How to Make Friends with a Strange Cat: A Handy Guide to Making Friends with Cats You Don't Know

by PandiPanda

Making friends with a cat you don't know is a lot like meeting a new person. You have to introduce yourself, get to know them, and try to leave on a positive note. Just as in meeting a new person, there are many socially awkward pitfalls along the way which can result in a ruined relationship with a cat. Ere, however, we will tell you how, in just a few easy steps, to avoid these pitfalls and successfully forge a relationship with your new feline acquaintance.

Step 1

Find a cat you don't know.

Step 2

Approach the cat within 20 or so feet. This is far enough away to make the cat aware of your presence but not close enough to be threatening. Move slowly, and if the cat gets spooked before you get that close, take a couple steps back, stop, and move on to Step 3 until it allows you to get closer.

Step 3

Kneel down, squat, or sit. This makes you physically smaller and less visually threatening. Hold out your hand as if you're holding something and you're offering it to the cat. This is the universal symbol of food and even if you don't have an offering the cat will understand that you have good intentions, or at least be intrigued enough to come investigate.

Make kissy noises.

Step 4

After making kissy sounds for a while, many cats will have already approached you and begun to rube their furry bodies all over you in greeting. If so, respond in kind with petting.

Otherwise, slowly begin to approach the cat (stay low to the ground, however. Getting up suddenly will frighten it). Stop when the cat gets uncomfortable and return to step 3.

Once you are close enough to the cat (or the cat has approached you) reach out a hand (slowly) and pet it gently. Most cats especially appreciate being scratched on all parts of the head (except the eyes). Try to avoid tails, legs and bellies (unless they invite you) because being touched in these places tends to annoy most cats more than anything else. Note that many female cats also appreciate being scratched on their backs, right in front of their tails.

Continue this until one of you gets bored or needs to go attend to some less pleasurable duty. Gracefully make your exit and Voila! You have successfully made friends with a strange cat.

Tips

Do not approach a cat that looks deranged in anyway because it may have rabies or some time of nasty venereal disease (very counterproductive to love).

Giving a cat food helps tremendously (they happily lick the hand that feeds them) but be careful because some people don't like their pets being fed by strangers. Also be sure that your offering is kitty-friendly. No alka-seltzer and soda water, please.

Content Source: Bukisa - How to make friends with a strange cat