Why Cats Ignore Their Owner: Possible Reasons Explained

Raising a pet is akin to nurturing a child, focusing on their social development. In other words, this involves fostering a cat's (or dog's) ability to interact with humans, other cats, or pets, as well as their adaptability to various elements. Since it's about cultivating skills, there is a prime window for this development.

The optimal period for fostering a cat's social skills or adaptability is between the 4th and 9th week of life.

During this time, it's crucial to expose the kitten to a variety of stimuli, such as vacuum cleaners and hair dryers. Cats can be afraid of an array of things. However, if we wait until they are half a year old to help them overcome their fears, they will face greater mental stress.

From 4 to 9 weeks, kittens react differently to unfamiliar threats or creatures. They often freeze, then observe; or they may retreat and hide to watch from a distance.

At this moment, if the mother cat or the owner remains calm, the kitten will attempt to approach, adapt, and even play with the new entity. Therefore, during this period, it's essential for the kitten's caregivers to expose them to diverse experiences and play with them frequently. As responsible cat breeders or shelters, ensuring that each kitten is played with for at least 15 minutes a day from 4 weeks to 3 months is vital for developing their "peoplefriendly" nature. This is also why I strongly oppose keeping cats in cages or purchasing caged cats, as they are likely to have problematic personalities.

Unfortunately, many pet owners miss the opportunity to interact with their kittens during this critical period of social development.

While a cat's breed and the mother's temperament can influence the kitten's personality, the most significant factor is the socialization during the aforementioned time frame. A cat lacking in security is naturally harder to bond with.

What if you miss this golden time and later find that your cat is sensitive, introverted, and not affectionate? There are still ways to address this, though it requires more time and effort to gain their trust and reliance. From my experience, 90% of cats will eventually form an attachment to their owner, but their acceptance of other people, pets, and objects remains low.