My adopted cat isn't affectionate after a month. How can we bond?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The main thing is trying to get him to associate you with something positive. You can try to find treats and things for him to eat that he really enjoys. You can get him to come out and feed him a treat while you pet him. This will most likely help if you stay consistent and persistent. It is important to note that some kitties are really not very affectionate and while he may become more social, he may never be a kitty who enjoys constant interaction. Good luck and have a good day!

A cat who was basically feral for 5 months may take quite some time to become more comfortable with handling, and she may never be a cuddly lap cat. It does sound like she is willing to have some interaction with you, so I would continue what you are doing in terms of offering her nice tasty treats when she comes to you. Also feeding her near you if she will eat with you nearby but not touching her (don't want to overwhelm her at first, just get her more used to your presence being nonthreatening). I wouldn't pick her up if it scares her just yet, and I wouldn't force her to meet/be touched or held by new people just yet. I would give her a few more months of settling in. You may also add feline pheremone diffusers (Feliway is my favorite brand) to the house and try calming supplements such as Composure or Zylkene to see if these help relieve some of her anxiety as well. You can find all these products online, or at some vet clinics.

You can try getting a feliway hormome diffuser to keep her calm. Keep trying to interact with her, but i tell people all the time that a cat's demeanour is compleyely determined by itself not the owner. Thete is nothing you can do to make a solitary cat a lap cat unfortunately. Some cats are lovely and affectionate, some are just selfish.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cats, like people, have different personalities; some are very sociable and always want to cuddle, while others can be more reserved and independent. It may be partly personality contributing to his behavior, as well as adjusting to his new environment. A pheromone collar (they can be found on amazon, such as nurturecalm) may be a good option instead of feliway spray, as it is a continuous release for a full month. While the response is variable among cats, it is definitely something I would recommend giving a try. Additionally, if there is a type of treat that Vin really enjoys, I would recommend putting some down by you when you are sitting on the couch watching TV, etc. When he comes to eat them, don't force an interaction, but allow him to nibble on them and then decide where he wants to go. Over time, they can be moved closer and closer to you to encourage him to be more comfortable in close proximity. When he seems playful, play with him with a toy, etc and then allow him to leave when he is done. If he is on a feeding schedule, get his attention by opening a can or shaking food into his bowl, allow him to stand next to you and have a short interaction before you set it down. If he still seems uncomfortable after these suggestions, I would recommend either setting up a consult or reaching out to your regular veterinarian for further advice. Good luck!

You may want to consider adding in a few feliway diffusers. These are a natural pheromone to decrease stress in cats. Also there is a nice website I like that had good information on environmental enrichment in cats. www.drjeffnichol.com Best of luck and continue being patient. Most rescues I’ve had have taken close to a year to really adjust. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Sorry to hear Luna isn't very social with you. Cats, just like people, are individuals. Some are very outgoing while others are reserved. It sounds like you are doing everything right. You can try different toys or calming agents (such as Feliway) but they may not cause any changes in her. She may still warm up over time.

It likely has nothing to do with you and is more likely her personality. Often, these shelter kittens come from feral, or semiferal conditions where they learn from their mothers to be wary of people. They can definitely make good progress with forced socialization as a kitten, but when they gets past 12 weeks, they are pretty set in their socialization. Also, some cats are simply not cuddly cats no matter where they were born. It's possible that Tessa will learn to like cuddles more as time goes on, but I wouldn't expect her to completely turn around at this age. As long as you are not doing anything that scares her, or makes her uncomfortable, then this is not your fault. If you keep showing her love and affection when she is around, then she will likely make more progress with being cuddly. I hope that helps and all is well with Tessa.