Bit of an odd one - non affectionate kitten?

SillyMangoX

My kitten Dude is roughly 12 weeks old, even though I have 2 older cats it's like relearning everything again with a kitten! I love when cats mark you as their territory by rubbing their faces against you, showing affection and what not, but my little kitten doesn't do it at all! He seems to really like his shoulders and the base of his tail being rubbed but when you go to rub his head he just ducks away from it (and bites, but that's a whole other issue that's my fault for using hands as play things ). Is he just too young to appreciate the head boops yet or is he destines to be a non affectionate kitty?

Nody

We have one foster kitty at the moment who's seven months old and got the energy of three 3 month old kittens (seriously she's like a energized fur ball of zoominess since day 1). She accepts cuddles for short time periods but usually will run away / play with your hand quite quickly because of her energy levels; could be the same with your kitten and it simply has a lot of energy and hence can't relax just yet

Oh and pictures please!

SillyMangoX

Yeah that sounds like it makes sense, he will let me touch his head when he's sleepy so it probably has something to do with his energy!

Here he is with his big brother Cream

Victor

Might the kitten have an injury, e.g an ear infection that makes head touching painful?

SillyMangoX

No he is in full health, clear eyes and ears and everything!

thegreatiam

SillyMangoX wrote: »

My kitten Dude is roughly 12 weeks old, even though I have 2 older cats it's like relearning everything again with a kitten! I love when cats mark you as their territory by rubbing their faces against you, showing affection and what not, but my little kitten doesn't do it at all! He seems to really like his shoulders and the base of his tail being rubbed but when you go to rub his head he just ducks away from it (and bites, but that's a whole other issue that's my fault for using hands as play things ). Is he just too young to appreciate the head boops yet or is he destines to be a non affectionate kitty?

sounds like my cat at 12 weeks, and if thats him on the right they look the same too.
he grew accustomed pretty fast, but is only affectionate on his own terms. If he is tired you can pet him (anywhere except stomach) if he is not tired he'll grab your hand with his front paws and kick with his back ones and hold on with his teeth. Hurts like a bitch too. Has a habit of using me as a ladder to climb up to high places, jumps from the chair to my shoulders in the kitchen so he can climb to the top of the fridge. Jumps from the top of the stairs in the living room to my back as a short cut to the kitchen.

When he does want affection he will request it aggressively, climbing onto your lap/chest/shoulders/head (where ever he feel's he can get comfortable) and pace backward and forward miaowing at you until you reposition in a way he can be comfortable.

He tends to only come over to you when you are paying no attention to him, if you are beckoning him or watching him he will ignore you and keep his distance.

He has become more affectionate and easier to contact as we have owned him, he does great me with a cocked tail and rubbing on my legs when I come home, will rub his cheeks on my face and head to say hi. This all stops the moment I feed him tho. then I get pretty much ignored til 930 or so when he jumps on my lap and screeches at me until I lay flat and still so he can get comfortable.

All in all, some cats are affectionate balls of loving fur. Some are just dicks. mine, as much as I love him, is the latter.

SillyMangoX

See with Dude, he always wants attention, like constantly! He always follows us around, he doesn't like to be too far away from a person (or another cat!) He really loves having his back or tummy rubbed but just won't tolerate his head!

thegreatiam

Sharpy, when he was young, would let you scratch the base of his tail/spine and behind his head, where they are picked up by their mothers. the rest he would either pull away or bite. Now its just he belly that is 100% bite zone, the rest depends on mood, though I pat his head and tickle his nose he seems to not mind that.

He will get used to it eventually. trick is to let him come to you. You have other cats tho, so he may learn to want the attention faster than ours did.

bluecherry74

He sounds like my Freddie! He always wants to be at the centre of things, he lives in the kitchen in the evenings with myself and the dogs and will usually sit on my lap when I'm watching TV. However, he rarely head butts or kneads me and will only allow me to pet him when he feels like it. Occasionally I'll give him a rub on the head and he'll move his head away and give me a look of total disdain. :rolleyes:

Louise on the other hand lives upstairs and won't socialise with us downstairs at all. When I go up to bed, though, she's straight onto the bed with me, full of head butts and affection.

They're brother and sister, I've had them since they were 10 weeks old and they've always been treated the same. I think it's just down to personality, the way some humans are all touchy feely and some aren't.

fatmammycat

Our 'baby' here is a rescued feral kitten, bottle fed from about three week and as a babe, like Dude, he had almost zero interest in rubs or affection, but he liked rough play and biting. However NOW as a fat one-eyed twelve year old he is the cuddle king of the world and likes nothing more than being wrapped in a dressing gown with a human sprawled on his back, head tucked under the nearest human chin. So don't worry about it, kittens change a lot.

ABajaninCork

No, not odd at all! Only one of my cats was in any way affectionate and NONE of them were lap cats.

The first boy. Treated me like staff, and only ever came near me if he wanted food or wasn't feeling well. He also loved water and would get into the shower. Other than that leave him alone...

My girl? Now she loved cuddles and would often wail at you to pick her up for one. She also loved dancing around with me in my arms. But if she wasn't in the mood, then you'd be told to leave her alone in no uncertain terms!

My last boy? He was the character! Very disdainful like the first boy, but even though he gave it large, he was a right Mummy's Boy. Again, you could only pick him up if HE wanted you to.

SillyMangoX

Thanks for the reassurances!! He's a right little character, I just had a nap on the couch and woke up with dude on my neck and cream kneading my leg

boomerang

In my experience with foster kitties over the years, 12 weeks is too young to see that kind of behaviour. But looks forward to head boops when he's a wee bit older.

mymo

Like boomerang said, he's still a bit young, they go through phases too as they get older, Mouse is currently going through a phase of only wanting love when sleepy or if she wants you to turn on the tap
She was very affectionate for a couple of weeks last month, but back to mad mode at the mo.
Dude is having to much fun for cuddles at the moment, give him time.

We thought Mouse never stopped until about 6 months, I left her in a cattery over Christmas and the lady said she was the most hyper kitten she ever saw!
Even now she only calms down for short bursts or when totally knackered, windy days are great, she chases leaves in the garden all day, then comes in for a snuggle when tired!
Look for ward to many years of cuddles once he gets all the crazy out