Did your cat get more affectionate with age ....or less? Please answer.

Question

I got two new kittens from different litters - they are adorable but I find that they are not the most affectionate - this worries me.

Is it their age? One is 12 weeks the other around 10 weeks.

Is there anything I can do to get them more affectionate?

So what is your experience with your cats temperament as it aged? Did it get more loving with you or did it get to be less loving and more of a loner overly independent?

I am not sure if it makes a difference (probably not) but one of my kittens is a maine coon and the other is part himalayan ..both male.

THANKS SO MUCH!

Answer 1

I had a beautiful Calico cat that lived to 19 and until she was about 5 or 6, she would only let me hold her for brief periods of time.  All affection with cats is on their terms, you know.   We are all just staff.  The older she got, the more affectionate and willing she was to sit on my lap and let me pet her.  Interact with your kitties as much as possible and hopefully they will respond in kind.  Good luck!

Answer 2

i suggest interacting with them.. together will help... kittens are very playful and can get distracted easily... some are different from others... some do get more affectionate with age.. others don't .... just do not force affection because this will cause both to lose interest in you all together.. plan to get them fixed soon as well...

good luck

Answer 3

my male cat became more affectionate as he got older, especially after meal time. =]

Answer 4

Hey! I'm 23 years old.  

I own a 15 year old tabby and had a 17 year old calico; i also own 2 kittens (4 months and 8 months).  I found that as my two older cats got older they seem more affectionate..especially the 15 year old, the 17 year old just stayed her normal mean self :P.  Now my two kitten are affectionate but the female (8 month) is more so.    

This is my experience..Good luck.  

Answer 5

A lot of kitten's sociability depends on how they were treated by humans when they were still with their mum, so don't blame yourself if they don't seem to keen on you at the moment.  They are still young and you should work on them now, as affectionate kittens become affectionate old cats and independent kittens become independent cats.  You've got two breeds known for being friendly and affectionate, so you should have no problem with this.

A couple of tips are that even if kittens don't want to be stroked a lot, they love to play!  Tease them with a tickler or drag some string around, they'll soon love your company and it's an excellent way to bond with them.  Don't try to pick them up if they move away from you, or they'll translate it as being chased and it will set you back.  When they're happily playing with you, start stroking them.  Being forceful with cats NEVER works.

Lots of strokes and ear scratches will make them enjoy physical contact with you, you'll see them starting to lean into your touch.  If they're happy for you to pick them up, you can put them on your lap as well. Or you can lure them onto your lap with some string and let them play there while you stroke them, so they get used to sitting on you.  

Over a couple of weeks you'll notice that they've become a lot more friendly.  A couple of hints are: play with them when they're playful, they'll get irritated if they're hyper and you try keep them still while you stroke them.  When they get tired or sleepy you can carry them onto the sofa with you and they'll like resting with you.  (Obviously, if it's already asleep you won't get a very good response if you wake it up to stroke!)

These cats are still very young, you'll get out of them what you put in and can make them amazingly loving pets.  Try at LEAST three hours of company a day (just being sat in the same room as them, preferably on the same bed/sofa but not essential) and two 10-15 minute sessions of interactive play and stroking.  Obviously, the more time you spend with them the more they'll respond to you and the quicker they'll learn to love you.

Answer 6

My 20 year old got much more affectionate with age. Now she won't let anyone sit on the sofa by themselves.