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My cat, Margot, is very selective. She’s affectionate with me and her animal housemates, but other humans have to spend months winning her trust. In fact, I usually tell pet sitters that I have two cats and one ghost because Margot so rarely comes out of hiding for strangers. But with me, it’s a different story. She regularly wants to cuddle and prefers being close to me when I’m home. Suffice it to say—I’m definitely my cat’s favorite person.
More than dogs, cats tend to be picky about human companionship. If you’ve ever befriended a selective cat, you understand how special it can feel to be their chosen favorite. Have you ever wondered how and why someone becomes a cat’s favorite person? Here’s the story behind their preferential behavior.
A brief history of cats and people
Cats and humans have been connected for many millennia. Scientists believe people started taming wild cats up to 12,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, where people first invented agriculture and stored surplus grains. Grain stores meant mice, and who loves mice? You guessed it: cats. Wild cats suddenly had easy access to prey and moved in closer to humans. At the same time, people started keeping and taming cats. The domestication of cats had begun.
These days, it’s widely accepted that cats domesticated themselves. They learned that people were an excellent source of food, so they decided to stick close by. Of course, that’s a very abbreviated version of a more complex process. But the trend of cats as a species choosing humans as a food source relates to why individual cats choose individual humans to love. The motivation is very similar: cats choose their favorite person based on a combination of circumstances, resources, and personality.
Early bonding helps
When kittens are very young, between four and nine weeks of age, they don’t perceive fear the way adult cats do. During that early socialization period, regular handling and exposure to different types of sounds and smells can help kittens grow into well-adjusted, human-bonded cats. In addition, when kittens are old enough to be removed from their mother, they rely on the new safest figure in their life—you—to be their trusted caretaker. So cats who have been with their owner since kittenhood tend to bond closely to their favorite people.
But it’s not a perfect science. For one thing, kittens who are exposed to a wide variety of people may grow up to be comfortable around humans but a bit aloof because they haven’t bonded to one person in particular. And kittens who only spend time with one human can be loving and trusting with that person, but fearful of others. Personality comes into play, too—what you see in a kitten is not always what you get when they’re an adult cat.
Early bonding is just one way cats choose their favorite people, but it is far from the only way to bond with a cat. Just ask anybody who’s adopted a loving adult cat.
Communication with your cat is key
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Whether you meet your cat when they’re an adult or kitten, you have to learn how to communicate with them effectively and anticipate their needs. John Bradshaw, a cat behavior expert and author of the book Cat Sense, explains: “cats demonstrate great flexibility in how they communicate with us.” From meowing to head-butting, cats “talk” to their people in different ways depending on the situation.
The best cat-human relationships are ones in which the human adapts to the cat’s preferred style of communication. That communication style may not include physical touch—being a cat’s favorite person doesn’t necessarily mean they want you to pet. A cat’s favorite person may be the one who makes them feel comfortable and safe just by being in the same room with them.
Over time, you and your cat will learn how to best communicate with each other. In fact, Bradshaw says that some cats and their people develop a unique vocabulary “that they both understand but is not shared by other cats or [people].” If you’re the one person in the family who knows the difference between your cat’s “good morning” meow and their “feed me now” meow, then you might be their favorite.
Personality matters
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Anyone with multiple cats can tell you: every cat is unique. And their preferences can depend on several different factors, from early socialization to breed type to plain old personality quirks. The best human-cat relationships are ones where the human recognizes the cat’s uniqueness and cares for them accordingly.
In other words, you can’t always tell why a cat likes one person more than another. The best you can do is take care of your cat, learn to communicate with them through attention and affection, and watch for signs that they’re happy and comfortable with you. If you’re the person they choose to spend the most time with, then chances are, you’re their favorite.
How to become a cat’s favorite person
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If you just adopted a cat, or are trying to win over a loved one’s kitty, here are some tips:
- Feed them. Cats respond to nourishment and safety, so being the one who provides food can win favor.
- Play with them. Playtime combines attention and exercise, creating feel-good hormones and boosting the connection between you and your cat. Plus, once they’re tired from playing, they’ll be more likely to settle down for a snuggle.
- Positive reinforcement. When your cat does something nice, give them a treat or gentle pets. And when they need alone time, give them some space. Both attention and space can reinforce your relationship.
Bonding occurs naturally between cats and the people who treat them well. So if you take good care of your kitty, keep them nourished and safe, and respect their unique personality you will not only be an excellent cat owner, you’ll also likely become their favorite person.
Interested in knowing how dogs choose their favorite person? Check out our article on the subject here.
Need Cat Sitting?
Cats seem more independent than dogs, sure, but they need attention, play, and treats when you’re gone, too. Your great cat deserves great cat care. Find them the perfect cat sitter with Rover.
Find your cat’s perfect match, right from your phone—and then hit the road happy.
Further Reading
If you’re adding a kitten or a newly adopted cat to your family, these articles will help you both get off on the right paw.
