Readers Respond: What makes you believe that cats are (are not) solitary animals & why?

NOTE: Questions or responses to others cannot be published. Think of this as your own mini-article. Share Your Opinion

solitary?

I have to say WOW! I'm loving reading all the responses- it makes me feel so good knowing there are soooo many caring folks out there! My kitty was a semi feral- did the feral trap/fix, and then it took One YEAR before he would let me touch him (baby steps, everyday)- Now he comes running anytime I call, is EXTREMELY affectionate- more so than any animal I've ever had (dogs included)- he definitely is loving- (before I had him I too thought cats just wanted security), but he demands attention, play, and just to hang with me- and insists on sleeping on me, knows some English words- THE BEST THING- he is so good I haven't had to train him (I say N0! once or twice to him and he NEVER does it again) I think there are stupid cats and smart cats, and they are as varied as humans - for the people that say cats aren't social, keep in mind they've lived with humans for thousands of years now- and have changed from the wild things they once were.

—kmhollrtsn

I nurture a cat family

Bonding with me is as if i am grand daddy. I usually wake up to open my door and I find at 6:30 am mother and two kittens wait for me to give them milk. They stay for a while, play in my flat and enjoying their bonding, mothers feed, playing for a while and leave. I have even seen mother cat bringing a pigeon to teach kittens to eat. i allow them to do all this outside flat. Its already nine months story. kittens have grown adult and solitary. The same caring mother keeps away from her child Tom cat who often meows for affection from mother cat but cat mother rules followed. I was surprised to see the same mother who licked tom when kitten now keeps away. Poor Tom has no one to depend upon and comes to me as if i am grand Daddy to touch my feet, scratch his head. He now does not want milk comes to play with me as companion, seek for pet session, care. i compassionately shower love as if he is kid but i know he is 9 months adult but has continued behaving like a child with me.

—Guest mukesh mehta

Cats are alot like people

Just like people, alot of a cat's behavior has to do with the experiences they have at a young age, and how much attention they receive. Most cats I have been around that have been cared for and paid attention to are loving, friendly cats. Neglected or mistreated cats are usually afraid of humans. There are of course exceptions, just like humans, personality differs from cat to cat. I have had 4 cats, all from various circumstances and all of different personalities. The first cat was my parent's, and he was cared for and paid plenty of attention, but still hated most people except for my mom, he would bite, scratch and hiss if anyone tried to pet him, and he usually ran and hid. The next was a stray that started coming around, and he was the nicest cat ever. Third was an abandoned (possibly ferral) kitten that a friend found. She is a social cat, but more on her own terms. The newest is from the SPCA, and he is my buddy, follows me everywhere, and loves constant attention.

—Guest Bob Jones

Are cats solitary

All the cats in my life have been affectionate whilst at the same time enjoying their own company when it suited. My first cat as an adult came to us from the cat protection, she was a 9mth old Tabby who had been mistreated, she was scared and very wary at first but she settled. I had a son 11mths later whom she totally ignored, then I had my daughter and the two became inseperable where 1 was so was the other right up until Jazz (the cat) died at 18yrs old. I now have an 18mth Tortie ive had her since she was weaned, and she goes out and explores but when she is home she stays with me. I even have to stay with her whilst she eats or she will just follow me, if I go back to her food bowl she will eat if I walk away she will follow. She also likes to be stroked although not a lap cat. She will attempt to groom me if sit on the floor. I think cats can be picky and this extends to their choice of Human friends.

—Tricia1960

kitty love

for the most part cats are like people when they need a break and want to rest they go off an take a siesta but its never too far away. I have had cats all my life, I love them and I know they love people, my baby chei is 5 he is a mama's boy. When I say where is mama's baby he comes running, when I say what's my baby doing why has'nt he come to see his mom? he comes running. When I go to bed he comes out of the blue and settles down to sleep with me. He cries when we leave him and he cries if he is left alone when we all go to sleep. Sure he often takes off by himself and finds comfort in a nap under the chair or under the bed but be rest assured there is a sister, or his mom very close by, as a matter of fact there he is asleep under my bed as I type, solitude, as long as mom is pounce away lol!

—sharny37

lil angels

Our 4yo. cat was abandoned by our careless ex neighbours & we rescued him directly from street,doing all the stuff needed to get him healthy & back in shape.Yes he was the most expensive 'free cat' we could ever think of getting too,but also very difficult to handle- aggressive,scared,just following his instincts for survival.Now,1yr later,he’s used to his indoor life,regularly jumps in our laps for his daily cuddle,opens our bedroom door to wake us up each morning 4 another round of cuddle (we call him locksmith sometimes lol),shows his endless love by grooming us in bursts of affection,and most often stays wherever we are. He understands incredibly well & learns incredibly fast;complies & complains according to his mood &judgment,& very often tries to communicate in this funny mixture of cat/human language x] What an intelligent little bundle of joy & what a blessing..and what a journey it’s been for him- from misery of being left all alone to die, to safety & love in a new home.

—Guest kittyluv

Cats are NOT solitary

I have siamese cats, one in particular, who hangs all over me and insists on sleeping next to me at night. She looks at me with the doe eyes puts her paw on my face and hangs on to me like you would not believe. All she wants is to sleep next to me for comfort. Rosa

—Guest Rosa

cats are (are not) solitary

My cats are waiting at the door for me. My girls don't want me to leave. Penney sits on the shower mat so I have to step around her. Then the girls try every thing they can think of to trip me. So I will change my plans then I tell them you still want to eat next month. They finally stop an find a place to go to sleep till I walk out the door, then they all appear in the kitchen when I leave. When I get home at 11:25PM they are all at the door. Some times I can get in the door the last few hear my voice an run to the door. I have a few scarps from time to time. Because some one over pushed and the other was fast a sleep. Other wise every one gets a long. They are NOT loners like every one thinks. Mine are either Feral or barn cats. I am thinking it could be the person who is caring for them. I also have a ranch home so they have plenty of room. They are always on or near me for attention. We do head bumps you know what that means. I love them all but give every ONE what they want.

—katz5253

Take A Look At Jack

Jack was born on Halloween in 2006. One of my sister's friends found him in a buch close to a road, near where his mommy had been run over. Next thing I know, we have a quiet and shy kitten living with us. Over time, Jack warmed up. Suddenly, he meowed when one of his owners wasn't there and ran around the house for a couple of hours when we got home. I really do love him. Today, I was on the computer when it was storming bad outside. Sure enough, Jack's scratching on the door. I let him in. He takes a comfy position, snuggled between my feet and the sides of the desk. Jack was completely different the first year of his life. He went from quiet and timid to playful and loving. All because he decided he loved us. =3

—Guest Danii

We all form relationships to fill needs

Although one can say that a cat shows affection in a calculating way, for the purpose getting something in return, we could say this about all animals and humans too. Human and Kanine social groups originally formed as a survival strategy, as together they could find food and shelter more effectively than solitarily. Members of the group could fulfill each others needs. Certainly the pet/petowner relationship is unique in that the two partners are of different species, but we definitely receive spiritual and emotional benefits from our cats in exchange for the relatively minor expense of feeding and caring for them. I don't think we should criticize cats on the basis that they enter into a relationship with the expectation of getting something out of it, as every human is guilty of this. It doesn't change how rewarding the relationship between cat and owner can be.

—Guest Janis