Hissing at my husband

Hey guys, I need some help

My cat doesn't like my husband. If he tries to pick her up she'll hiss at him. She loves to be around me, but she's scared of him. She didn't know him at all before coming to this house so I can understand it, I just don't know what to do in order to get her to stop this behavior and get her to love him like she does me. Help please!!

He should take over the feeding and treat giving for a while. She will associate him with being someone who feeds him and safe.Other than feeding her he should IGNORE the cat. THey can't stand to be ignore. I hope they make friends soon.

Originally Posted by Phenomsmom

He should take over the feeding and treat giving for a while. She will associate him with being someone who feeds him and safe.Other than feeding her he should IGNORE the cat. THey can't stand to be ignore. I hope they make friends soon.

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This is excellent advice.

I have a story to add. My cats absolutely adore all of their pet sitters. Whenever the former pet sitters come over my cats start meowling and crowding around them doing the tail on your leg thing. I believe this is because they have come to associate the pet sitters with getting fed. Friends who were not pet sitters don't get this kind of affection.

The logic is quite sound. Only good came with the pet sitters. Always they would be fed as soon as he arrives. Also the kitty litter would suddenly be clean. And, they might get to play with their toys for a while and in the end get tasty treat rewards. If your husband does likewise then I hope you should see a similar response in your kitty. The kitty needs to make the first moves. Until then, he should not pick her up or stare at her.

I have to tell you, that when I first read the title of this thread, I thought you had gotten so used to using the hiss to deter your kitties, that you had started using on your husband!

I think you have gotten good advice. My husband and I were together years before the kitties came along, but they still sometimes run from him as if in fear. I don't know if it is the bigger feet, or the booming voice...but he has certainly never done anything to scare them! And occasionally, they will just jump up on his lap for some loving, surprising us.

Cats do prefer people who are low...if your husband wants to devote the time to make the kitty his friends, he could try laying on the floor sometimes. This is a technique used to calm feral (wild) cats. Also the toys and treats are a great idea.

Tell him to quit picking her up for now, since that seems to be what she doesn't like.

LOL I've found that one of the best ways to get a cat interested in someone is to have that person ignore the cat, completely.

I have yet to meet a housecat that would tolerate being ignored for very long.

Smelly foods such a a litle tuna in spring water or prawns will win her over in no time!