Saying to people that you love your cat while showing them an endless stream of camera phone pictures is niece and all, but to what extent have you really bonded with that special feline in your life? And how are you able to strengthen the connection between you and your cat and take it to the next level?
Here are six top ways to get you strutting down a path to forging a closer and more spiritual connection to your cat.
1. To master the slow blink
This might sound absurd, but it is said that you can communicate with your cat by blinking at them. This move was brought to the masses on Jackson Galaxy’s My Cat From Hell TV show. The idea is that if you slowly blink while looking at your cat, you’ll communicate loving feelings towards said feline and — if all goes to plan — they’ll blink back.
That being said, another theory says that if you very slowly blink at your cat and keep your eyes shut momentarily each time, you can induce your cat to take a quick snooze.
2. Talk it up
As you try to build up a bond through communication, try talking back to your cat the next time she meows at you. Try to mimic what she says and see if you can get some sort of back-and-forth dialogue going. Let’s be honest: It might sound ridiculous, but you’ve had less intelligible conversations on social media.
3. Take time to play properly
Sometimes at the end of a hard work day or after a hellish commute home, playing properly with your cat can turn into more of a chore than an enjoyment. After all, the part of a play session that cats enjoy the most is the slow stalking of pretend pray, rather than just bombing around after whatever toy you’ve thrown across the floor for them. )
So next time you’re getting a little frustrated because your cat doesn’t seem so interested in your attempts to engage her in a quick play session, step up and slow it down. They’ll more than likely thank you later. Possibly by not destroying a roll of toilet paper or knocking your breakables off shelves and tables.
4. Sit close to your cat
These quiet moments sitting or laying next to your furbaby and cuddling could be mutually beneficial for both of you.
5. Pet your cat, don’t pick her up
While it may be fun to pick cats up and walk around with them, most felines don’t exactly enjoy being ‘scooped up’ all the time. So nix those thoughts of elevating your kitty but instead, stick to some good old-fashioned, hands-on, conservative petting. Just be sure to add in that butt scratch thing. You cat will certainly enjoy that!
6. (Sort of) share your food and drink
NOT EVERYTHING THOUGH — after all, many foodstuffs like garlic, onions and coffee are toxic to cats and should definitely not be on your cat’s menu — but letting her sniff your beer or trying a tiny morsel of salmon while you eat at the dinner table is a way to bring your cohabiting worlds closer together.
Likewise, make it a point to feed your cat her evening meal at the same time as you yourself sit down to eat.
After all, it’s all about the special moments you share with your kitty!
