It is said that cat over-dependence can lead to your cat becoming stressed when he encounters small changes. It can also lead to attention-seeking.
Cat over-dependence is caused by spoiling your cat and/or providing too much attention. This is what the experts say.
I can see the argument. I can’t see it happening an awful lot, though. The opposite would seem to be more common. Or do I have that wrong?
If, more people don’t provide enough attention compared to those that provide too much, I wonder if we are encouraging the wrong thing when we refer to ‘cat over-overdepence’. It may lead to cat owners being too tough on their cat.
This is because the cure for cat over-dependence is:
- Ignore your cat when he is demanding attention. Only give attention when he is calm.
- Don’t reward the behavior problem by reacting to it. Attention-seeking cats thrive on successfully getting attention on demand.
- Don’t spoil your cat:- (a) a cat can be given boundaries by making certain rooms off-limits and (b) not allowing him to have food from the table or I suppose any other ‘out of bounds’ area. Providing boundaries will make your cat ‘more balanced’.
- Distract your cat from ‘focusing on you’. If you live in a family, other members can get involved with him, it is suggested.
- Use a puzzle-feeder. It can be used to keep him busy.
Giving him outside access should help as boredom can lead to over-dependence. This is because the owner becomes the major or sole source of interest for him.
There must be a fine difference between a close, loving relationship with lots of interaction and over-dependence, which is considered bad. I am not sure where the line should be drawn.
Personally, I don’t really like the suggestions in the list above. Perhaps I am too soft.
Dee, I wasn’t smart enough to take the glass with me to the bathroom 😉
Many years ago I used to take a glass of milk to drink whilst I was reading in bed at night. On more than a few occasions I thought the glass looked a little less full each time I returned from the bathroom. I thought it just my imagination until the night I caught my cat with her head in the glass, drinking away. I don’t know how long we’d been sharing a glass of milk at night, but it didn’t do either of us any harm 🙂
I tend to think a cat’s interest in play depends on their personality and kittenhood, more than it does their age.
Sophie was 10 but still loved playing fetch or with her teaser toys. Charlie is only 2-3 but he’s shown no interest in toys – despite being offered a variety. I suspect this is because as an ex-stray he didn’t have the luxury of free time to play. Much of his time would have been spent looking for food and shelter. Maybe he didn’t have experience of playing with toys as a kitten or having hunted for real, sees them as a poor substitute for prey? When I think of it, all the ex-strays I’ve taken in have never been bothered about toys, regardless of their age.
You can eat without 44 eyes on you? You don’t have to go into the bathroom to drink your glass of milk?
Awesome!
Funny I have just replied to Rudolph suggesting that timid cats are more likely to be over-dependent. Confident cats are more independent.