I know you guys have cats, so I have a question for the Island cat owners. Me and my girlfriend have been dating for about 8 months now, and she has this cat. He's very much a mama's boy. He is about two years old, and neutered. Everything was fine to start out with. He didn't sit on my lap or anything, but he would let me pet him and we would play. At one point, I was cat-sitting for about a week while my girlfriend was out of town, and he was actually very friendly then (obviously because I was the only one around) and he even sat in my lap.
One night, about a month and a half or so ago, me and my girlfriend were sitting on the couch watching TV. I looked down and he was sitting in the corner in front of the TV facing us, looking sad and lonely. I felt bad, so I laid down on the floor by him and started petting him. after a while he stood up and batted at my head with his two front paws. I looked up at him and then he started hissing at me. My girlfriend thought it was weird, since she's never seen him do that.
Now, he has been a little selective on when I can and can not play with him or pet him. I know he doesn't outright hate me, because when I walk in the door he will still usually walk up to me and rub against my legs, and he'll let me play with him.
He has hissed at me on several occasions since then. Ok, so I figure there are times he just doesn't want me to pet him. I am again cat-sitting for my girlfriend while she is out of the country until Sunday. He doesn't seem as affectionate/appreciative of me as last time I cat-sat (although he's been without her only for a day and a half).
Would it be a correct assumption that he is getting jealous? Worried that I'm taking her attention away from him? I suppose I do sleep on "his" side of the bed, and sometimes doesn't sleep with us as much as I think he did in the beginning.
I bring him toys and treats. When I cat-sit I try to feed him when he's around so he can see me providing for him.
What can I do for him to be more friendly towards me? It's a stupid thing for me to be frustrated over, but I feel like she thinks less of me if the cat doesn't like me, like I did something to him that she didn't see. I know that her cat's approval rating of me has no bearing on our relationship, but it still bothers me. It's not like she's going to leave me or vice-versa because her cat doesn't like me.
Does it just take time for him to get used to me being around more, or is this just how it's going to be? I'm more of a dog person so I am not very familiar with how cats work.
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Originally Posted by N2KKM
