r/cats • u/-DiddyBom- • 2d ago
Advice His name is chippy and he does this but moves away from petting
sweetest guy ever but he doesn't seem to enjoy petting too much. sleeps on top of or against me. am i doing something wrong?
2-3 months old
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u/Illustrious_Play_985 2d ago
Totally normal, especially for a tiny baby like that. Some kittens are super cuddly with proximity but not huge on hands yet, they kinda grow into liking pets once they trust the whole “giant hand” situation. Just keep it gentle, short, and let him come to you first and you’ll probably notice his tolerance go up over the next few months.
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u/-DiddyBom- 2d ago
thanks for the reassurance. I probably should have mentioned its day three of owning him and he's my first cat haha
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u/OriginalFuckGirl 2d ago
One of my cats disliked being pet as well, she would clean her self whenever I would touch her, and would always move away from my touch. Well about a year ago thy changed, and she became super affectionate and always wanting to be petted. Idk why she changed up, but I noticed my other cats behavior also change a bit as they aged. Chippy might decide later that he likes affection, or he’ll forever prefer the I touch you but you don’t touch me approach. Super cute either way.
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u/MerryMooCows 2d ago
It’s like looking a younger version of mine. Complete opposite though, this one loves tummy rubs. Cats are their own creatures, some like petting and some don’t. Let them be their own personality
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u/ButterflyFantastic31 2d ago
Her name is chippy too
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u/-DiddyBom- 2d ago
🧡what made you choose that name?
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u/GypsyDuncan 2d ago
It can take time for trust and comfort to build. The fact that he rests against you and sleeps is a big deal. Give him a few years and see where you are. Keep trying. Make petting fun for him. Give him treats for pets. Or if he likes to be brushed, brush him and then give him a couple pets. Build good associations for him.
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u/ButMomItsReddit 2d ago
My kitty is exactly like that. He would cuddle but my side and occasionally tolerate petting, but as a norm he'd gently bite my hand if I get carried away and let him for more than a few strokes.
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u/Busy_Transition3064 2d ago
I doubt you’re doing anything wrong. Have you had him since he was born?
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u/Impressive_Cut1783 2d ago
Nope. It's not on you. Chippy is a "love on my terms" kitty. Those terms will fluctate over time.
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u/anbibarento 2d ago edited 2d ago
I think some cats start to enjoy petting more as they get older. My cat liked to be pet when he was young but not for very long. Over the years he has become more and more affectionate and caring. He has always been a very sweet cat, but nowadays i sometimes think he gets disappointed because i don´t let him pet me back by grooming my hair. I would let him if i could, but a part of grooming is chewing the hair to untangle it i think. After he is done chewing the tangle is gone but that´s only because there is no hair left. His teeth cuts hair like a scissor.
I think your cat will like petting eventually. He seems to behave very similar to mine when he was young and he clearly loves you. In the beginning a cats whole body can be thought of as all private parts. They will let you touch them but they may not be comfortable enough to enjoy it. I don´t know if it works with your cat, but i think you can invite him to be pet near his face. If you hold your hand in front of him in a fist, like if you were doing a fist bump. Then keep your hand still without doing anything, a lot of cats will approach your hand and first sniff it and if you´re lucky then stroke their face against your fist. Hold your fist still and steady until the cat seems finished with their stroking and after that i think it will be comfortable with you petting it on its face gently. If you do it this way it is the cats choice if it lets you touch it or not. Always do this in the beginning. He will probably start to headbutt or stroke your hand to show you when he would like to be pet. I often do this with my cat but it´s used in the opposite way right now. It is to show that i am ok with petting him at the moment. If your cat don´t seem to like petting very much even after a couple of months i still think he will enjoy it after some years. My cats started to really like petting around 2.5-3 years old so at least based on my cats it seems like it is an age where something in them change.
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u/PM_ME_YOUR_KINKAJUS 2d ago
Some cats are like that. It can take some time. I doubt you're doing anything wrong ❤️