There are several answers to the question “why is my cat ignoring me?”, and personality and early socialization are two of the biggest ones. Cats are naturally independent creatures, so you can’t expect them to be the most social of pets. However, if your cat started ignoring you only recently, it could be a sign of stress or illness.
1. Personality
The most common reason your cat will ignore you is due to their personality. Just like with people, cats have different personalities. Some cats are very social while others are more shy or introverted. Don’t assume that if your cat ignores you they don’t like you; they might just need some alone time.
Chances are if your cat is ignoring you because of their personality, they’ve done that since they were a kitten. The reality is you can’t change them at this point, it’s who they are. Accepting your cat for who they are is part of loving pets unconditionally.
And remember, there are perks to every cat personality. While it’s nice to have the attention and affection of a social cat, it can feel overbearing at times as well. Having a more introverted cat can create a more relaxed, quiet atmosphere.
2. Cats Are Not Dogs
As a general rule, cats will ignore you more than dogs will. This is simply because of their nature. Cats are more independent creatures that hunted and lived on their own in the wild, only meeting other cats to mate. Dogs, on the other hand, are pack animals and therefore care much more about being social.
So when you’re asking yourself “why does my cat ignore me?”, remember it likely has nothing to do with you, and more to do with your cat’s natural instinct.
3. Early Socialization
Another big reason your cat is ignoring you is that they might not have been socialized with humans from an early age. Kittens are imprinted with habits and behaviors during their early weeks, and these carry throughout their life. This period of imprinting is between 2-7 weeks of age and it begins to decline until approximately 14 weeks of age. If a kitten doesn’t interact with people much while they’re young, they’re more likely to ignore people as they get older.
And it’s not just any interaction that’s important, it’s positive interaction. Kittens that have been abused or mishandled will become fearful of humans, causing them to ignore them.
4. Fear & Stress
Your cat might be avoiding you because they associate you with something negative. For example, if you’ve recently been giving them medications they don’t like, they’ll avoid you.
Think about anything new in your house or routines lately that may be causing your cat fear or stress. Is there a new pet or person around? Did you rearrange the furniture and cat tree? Are you gone longer or home more than before? Cats are creatures of habit and changing their environment can be stressful. And stressed out cats are likely to ignore you.
5. Illness
Cats can’t talk so it can be hard to know when they’re sick. Instinctually, cats will hide and ignore you when they’re sick as a way to stay safe. Look for other symptoms of illness such as lethargy, weakness or pain to back up this theory.
6. Old Age
Your cat getting older is another reason they might be ignoring you. As cats age they can lose their sight or hearing, and may not have the same cues to interaction they once did. Older cats are also more lethargic; they don’t have the same energy they once had.
Dementia and other cognitive disorders can affect cats as well. If your cat has dementia, that will affect the way they act as a whole, including whether they ignore you. Also, older cats can develop arthritis and other pain-causing ailments, making it harder to physically come over to you. This can make it seem like they’re ignoring you when they’re really facing a disability.
