DH says cat needs to show more gratitude

[UngratefulFeline]

I’ve been away for a few days and DH managed the kids and the dog just fine.

He’s upset with our cat though and says he made a real effort to bond with him by giving him treats, protecting him when our dog had the zoomies and making sure his bedding was fluffed.

DH said the cat gave nothing back, blanked him and even swatted at DH when he tried to pet him.

DH wants to know why the cat doesn’t show any gratitude. I explained to DH very carefully that the reason the cat doesn’t show any gratitude is because it is a cat.

DH says that is illogical and there must be a real reason and “it’s a cat” doesn’t cut the mustard.

YABU- Deeper reason why cat won’t show gratitude
YANBU- it’s a cat.

Yep, bit of a derail but I've never understood the dumb-orange stereotype. I've had numerous cats and the gingers have been the most intelligent

We have a rescue and he’s not grateful, just looks with disgust at his food, especially when he’s already eaten the gravy/jelly.
He is definitely king of the castle, we are lucky he lives with us and allows us to feed him. Sorry it’s his house.

We have a high level cat. Acquired for DS 14 years ago against my better judgement but DS was going through an unhappy phase. Of course said child left home years ago and we still have the cat. DS even has his own home but GOT ANOTHER CAT instead of taking his old one.
The cat has never knowingly shown gratitude or affection for anyone. Entertains himself by biting or swiping passers by.

We have two cats. One adores my DH to the point where she’s probably too grateful. The other is indifferent at best and if I and the kids go out or away for the night, he decamps to the front drive and only comes in for food!

Your husband needs to stop ascribing human behavioural notions to an animal of another species.

Cats are a law unto themselves. If you are keen to be pals they sometimes shun you. If you ignore them they might make a beeline for you.

We used to have a cat exactly the same breed as yours that we called Greeny 😂. She was the same, very independent and could be aloof. But she was very bright and stealth like so was also called ninja cat. It's probably just their breed so perhaps he shouldn't take it personally. The other cat Orangey was completely different. She was some sort of tortoiseshell/tabby, not really sure what. But she was completely different. A bit thick but very affectionate. I read somewhere recently that ginger cats are the most affectionate so perhaps you need to get one for your DH!

Beautiful Lord of the Manor... Pusskins xxx

This is hilarious 🤣 🤣 🤣

One of mine is only affectionate when I am on a Teams call when WFH. She sashays up and down in front of the camera, gently head butting me, purring into the microphone and making everyone in the call think she is enchanting. As soon as the camera goes off she finds a vantage point from which she can glare at me while plotting my demise.

DH"s error was to set out to win the cat's favour. Bribes to make said cat like him just won't work - a cat's affections are not for sale. The best way to win a cat round is to ignore it and earn its respect. It will roll around on the floor for you , do head bumps, give you gentle.pats with its paw .bring you a.dead mouse - all to make you respond to.its charms. This is the beginning of a.beautiful friendship.

All orange cats share the same single braincell, so they rarely get a turn with it 😁 they're a different species to other colours.

Tortoiseshell cats tend to just have one person they adore and hate everyone else.

Black cats are the best imo 😊

Ha ha ha ha, tell him to tell his friends that the cat doesn't show him gratitude.

No, get him to tell a therapist.

My cat regularly shits on my office chair. And he actually likes me.

Has your DH not met cats before?

My dad is a dog person but has fallen in love with my cat “I don’t like cats, where is he, he needs his belly rubs”
when I was in hospital he rang me upset
“the cat wanted to go out, I opened the door and he glared at me, is he ok?”
me “he’s a cat? Of course if you open the door he won’t go out”

Love the low/med/high level cats.

On reflection, we have one of each.

Low-level cat is an affectionate, playful, talkative and adorable idiot. He greets me with joy when I've been away for 30 secs or more.

Med-level cat either wants to be a warm, purring scarf (not lap blanket, scarf); or, depending on which way the stars are aligned, crouches on a shelf above the catflap waiting to do a death-drop on whichever unsuspecting housemate comes in first.

High-level cat is a very pretty rescue, has made the front doorstep her home, lets me stroke her about once a month, and who i spent my life apologising for and saying she's shy as she retreats, glaring, under the car from friendly visitors or indeed me; until I happened to be looking out the window and saw her trotting up the drive, tail aloft, to solicit strokes and fuss from passers by with belly rolls and cute little meows. Cats are utter gits.

I told DCat2 in the car home from the RSPCA that I wasn’t expecting gratitude for adopting him (he is a little sweetie, in fact, despite the fact that the RSPCA had to prosecute his previous owners 😾)

We had a high level cat when I was a child. She was called Charlie because she had a moustache, although Hitler might have been an apter choice. She used to hide at the bottom of the stairs and attack me every time I came downstairs. If you were reading the paper and she was sitting on it, you had to ask her permission to move it, otherwise she would hit you.

It was of course a proud moment whenever she chose to sit on you. I really miss that cat.

Mine is deeply offended if you don’t give him belly rubs. He will flop down for anyone and is so affectionate it’s ridiculous

I have no idea if any of this is real or you're just having a laugh OP but it doesn't matter.

I was in a foul mood until I read this and now i can't stop laughing so thanks 👍

They give eggs - they are providing a gift? My cat spends a fair amount of time showing me his arsehole - which I suspect is his comment on what he thinks of me.

least the cat could do is sent a thank you card to your hubby for looking after him no manners!

Cats are selfish bastards by nature though aren’t they? Tell your DH that your cat is just being an arsehole because cats are a bit like that.

@UngratefulFeline I love this high- mid- and low- level cats business. Did you invent it? It's genius. Can you elaborate?

p.s. you have a very handsome cat

Your cat is lovely. Your DH needs to do some reading about cats.

I love your classification. I have 5 cats, 2 are low level, 2 are mid, 1 is high. You just have to.know what approach or non approach to take, they're all adorable.

Mine definitely knows his name, the word 'cat' and (proudest boast of all), will come when I whistle.