Tips to Make My Female Cat Friendly

Misconceptions abound over the finicky nature of felines. A common misconception is that female cats are less friendly than males, but this simply isn't true, as a cat's behavior is influenced by its personality, medical history and events in its past. If you have a grumpy, shy or aggressive female cat, there are a number of ways to earn her trust and make her the ideal feline companion.

  1. Handling

    • Handling a cat and allowing the cat to socialize with other humans and animals works wonders for improving the cat's friendliness. The more positive human contact the cat receives, the more likely it is to become friendly, according to the "Handbook of Behavior Problems of the Dog and Cat." Young kittens are usually easily handled, while older cats can take a little coaxing. If your cat is extremely adverse to the idea of being friendly, work with it over a period of time. The process is ongoing and can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Introduce yourself to your cat in a non-threatening manner by presenting a neutral-smelling object, like the end of a pen, towards her nose, since cats greet each other by bumping noses. The lack of human scent makes a skittish cat less afraid of the object, according to "Animal Restraint for Veterinary Technicians." After doing this several times over the course of a few days, progress to offering a knuckle, rather than a fingertip, to the cat. As you build trust, begin to pet and handle the cat as much as she will allow.

    Play

    • Play with your cat to encourage positive interactions. Use toys like balls, stuffed mice, laser pointers or feather sticks to engage in play hunting with your cat. Adult cats teach their kittens to hunt, and by allowing your cat to show you her skills when you engage in play, she feels as if she is teaching you a valuable lesson, according to "The Domestic Cat: The Biology of Its Behavior." This allows you and your cat to bond without you seeming overly aggressive in your attempts to make her friendly.

    Grooming

    • Groom your cat on a regular basis. While this may seem like a mundane chore, the physical closeness provided by the activity gives owners and cats another way to bond. Work slowly and carefully and make the time a peaceful, non-threatening span. You may find that after a few grooming sessions your cat actively seeks you out for this time together, according to "Cats for Dummies."

    Behavior Adjustments

    • Assess your behavior. It may be possible that your cat is giving you clues that she doesn't want to be touched or handled. A twitching tail, laid-back ears and alert positioning may indicate that your cat doesn't want to spend time with you right now, according to "Cats for Dummies." Pay attention to her body language and adjust your behavior accordingly. Cats cannot communicate verbally, so their bodies and vocalizations are the only way humans have of knowing how they feel.

    Medical Concerns

    • Take your cat to the veterinarian to make sure a health issue isn't causing your cat to be fearful, shy or aggressive. A cat in pain may react out of aggression, and trying to make her friendlier won't solve the problem. Consider spaying your cat. The removal of excess hormones caused by estrus (heat) cycles may mellow her out significantly.