New Member and need help... Cat LOVES husband

I've had my cat for a little over a year, rescued him from a shelter, he's 2 years old. In the beginning, (first 7 months) he absolutely loved me cuddled with me all the time I was the best thing in the world. My husband was not a cat person in the beginning so the cat had to really try and win him over and now he does like the cat and the cat LOVES him. He could care less about me he is always bugging him, following him, wants to sit on him, etc. I feed him dry food always available and clean his litter box. Only time he pays attention to me is before bed and when I'm getting ready in the morning for work. but its still nothing like the attention he gives my husband.

so any advice/suggestions would be awesome

He doesn't like the dry food. (Wet food is reportedly healthier.)

It's been my experience that the person who has control over the food delivery is THE person who is the most object of love.

How about getting another cat - for you.

Sorry, I can't offer any help, just couldn't resist.

BTW, Welcome to TCS!

Originally Posted by GloriaJH

He doesn't like the dry food.

(Wet food is reportedly healthier.)

It's been my experience that the person who has control over the food delivery is THE person who is the most object of love.

How about getting another cat - for you.

Sorry, I can't offer any help, just couldn't resist.

BTW, Welcome to TCS!

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Well that seems to be the responce I've been getting everywhere is to switch up his food. I've always supplied the food and cleaned the box. I just really don't understand how he absolutely loved me for the first 8 months and then we moved and he loves my husband at this house. It really sucks he is starting to get VERY angry that he just does not leave him alone.

I'd say stop feeding him until he adjusts his attitude.

When he comes around meowing for food, make him work for it. Pet him for a while before you feed him.

EDIT: Also consider raw food. My cats go crazy for it.

I don't think that not feeding him is going to be very productive. Although cats are very smart, I highly doubt that the cat is behaving this way out of spite. My husband feeds my cat Reilly breakfast every morning before he leaves for work, but he'll still wait until I'm out of bed to eat it.

Some cats tend to attach themselves to certain people Who knows why?. I would suggest finding a toy that the kitty loves and play with him, treats help too

I feed the cats. All 3 of them think my husband hung the moon and I'm just there for their convenience.

Nah, it's not quite that bad but my husband has a way with them and they worship him. They love me too, but if they had to choose I'd be out the door! Just roll with it and love on them when they let you.

As to your husband getting upset with the attention...that's sad!

Cats will often gravitate toward the person who ignores them, sits quietly, and is generally more wary. That's why when you have a group of friends over, it's always the one person who hates cats (and therefore will ignore your cat and stay quiet and still when the cat is around) that has your cat all over them. I know this isn't your situation, but it explains that cats have different ways of assessing people and choosing friends than we do.

As for the behavior change after moving, maybe your cat resents you because you WERE the person he was bonded closely to and he might associate you with the negative experience of moving and all the stress that came with it since you were the one in charge of everything else in his life before that.

It's not going to be easy to change your cat's preferences. Many cats will only bond strongly to one person. You will have to find a way to bond with him either by scheduled feeding of wet food, or playing with a special toy with him every day, but it will take a scheduled commitment every day to associate yourself with the best things in his life (food and toys), or you might as well let your husband be the one your cat bonds to. You might try a bird feeder outside a window that has blinds on it, and you be the person who opens the blinds every day for your cat to look out of. My cats love the pigeon that lives next door on the window sill and me opening my bedroom blinds in the morning has become a ritual my cats love. I bought a bird feeder and they now sprint to the closed window after breakfast every day, wanting me to open the blinds.

Post Deleted: Reponded to wrong person.

Originally Posted by tangoking

How about you start feeding him breakfast? Try it for a week and see what happens.

Here's my read: It's about the food. Cats are very active--and hungry!--in the morning. Your husband feeding him breakfast establishes him as the "top cat," and so in the cat's eyes, your husband deserves--and receives--the cat's greatest respect.

You're #2 in this love triangle. Start feeding him breakfast, and all of that changes. Tell your husband to stop feeding him in the morning.

My guess is that the cat will soon be purring, jumping all over you in bed, waking you up, and you'll wish your husband was still feeding him lol

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The person you're quoting and replying to isn't the OP and doesn't have the same problem. The OP DOES feed her cat, not the husband, and the cat still shows affection only toward the husband.

Originally Posted by rad65

The person you're quoting and replying to isn't the OP and doesn't have the same problem. The OP DOES feed her cat, not the husband, and the cat still shows affection only toward the husband.

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Ah... my bad... sorry. I'll delete the response.

Welcome

Some cats are just like that. For whatever reason some of them just choose 1 person as their favorite. Lynxx chose my mother. Luna chose my father. Midnight chose me.

Hola y bienvenido a TCS, ...Catulina

Milky

:te saludan!!!........

(Translate: Hi and Welcome to TCS, Catulina ,Milky say hello to you!!!... )

Please feel as you home here, we can learn so much and deep about out kittys in this marvelous site, I just only please ask you read the rules and other stuffs that can help you to feel as you Real home!.. here you have the link my friend.
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82565

Please ask whatever you need to know, there are plenty of good members and of course our tireness Mod´s to help us here!....

See you on the forums!, Glad you join us!

Originally Posted by Miss Mew

I don't think that not feeding him is going to be very productive. Although cats are very smart, I highly doubt that the cat is behaving this way out of spite. My husband feeds my cat Reilly breakfast every morning before he leaves for work, but he'll still wait until I'm out of bed to eat it.

Some cats tend to attach themselves to certain people

Who knows why?. I would suggest finding a toy that the kitty loves and play with him, treats help too

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good advice!...

we had a similar problem in our house. we adopted a cat, and then she bonded to the husband, and would have little to do with me, so we got a second cat, and i made to to read on the best ways to bond her to me and all that. i dunno if it was my imagination, but i made husband feed her and clean her litterboxes for the first couple months, and kept her sequestered in our bedroom for the first month and told everyone to stay away. we also refer to her as being husband's cat, but that she loves me. so far, so good! it's been a year, and although she will love on everyone (unlike the first cat, who only loves my husband and sister), but she prefers me over everyone else. i suggest just getting a second cat. =)

Welcome!

Kitties are all different. They all have preferences and I wouldn't suggest trying to change them. As you can see we have multiple kitties. Some prefer me, some prefer my boyfriend. Just the way it is!

I have seven lil monsters... they are all different. My boyfriend is only around on weekends so the majority of the bonding is done between ME and the furkids.

That said... several of them really love him... and he managed to win over another by being the primary source of treats (at my urging). So I agree with others here that you should try to establish a special ritual with this cat every day.. playtime, food, handful of treats handed out one at a time. And still... the kitty may prefer your hubby... but your relationship with the animal will improve.

As for him bugging hubs... maybe kitty needs more stimlulation/playtime.