Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click here for Dragon Serpents
Click for ZooMed
Click for 65% off Shipping with Reptiles 2 You

Strange Marking Habits??

newmeowmie Aug 26, 2003 04:17 PM

Being a new cat owner, I am not sure if this is normal behavior or not. My 6-month old kitten does not ever rub against me. I read somewhere (can't remember where) that timid cats will rub objects near their humans. Callie is not timid! She is not afraid of much, and even when startled, she jumps, and then investigates. Her curiosity wins out virtually every time.

When I come home from work, she purrs and chirps, and often will rub against my bag and shoes (as soon as I take them off, never while on my feet). then she'll flop onto my shoes and roll over partially onto her back. She actually likes to have her tummy rubbed. I tend to tire of the tummy rubbing before she does, and she then follows me from room to room, chatting with me. I assume telling me about her day (since when I put down food, she ignores it).

When we play her favorite game...hide & seek in the bathtub...sometimes she gets really excited and will headbutt me and rub once against my face. This has happened only a few times; the rest of the time she just purrs like crazy (she hasn't figured out that the purring gives away her hiding place).

She is a balinese, but acts like a ragdoll when she is picked up...falling completely limp in my arms. She will stay like that until I sit down, and then immediately struggles and jumps to the ground. It is very strange. She is most certainly NOT a lap cat. Was she dropped as a kitten??

If I hold her and kiss the top of her head, she will push up into the kiss, and occasionally she will give me a little lick. Once in a while she will sleep next to me in bed for a few hours, or sit next to me on the couch and touch my hand with her paw. Other than that she shows very little affection. No winding between my legs, no snuggling, none of the behaviors that I read about here.

Is there something wrong with her? Is there anything I can do? I've had her for 3 1/2 months, and I hoped that she would get more affectionate when she lost some of her kitten energy. No luck.

Any thoughts would be welcomed!

Thanks!!

New Meowmie

Replies (3)

JaimeMarie Aug 27, 2003 03:29 PM

Hi New,
I have had many cats. Some acted like your others are way more affectionate. Out of the ones I have now. One is overly affectionate rubbing against me, purring her head off. The second Crash likes to be held and pet but doesn't come for the attention I have to give it to her. She also has never purred. The last is Moxie. Moxie hate being picked up she will scream and scream until we put her down. She only likes to be pet when she wants to be.
So your cat is normal.

Jaime

newmeowmie Aug 27, 2003 03:59 PM

Jaime,

Thanks so much for your reply! One more question...is there anything I can do to make her more social? I know I'm attributing human emotions to a cat, but sometimes she just looks so lost.

I just got a new kitten, Kazee, and he is a total ALPHA male!! Callie beats up on him when he does something, or goes somewhere, that she doesn't like, but he always stands his ground. She eventually gives up, and runs away. He weighs less than 3 pounds, and she weighs over 10 pounds! I just don't get it.

As I mentioned, once in a while Callie will snuggle with me, but now Kazee jumps on her (playfully) and continues to harrass her until she runs off...then he takes her place, and starts purring. I try to intercede, but I'm not sure if I should. I don't want to make Kazee more determined to chase Callie away, and I don't want Callie to get so discouraged that she will stop snuggling all together.

The trials and tribulations of new meowmiehood!! Who knew?!

Help!!

Susie

PHMadameAlto Aug 27, 2003 08:43 PM

You and Callie need some snuggling time away from the other cat. Either close him up in another room for a half an hour a day or close him out of a room with only you and Callie and try spending some quality time with her. Treats would really help, also maybe a Comfort Zone plug-in.

-----
Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

Site Tools