I have a super sweet orange tabby cat, and I have never had a cat this dependent. The first couple of months I expected him to be dependent seeing as he was in a cage for most of his life and he had to adjust to other animals. But it has been a year and he is more dependent than ever. He stays in my room until I get home than he follows me around cries at the door when I go outside for a cigarette. I have a new boyfriend and he can’t even spend the night the last time my cat attacked him in the middle of the night. It has become a little excessive and besides that one moment he is pretty well behaved gets along with my other animals besides my jack russell but she is too springy for my cat. I don’t know how to have him become more independent. My room mates don’t even see him unless I’m home. I adore this cat and me and him have a great bond and the best cat I have ever had but I cant even have a night with my boyfriend without him getting jealous or whining about it
We have a dog door and he see’s my other cat go through it and he won’t go outside unless im in the backyard and leave the door open for him and even then i even move and he runs in.
I just found out today the few times my cat is out of my room he will hear the door open and run to it and see it is my room mate and will just run or seem disinterested. And the attack on my boyfriend was pretty aggressive. He is getting a little better with my jack russell which I am completely pleased about because my dog can sleep in my room again in her dog bed. At first I thought the dependence was because I work full time and go to school full time and he only see’s me at night But my room mates and me got him to be our first family animal together and I kind of feel like I have tainted that with his dependence towards me.
Chosen Answer:
Your cat sounds really sweet. I’m wondering if he was very well socialized when you got him, or if you were the first and only person he ever learned to trust. That would explain why he’s so closely bonded to you but not your roommates.
How did he “attack” him? Was he playing when your boyfriend moved under the covers, or was it actually an aggressive attack?
You might try getting him some Feliway diffusers, they’re like hot oil air fresheners except we can’t smell them. They give off these synthetic pheremones that help calm anxious cats. You could also ask your vet about possible anxiety medication.
It’s also possible the cat is reacting to your boyfriend’s scent. He may not like his cologne, or your boyfriend might smell like another animal. You could also have your boyfriend give your cat a little dish of canned food or even a little bit of tuna as soon as he comes over, so that the kitty comes to associate your boyfriend with pleasant things. He shouldn’t go overboard trying to pet the cat or anything at this point, but after some time passes, he could try petting him just a little while he’s eating.
Good luck with your kitty. He sounds like he’s worth being proactive and trying different things to see what will work. I’m sure that if you have patience with him, you will be able to work something out.
