Cat stalks niece

by kristi
(magnolia, texas)

I adopted a 1 year old cat from the local shelter. Tig is a male (neutered) cat. He is very freiendly and personable. He is very playful.

When my 13 year old niece came for a visit at Easter she and my daughter were kind of playing around with him one evening. Tig then began to like "stalk" mainly my niece. It was funny to watch and of course she screamed and ran around laughing. Tig persude her until she went inside.
I have had several people over and Tig does not do this to anyone but my niece. Tig began to persue her in this "stalking game" and of course she runs and screams which I think he thinks this is a game.

Can you tell me what is going on in Tig's head. I mean as soon as she steps out of the car he is heading right over to her.


Thanks

Kristi

Reply
Hi
well yes it sounds to me like your cat Tig associates this type of game with your niece.

My partner plays with toy mice with one of my cats in a very energetic way. Something I won't do as I fear being scratched accidentally. However now my cat will deliberately ask for this game from my partner and drop the toy mice at his feet. So he has associated this game with this person. This is probably what has happened in your case.

To stop the game would be difficult as you would have to make sure your niece no longer made all this noise and running around when Tig is near. She would have to be very still and almost ignore him when he started to stalk her. Then when he did not display this behavior with her she would have to pet him etc them. this is affirming positive and negative responses to his behavior. More about this here

https://www.our-happy-cat.com/cat-discipline.html

best wishes kate

---