I have a male cat about nine months old and I have been with him since he was a kitten.
I look forward to seeing him after a long day at work as he comes to meet me at the door and cuddles on my lap.
I love the warm and fuzzy feelig but there is this period when he changed suddenly.
He didn’t want anything to do with me which got me very concerned.
So I sought after what could be the reasons and am here to share my findings with you.
These are the possible reasons why your cat is not affectionate anymore:
1. Your cat is sick.
2. They are stressed.
3. You are not spending enough time with them.
4. It is the mating season.
5. The weather has changed.
6. Their environment is not clean.
7. You are not letting your cat be independent.
8. Have you changed your petting technique?
9. Your cat has not been properly fed.
We shall look at the reasons why your cat is not affectionate anymore in depth…
DISCLOSURE: http://catloverhere.com/ is reader supported so if you buy any products featured on this site I may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure here.
My Cat Isn’t Affectionate Anymore, Here’s 14 Reasons Why…
There are many reasons why your cat has become less affectionate or is ignoring you and these should be easy to spot.
1. Your cat is sick.
If your cat’s behavior suddenly changes, it could be that they are sick.
If they are stuck in the same position.
If they won’t eat or are not using the litter box.
It could be a health issue and they need to be taken to the vet to be checked.
It could also be caused by old age.
Their muscles may start to ache as they age making them uncomfortable during cuddles.
UTIs are fairly common in cats
So if your cat is not affectionate AND peeing in unusual spots of the house other than the litter box there’s a good chance it could have a UTI, take it to the vet to be checked.
And to prevent these issues from getting out of control then consider using a Cat Litter that can detect UTI’s as they happen to avoid any health complications…
Alpha Paw – Color Changing Genius Litter
It’s a natural cat litter that monitors your cats health by containing an indicator that changes colour when abnormalities in your cats urine are detected.
No products found.
2. Your Cat Is Stressed
Sometimes cats also get stressed.
This causes them to change their behaviour.
Stress can be caused by a change in the environment.
Say, for example, you move houses or you move furniture around the house.
They may take some time before getting used to the new house or new arrangement.
New animals and humans may also cause your cat to be stressed.
They love routines and know their family members.
So once a new person arrives and there is a new smell, they could withdraw for some time.
This includes babies.
No products found.
3. Not spending enough time with them
Out of sight, out of mind.
If you stopped spending time with your cat or were away for some time, your cat may become less affectionate.
You need to spend more time with your cat so that they can become fond of you again.
4. Mating season
Your cat could be on heat, having periods, or going off the heat period.
Like in people, this changes their mood and behaviour.
Your cat may be searching for a mate and that is why they are not affectionate.
Just wait it out.
5. Weather changes
If it is too hot, your cat may feel uncomfortable cuddling.
Although some breeds love laying under the sun, some are affected by heat.
You may find your cat wanting to cuddle during the colder seasons.
This, like the mating season, just needs you to be patient with them.
6. Is their litter box and sleeping areas clean and tidy?
Cats are very clean animals and a dirty litter tray can put them off, make them grump, and they therefore take it out on you as their owner.
Ensure that you change the litter tray every time after they use it.
Also, keep the litter tray and sleeping environment clean and clutter-free.
Out of the house all day and can’t clean the litter tray immediately after they use it?
Try an automatic litter box instead…
Self Cleaning Litter Boxes on Amazon
No products found.
If you are changing the cat litter as often as you should, have you cleaned the tray out with a strong smelling detergent or disinfectant?
You might think you’re doing the cat a favour by bleaching the litter box clean but the smell of these cleaning products might be the reason they are grumpy and not affectionate.
Cat’s often don’t like strong smells like bleach and disinfectant and it may be making them feel poorly.
Clean The Tray With An Enyzme Cleaner Instead
Have a look at this cat urine remover…
The All Natural Enzymatic Cleaner
7. You are not letting your cat be independent.
Cats have a mind of their own.
There is what they want and don’t want.
If you force them to cuddle or impose things on them, they may keep their distance.
Try and ensure you keep a healthy distance between yourself and your cat.
Do not be too clingy and allow them to be free then when they come looking for affection be sure to give it to them.
Cats like to do things on their own terms and not just when you the owner feels like it.
8. You are not petting them right.
Spending time with your cat will help you get to know them better.
Your cat loves to be petted a certain way.
Pay attention to such details.
If you pet them differently, they will notice.
This may cause them to be less affectionate with you.
9. You are not feeding them properly.
Being routine lovers, cats loved to be fed at a certain time.
Ensure that you are consistent with feeding time.
Feed them their favorite food.
Also, give them water.
10) Have You Recently Changed Your Daily Routine Or The Furniture Around?
Cats are creatures of habit and they really do need a daily routine to keep them happy.
Many cat parents will tell you that their pets must have swallowed an alarm clock as they know precisely what time their meal is due or you are going to change their cast litter!
Cats are easily stressed and a change in their routine could trigger this.
Believe it or not, they don’t like the furniture being moved around!
They like the confidence of knowing how thy can wander room to room without bumping into furniture in their path.
Maybe they had a favorite sunny spot on a window sill that you felt was the perfect place for your new vase – someone might not agree!
11) Have You Recently Acquired a New Pet Or Another Cat?
If your answer to this question is yes, it will certainly take time for your puss cat to accept them!
If you have introduced a dog to your family, this could well have terrified your cat – some go missing for days when this happens.
You just have to be patient and let your cat get used to the new dog. It is a good idea to give your cat space where they know that they can go and the dog is not allowed – either a certain room or maybe upstairs.
If your cat does ‘take cover’ and hides, don’t force them out of their hiding place, just leave them to come out on their own accord.
Introducing another cat to your home could take a number of weeks for things to settle.
You must ensure that both cats have all their own possessions as sharing is not a good idea.
Each cat will need its privacy and this includes having their litter tray well away from the new tray and in a position where they cannot be seen by the new cat using it.
12) Has a baby arrived?
Cats are very unsure of new babies and it is important to make sure that you still give your cat their regular cuddles and don’t ignore them.
It is a good idea not to leave your cat with the baby especially once the baby is capable of grabbing a tail.
If your cat has suddenly become less affectionate, has this coincided with your baby learning to crawl?
Not surprisingly your cat will not like your baby playing with its food bowl and will find a baby crawling towards them when they are using the litter tray very disconcerting.
Once again, the key to success is to give your cat privacy and space so they can regain their confidence.
13) Did you wash or move the cat bed recently?
Your lovely furbaby will not have appreciated either!
The smell of the washing liquid you used could be off-putting to your cat, so once again the enzyme cleaner is preferable.
Did you relocate your cat’s bed?
They might not approve of the new location, especially if it is nearer the ground than the first place and also if it it overlooked by another cat bed or dog basket.
Your cat will also not like it if the cat bed is now in a hectic part of the house where children keep running past or try to shake it.
The easiest solution is to put the cat bed back where it was and stand back – you could be showered in feline affection!
14) Are You Playing With Your Cat?
Cats need to be entertained and kept occupied or they can lose interest.
Be sure your cat has plenty of toys to play with.
No products found.
Check out my article Fun things to do with your cat at home
Also give them their own space to play when you’re not around, cat climing trees are the best option for this…
No products found.
Further reading:
How to raise a kitten to be cuddly
How to raise a kitten to be affectionate
Do Cats Get More Affectionate With Age or Less Affectionate?
Some older cats do get more affectionate because they are more needy and just enjoy more affection.
They will often suggest this by using their meow to attract your attention, or they may keep rubbing against your legs or head butting you!
A well known feline trick is to gently tap some things from your desk onto the floor when you are sitting there – what attention seeking!.
They do this because they want your company and affection.
They are probably not as agile as they were and so feel that some gentle stroking will fill the gap left by the bird chasing that they used to do- perfectly!
My cat Tigger certainly became more cuddly as he grew older
He loves sitting on our laps!
How To Make Your Cat More Affectionate With The Cat Language Bible
Learning how to effectively communicate with a cat is the key to winning back their affection. Think about it…
Cat’s don’t speak human speak and they have no real idea what you are saying.
They learn to be affectionate with you through other means but if you’re not talking the same language as them they will be just as clueless as you are about what’s going on in your relationship.
The key is learning the Cat Language Bible…
if you’re wondering what Cat Language Bible is – It’s a guide in PDF form that will be sent to you via email
But what has a guide got to do with making my cat affectionate you ask?
Because in this guide you’ll learn how you can communicate with your cat like never before
The Japanese researchers found that cats understand humans, not just by voice tone but also identifying certain words including their names, the owners name, various commands you’ve used, and many other stunning eavesdropping techniques that you had no idea about
Now imagine being able to directly talk to your cat and understanding what your cat wants from you
You see, when we think spending time with our cats and giving them attention
We think about toys and cat trees and playing with them
Yes, that’s one aspect
But more important than that is the emotional side
Building that emotional bond with your cat
As cat parents that’s something we need to focus on
We’re good at providing toys and the high quality food
But what about understanding our cats?
How we can effectively communicate with them?
This guide will teach you exactly that
That’s why it’s something I would recommend ALL cat parents
Especially to those cat parents who’s cats have become less affectionate
If you’re skeptical that’s understandable
But why not try it for 30 days…
…and if you’re not happy or think it’s not working you can get a full refund
That gives you plenty of time to work through the guide
I’m sure you’ll learn a lot too
Did I mention you get 4 awesome FREE bonuses
Here’s what they are
- The Cat Care Guide
- Training Your Cat
- A-Z Feline Nutrition
- FREE lifetime updates
These are all free that come with Cat Language Bible
Not bad right?
Oh and there’s a special offer
You get $10 OFF the original price
How long will this offer last?
I have no idea
Click here to check if this offer is still on
If you want to learn more about this guide then you can check out my review where I go pretty in detail
Here is a quick reminder of why your cat is not affectionate anymore.
1. Your cat is sick.
2. They are stressed.
3. You are not spending enough time with them.
4. It is the mating season.
5. The weather has changed.
6. Their environment is not clean.
7. You are not letting your cat be independent.
8. Have you changed your petting technique?
9. Your cat has not been properly fed.
10. You’ve changed their routine or the furniture.
11. You’ve just got a new cat or other pet.
12. A new baby has arrived.
13. You’re not playing with your cat enough when it wants to.
Last update on 2023-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
