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Hello. I'm a new member here. I'm a first time pet owner, along with my sister whom I live with at the moment, and we both constantly have questions, so I figured I'd find us a good Bulletin Board. I hope this is the correct section for this? It's about how he acts/behaves. I think.
My little guy - his name is Drizzle, he's an American bi-color short-hair, dark gray and cloud white, 8 months old just the other day - is the light of my life. I got him in mid-may, he was 8 or 9 weeks old by that point (he was born March 15). Anyway, it was love at first sight. I've always babied and pampered him. I love him so much, it's silly.
But for the past few weeks/months, he's been... different.
He's always been an affectionate cat. Not too many "hugs" (rubbing up against you) but lots of snuggling, and he hates to be alone - he can't stand it if he knows your behind a closed door, he crys and crys like such a little baby, it's heart breaking - we don't close doors inside the house anymore, lol.
Well, Right after we got him fixed, he was lovey-dovey, as always. He'd been a bit "off" before we got him fixed, hormones and all, but afterword he was back to his old self. He loved us (me and my Sis,) and was super snuggly. Maybe more than pre-fixing. But ever since, he's slowly grown more and more... distant?
Whenever I walk towards him, he tends to move away. Not run, just walk away, like "I don't want to be near you." If I pick him up, he'll stay for a little bit, but then he just wants away. He won't sit with me on the couch or on my lap anymore. He only snuggles when we're asleep and can't snuggle back, like we're more a pillow than anything else. It's really breaking my heart because it feels like he doesn't love me anymore.
Any idea why he's so... un-loving, now? He still trusts us, he still does "tummy time" and he still can't stand to be away from us for even a moment, but... he just seems to want to be in the area of us, and nothing else. Just to know we're there for Security and otherwise, he wants nothing to do with us. He won't even let me put him as he walks by, he makes sure to go *around* my hand, to avoid me.
Is it over-affection on my part? Have I been too lovey, attentive, too much petting? Is he mad at me? Could I be un-intentionally hurting him when I pick him up? I use both hands and, 90% of the time, one hand in back, one in front, to evenly support. I always hold him as he likes it - on his back, using my arm like a splint so his back doesn't hurt. He always gets mad unless I do it that way so I know that's how he prefers. I'm always telling him how I love him, always gentle, always showing him attention. And whenever he see's be petting Boo (or other cat,) he looks at me like "Why aren't you petting me?" which I then do so he doesn't feel unloved.
It's so confusing!
How can I get him to love me again?