with the kitten at the same time, it will take time and there is the risk that the kitten could get confused.
It is best for them to bond successfully with one person and then the others can start to take part in feeding and grooming routines.
Stick to a schedule.
This may sound strange, but cats are creatures of habit and love a routine.
If you have forgotten it is feeding time – they will come and remind you!
Establish a routine as soon as your kitten comes to your home and importantly this will really help to establish their trust in you. Cats can easily be stressed, so having a fixed time schedule will help your kitten to relax and settle
Cuddle your kitten.
This may sound a daft thing to list, but showing your kitten affection from very early on is crucial.
Kittens thrive on attention and love being petted. Gently stroke their backs, ears and the pads on their feet.
The favorite spot for most cats is the top of their head!
Only cuddle your kitten when they want to, if they don’t let them go and tray again when they approach you.
Kittens love to be groomed so this is another fun activity, but make sure that you brush them really gently.
You can check out my article on How to raise a kitten to be cuddly which has some pretty cool tips and advice
Play regularly!
Kittens are energetic and curious so play times are essential!
Kittens are naturally playful and if they are enjoying themselves they will be more relaxed and the bond between you should start to develop.
Again, never do anything your kitten doesn’t like and when they decide the play session is over, then it is, because the other point to remember where your kitten is concerned is that they may be tiny, but they are the boss!
Don’t know what to do with your kitten?
Check out my article fun things to do with your cat at home
Consider Some New Kitten Toys…
No products found.
How Long Does It Take For a Kitten To Like Its New Owner?
Another good question is ‘how long is a piece of string’?
Every kitten is different and even though you have brought them to your home, they will have already had many experiences in their short life – especially if your kitten comes from a rescue home.
There is a lot of adjustment for your kitten in the early weeks.
They must get used to a new home, new people different food and even different cat litter.
To get to the stage where they feel relatively settled and even affectionate towards you, takes on average 3-4 weeks but can take much longer.
It is important to remember that cats can be very different characters.
There are some that are real ‘couch potatoes’ and hardly move from the most comfortable armchair or lap all day.
Others are very independent, only show affection when they want to and treat your home like a McDonalds – popping in for a quick tasty meal before disappearing again!
Kittens have both these types of character and though this could be disappointing for you, don’t let it be because both types can love you very much!
How To Get Your New Kitten To Like You Quicker
Learn to communicate effectivelty with your cat in a way THEY understand as they are not the same as us, why is why guides like the following can be useful…
The Cat Language Bible is a guide that has been written by Jonas Jurgella who is an animal researcher and a specialist in animal behavior.
Over the years he has worked with hundreds of cats and their owners to help them to nurture bonds.
He does this by teaching the owners ‘how to read their cats’ behavior and to understand the non-verbal signs and what they are trying to communicate.
The book is 11 chapters of really good reading that helps cat owners to understand their pets well and to communicate with them far more effectively.
Who’s This Guide For?
If you are happy with the relationship with your kitten and don’t think it can get any better then it’s not for you
This guide is for those cat parents who want to understand their cat like never before
It’s for those cat parents that want to build a even more stronger bond with their cat
It’s for those cat parents that want to communicate with their furbaby in a way they actually understand
It’s for those cat parents that want to be able to care for their furbaby
And what better way to start this then with your kitten
The best part?
The bond between the two of you will get even more stronger as your kitten grows up
It’ll become into something very beautiful
Something only other cat parents can dream of
Lucky for you, you have the chance to do this
You can find out more about Cat Language Bible by clicking here
There’s pretty free awesome bonuses that you get with this guide
I have written a in-depth review which you can check out
Why Does My New Kitten Hate Me?
As explained in the guide, here are the top reasons why your kitten doesn’t like you:
• You’re excessively affectionate
• A past bad experience
• You haven’t connected yet
• They feel neglected
• A significant change in the environment
Here’s How To Make Your New Kitten Stop Hating You and Starting Loving You
• Provide them with a sense of control
• Give the cat a chance to choose
• Be less threatening
• Understand what the cat likes
• Feed and play with the cat
Learn To Communicate With Your New Kitten…
Also learn the most effective ways to communicate with your kitten as it’s not the same way you communicate with humans, see the Cat Language Bible…
Last update on 2023-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API