Cats want everything to happen on their terms, including receiving information from lowly humans. How often have you tried to capture your cat’s attention, while she seems completely oblivious to your attempts? This happens to me more often that I care to admit. And I feel like a total chump nearly every time. I’m sure my cats are thinking, “Mission accomplished.”
It’s funny — if you happen the catch the corner of a dog‘s eye, he’s all over you. I don’t know if they even possess the capacity to ignore anything or anyone. As usual, cats make us work for their attention — and they are diverse in their methods.
Here are five ways my cats let me know they have better things to do than appease my wishes.
1. An ear-y atmosphere
The ear-cock is one of the most common techniques my cats use to let me know they hear me, but choose to ignore my communication efforts. Sometimes the ear only slightly changes position, but other times, both ears completely flatten. In whatever degree the ears “speak” to us, one point is clear: We’re being dissed.
2. Ignoring you in my dreams
I know it totally annoys my cats, but I sometimes talk to them when they’re sleeping. Hey — they mess with me while I’m trying to catch some Z’s … turnabout is fair play, right? Unless I mention the almighty “treat” word or otherwise indicate food is involved, they aren’t interested in joining the waking world. They do, however, open their eyes a teeny bit — just enough to make sure I understand they’re making a choice to shun me.
3. A tail of disregard
Like the ear-cock, the tail-twitch is a popular way to communicate rejection. Saffy especially loves the tail-twitch. And she has such a giant floof of a tail, so there’s no mistaking the message. Oftentimes, the twitch is accompanied by the ear-cock. In my book, that’s a double-diss.
4. Even my anus ignores you
Sometimes when I’m trying to talk to my cats or coax them into a snuggle, they completely vacate the scene, usually with ears cocked. “Yes, I hear you and I want to relocate myself as fast and far away as possible.” There’s not even time for a tail twitch — they’re outta here. And what am I left with? Usually a solid view of cat anus. Again with the “mission accomplished.”
5. Still here
My cats can be quite the brazen little beasties and take ignoring me one step further. No only do they tune out my talk, they continue the bad behavior for which they’re being reprimanded! I’ll walk into the kitchen to find Saffy lounging on the counter. This is a giant no-no in my house, but never stops her from testing boundaries. She usually dives off the counter when she hears me coming, but sometimes she’ll linger in her loafing. I’ll ask her to get off the counter and she looks the other way. She thinks if she acts like she doesn’t hear me, she’ll somehow get away with the infraction. Nice try.
She also pulls this move when she’s going after Phoebe’s food. She hears me walk in the kitchen and scold her, but she continues burying her face in the plate until I physically pick her up and move her.
How can you tell your cats are ignoring you? Tell us in the comments!
About the Author: Angie Bailey is a goofy girl with freckles and giant smile who wants everyone to be her friend. Loves pre-adolescent boy humor, puns, making up parody songs, and thinking about cats doing people things. Writes Catladyland, a cat humor blog, and authored whiskerslist: the kitty classifieds, a silly book about cats wheeling and dealing online. Partner in a production company and writes and acts in comedy web series that may or may not offend people. Mother to two humans and three cats, all of which want her to make them food.
Read more by Angie Bailey:
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- Air Freshener Scents, As Designed By Cats
- My Cats Are Addicts: 5 Reasons They Would Land in Rehab
- 6 Feline Scandals that Would Rock the Headlines
- What if Cats Held Office Jobs? Worst. Cubicle Mates. EVER!
- 8 Cats Who Look Like Ice Cream
- 5 Ways My Cats Are Total Taskmasters
