As a cat owner, you love and adore your little furry friend. Whether you have had them in your home for years or are a new addition, you are excited to have them become a big part of your family. It is normal to wonder if you can give your cat too much love and attention.
It is unlikely that you can pet your cat too much. Many cats love the added attention and love that petting provides them. And as fiercely independent creatures, they will let you know when the attention gets too much.
This article will explore the importance of providing love and attention to your cat through petting and rubs, and will help you recognize some of the signs that show your cat wants you to love on them more.
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Can I Pet My Cat Too Much?
Many cats, despite being independent creatures, thrive when lots of attention is lavished on them. Some cats may be almost standoffish many times, absent for longer periods than other animals, and some even seem like they have no interest in interaction.
Many cats will develop a closer relationship with their owners when they are pampered.
Because of this potential for bonding, many cat owners will look for interesting ways to provide their cats with the attention they need.
Cat pampering can take many forms, from extended petting sessions to elaborate toys and even homemade meals. It all depends on what the cat owner enjoys doing with their cat.
Through cat pampering, many cat owners are accused of giving too much attention to their pets. Others may argue that these owners, even though they have the best intentions, end up spoiling their cats by giving all this concern and attention.
While moderation in everything is important and there may be a point where too much pampering can occur, when compared to other pets, there is a big margin of error before you reach that point with your cat.
When you decide to pamper your cat, you will see a larger benefit from these efforts without spoiling the animal.
It would take a lot of petting and attention before you reach too much and cause more harm than good with your pet. It is more important not to allow your cat to break your core rules and boundaries.
Once you allow them to rule the house, it is easier to spoil them.
Will My Cat Become Needy?
While it is unlikely your cat will get spoiled by extra pets and tummy rubs, be aware that they will like the attention and start to expect it the more you do it.
If you frequently rub and pat your cat, they will always come back for more. This isn’t a negative thing and simply shows that your cat enjoys the added attention.
For example, if you sit down for half an hour before bed to watch a show and spend that time petting and rubbing your cat each night, be ready for this to become a habit.
Your cat will notice when you miss a session and will likely rub against you, meow, and demand attention.
This is not necessarily a bad sign or one that shows your cat is spoiled. It simply lets you know your cat appreciates the attention and wants to spend more time with you.
How to Tell if My Cat Needs More Attention
While there is no maximum amount of petting that is too much for your cat, there are times when you may not provide enough attention to your cat.
Even though cats are often standoffish and like to be independent, they still like to feel loved and get attention from their owners.
It is important to look for signs that your cat feels ignored or wants more attention. You can then add more petting and bonding time to your daily schedule. Some signs that your cat needs more attention, and more petting, include:
Excessive Meowing
After your cat gets out of the kitten stage, they only use their meow to help them communicate with humans. Cats who do not know and love humans will stop meowing soon after they gain their own independence.
Meowing is a healthy and normal behavior until it becomes excessive.
Once you notice your cat is meowing more than normal or they start to sound desperate, this is a sign that they want you to pet them more.
Add a few extra minutes into your schedule to bond and rub them and notice the meowing goes down.
Paws at You
Pawing is one of the big signs that your cat wants more attention. Like a child pulling on your sleeve to ask something, a cat may paw at you to get your attention to pet them a little more.
Knocking Things Down
There are times when cats will knock things off counters and bookshelves because they are curious and want to see how things work. Knocking things down is the way they experiment with the world.
However, if they seem to knock stuff over right by you and want a reaction from you after the action, this is a sign they need more attention.
Scratching
When done in the right way, scratching will help release pent up energy, gives the cat away to stretch, and sheds loose layers off the claws.
Cats also claw to mark different objects with the pheromones they release from their glands so they can leave behind important information for themselves.
Clawing can easily become destructive, though. It often happens because they do not have the right scratching post, like this PAWZ Road Cat Scratching Post, to let out that energy.
But when combined with some of the other behaviors above, it could be their way of getting your attention.
Jumping Where They Are Not Allowed
Pay attention to where they jump as well. If they jump onto a counter while you prepare dinner, onto the table while you eat, or next to you on the couch, this is likely a sign they want more attention from you.
Setting Healthy Boundaries
As long as you set healthy boundaries with your cat and stick with them, you can provide them all the love and petting they desire. Some of the things to consider when setting your healthy boundaries include:
- Consider what is most important to you: You won’t always get your way with your cat. And you can’t micromanage everything. Pick the most important rules and stick with those.
- Think about your cat’s natural instincts: It is unreasonable to forbid your cat from sharpening their claws. This is a natural and healthy behavior. You can provide them with a scratching post and tools for scratching and forbid them from scratching people and furniture.
- Keep their safety and well-being in mind: Always consider your cat’s safety when setting healthy boundaries. Even though your cat may love to spend their time crawling on the balcony railing, this is not safe. Consider that when setting the rules.
- Consider the safety of other humans in the home: You can set rules to keep your cat away from food preparation areas, stop them from scratching, and keeping the cat from being alone with a newborn in the home are all reasonable rules.
Conclusion
It is very hard to pet your cat too much. Most cats are independent and like to explore and learn on their own. When they sit down long enough to be petted and rubbed, they are ready for the attention and love.
As long as you set healthy boundaries and make your cat stick with them, there is no limit to how much petting and love you can give your cat.
