Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Cat flinching/Meowing

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 5/20/2009


Question
I just got a new cat, saving her from the pound when her last owner died. She's only a year or so old. She's very sweet and healthy, and didn't have much of a history...But whenever we pet her or touch her, she flinches and lets out a meow, but allows us to pet her. Sometimes she doesn't flinch, but she ALWAYS meows when we go to touch her. Is there a reason for this? Was she abused? The flinching gave me that idea.

Answer
Alexandra,

The meowing when you pet her is not abnormal. I have one who 'squeaks' everytime you stroke her, and one even hisses when you pet him, but neither is done in fear or dislike of being petted, it's just a quirk of the cat.

The flinching may be because she was hit in the nose accidently when she was being petted or something similar. Try petting from the back of the head instead of your hand in front of her face. Also cats sometimes like their shoulders 'massaged' rather than straight petting.

Things are also new for her. Give her a chance to acclimate to her new home and new people.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

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Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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