When you adopt a cat, your main priority should be establishing trust. This is the foundation for a strong relationship between an owner and their pet. But how long does it take for a cat to trust you, and what can you do to build trust?
Kittens may trust their new owners within days, sometimes sooner. Adult cats may take several weeks to get comfortable and begin really trusting you, longer if they have been abused or come from shelter environments. Build trust by respecting your cat’s personal space, taking its lead, avoiding negative reinforcement, and establishing a steady routine it can get accustomed to.
For help from our Atlanta cat sitters, call Critter Sitters today at (404) 793-6178.
How Long Will It Take Your Cat to Trust You?
Every cat is different, especially when it comes to trusting new owners. For kittens and social adult cats, trust may come quickly. For many other cats, however, it takes months to build a solid foundation of trust.
Kittens
Kittens are generally the quickest to trust their new owners. While some kittens take a few days, others only need to spend a few hours playing with their new owners before they feel right at home. Trust can also be broken easily with kittens, so be aware of that during the first few weeks. An outgoing kitten may trust you immediately, while a shy kitten may need more time and space.
Social Adults
Social adult cats tend to trust their new owners within several weeks or months of being adopted. Adult cats are surer of themselves than kittens. They may already know how to use the litter box, groom themselves, and interact with people. They may also not seek physical closeness immediately, as kittens do, and take longer to warm up to being cuddled or petted.
Abused Cats
If you have adopted an abused or mistreated cat, it may be many months until it fully trusts you. It may even take over a year. This is common among cats that come from shelters and other chaotic environments. Be patient with a shy or afraid cat and respect its boundaries. Rushing a close bond could compromise it. Be dependable with your routine so that your new cat knows it can rely on you as a safe place.
Feral Cats
Getting a feral cat to trust you may take the longest amount of time, possibly years. Building trust with a feral cat is different than doing so with a domesticated cat, and socialization isn’t always possible.
What Can You Do to Make Your Cat Trust You?
There are plenty of things you can do to help build trust between you and your recently adopted cat and get started on the path toward a strong owner-pet relationship.
Take the Cat’s Lead
Cats like to make their own decisions and typically don’t want to be forced into a relationship, even with the person who feeds them and cleans their litter boxes. Don’t rush your cat if it needs more space from you than you initially hoped. Your cat needs to trust you before it cuddles with you, and even then, some cats prefer their personal space.
No Negative Reinforcement
There’s a low chance your cat will ever fully trust you if you use negative reinforcement. Cats have great memories and can hold a grudge. Yelling at your cat or otherwise punishing it, especially before you have established a close relationship with the cat, could create bad memories that prevent it from ever trusting you completely. Cats don’t respond well to negative reinforcement. Instead, try redirection.
Use the Right Body Language
Use the right body language to communicate with your cat and build the trusting relationship you want. Avoid long direct eye contact, as that can be a sign of aggression. Instead, slowly blink at your cat to express your affection. Move slowly and quietly around your new cat as it adjusts, so you don’t inadvertently spook it.
Keep a Consistent Schedule
Keeping a consistent schedule is key to building trust between a cat and its new owner. At first, you can leave food out at all times so the cat knows it will always have food to eat. Feed meals at set times each day so your cat gets on a dependable schedule it can count on.
FAQs About Getting a Cat to Trust You
How Do You Know if Your Cat Trusts You?
Sleeping on or near you, kneading on or near you, head bunting, rubbing against you, slow blinking, following you, bringing you gifts, greeting you with an upright tail, and showing its belly are all signs that your cat trusts and loves you.
Can Playing with Your Cat Help Build Trust?
Playing regularly with your cat is one of the best ways to build trust with it. Playing also helps our sitters establish trust when you are out of town, and your cat is entrusted to our care.
Why is it Taking So Long for Your Cat to Trust You?
Some cats need more time to build trust with a new owner due to their natural demeanor or negative past experiences. Be patient and never rush your pet, as that could push it in the other direction and risk the relationship.
Will Your Cat Trust You if You Leave Town?
Once your cat trusts you, don’t jeopardize that trust by leaving it alone when you go out of town. Our cat sitters can stop by to feed, play with, and spend time with your cat, ensuring its daily routine remains intact even when you can’t be there to oversee it.
Call Our Cat Sitters Now
Trust your cat with Critter Sitters’ cat sitters and call us now at (404) 793-6178.
