One for the Cat People Again

[queenydiva]

Cat owners--help! OK, recap: I adopted a lovely little 2-year-old calico in May, who is named Alanna (see icon). While Alanna continues to be lovely, she also won't play with any of the toys I bought her, or any of the toys that I've made her, thanks to all your lovely suggestions. She often sits around the apartment with her head down, looking

Comments

[jae_w]

Do you know if she was well-treated before you got her? I had a cat for a long time who'd been abused before I got her from the shelter, and she was very stand-off-ish for a long time -- didn't want to play, didn't want to be petted, would hide under the bed. What I would do sometimes would be to sit next to her, not necessarily petting her, but so she could tell I was nearby, and wouldn't hurt her. I would sometimes let her sniff my hand (kind of like you do with a strange dog) or would give her a treat, and would talk quietly to her. After a while she let me pet her and would sit on my lap, etc., though she never really liked strangers or anything, and she was never really much for toys.

Of course, I guess the other thing is to make sure she's physically okay -- is she eating well & using the litter box? not throwing up or anything? no problems walking or jumping?

[yesido]

My cat never plays with toys. Even when she was a kitten. I would buy her little rolling balls with bells, little catnip-stuffed mice, enticing feathers attached to string: nothing. The most response I could get would be when I would repeatedly bat the toys into her and then she would just stare at me with loathing. Some cats just don't dig it. She would play with imaginary toys, I guess, when she was small, but now she's older and occasionally races around frantically and seems to be enjoying herself, but mostly she just likes to sleep and sit around looking at the floor. She loves getting pets, but only on her terms: I can't just scoop her up and cuddle; she decides when it's time for some loving, and if I just want to pet her, she is frequently not at all amused. Cats have different personalities, and I don't think mine is unhappy or anything; she's just quirky. And lazy. Maybe Alanna is the same way? If this is a behavior change, it could be a symptom of something, and I would take her to the vet. If that's basically

[turps33]

I have 4 cats and they all have very different personalities.

One loves cuddles but will still hiss if you touch her in a way she doesn't like.
Another loves cuddles and spends most of the day asleep or sitting looking at the floor and will play with a ball for about a minute once a week.
One loves toys, often rampages around the house but has too much energy to be held more than a minute.
Another loves playing with paper and doesn't cuddle at all.

My point being, cats can be very different in personalities and it sounds like Alanna just isn't a playful cat, and that's fine. It's just how she is. Plus, cats are masters at looking sad, it helps them keep their owners in place :)

Honestly, I wouldn't worry, as long as she's eating well and using her litter box she'll be good. Also, I know it's hard, but we don't know what lives rescue cats have had before we get them -- all mine are rescues -- it may take her time to get used to you totally. Jae has good advice about getting to pet her.

[queenydiva]

OK, it sounds like the sitting and looking at the floor is normal and NOT a sign that she's unhappy. Whew! She still eats and uses her litter box just fine, so I think she's okay. Thanks so much! *huggles you all*