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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Does your cat have a favourite person in your household?

56 replies

BaitandSwitch · 16/12/2020 07:58

My husband often remarks that I'm his favourite. He follows me around the home and when he feels like being affectionate, he always comes to me. However my husband does interact with him and is usually the sole feeder for him. I wish it wasn't like this as I think my husband feels a bit left out (though he says he doesn't mind). Is it usual that cats will bond to predominantly one person, what's your experience?

OP posts:
miccoops · 16/12/2020 09:59

My 5 years old rescue cat Leo picked me from the very start and is so affectionate to me but literally disinterested in the rest of the family! Our new kitten Pepper who is 14 weeks seems to be picking DH as her person, despite the fact that I do everything for her.. I think she knows that I'm Leo's person..

ivfbeenbusy · 16/12/2020 10:06

Yes for for different things? DH is the (over) feeder whereas they tend to come to me for cuddles although depends on the cat. Our DD seems to have been nominated general play mate and confidant (they'll sit and chatter/Miow at her)

lesleyashfishlips · 16/12/2020 13:19

One of my cats is a right bag. Until oldest daughter is around and then it's a different story. Purrs, head rubs, licks, the lot. The cat will walk around slung over dd's shoulder. If I tried that I would get clawed for my efforts.
When dd was unwell last year, the cat wouldn't leave her side for 5 days. We had to move the food and water next to dd's bed as the cat wouldnt eat or drink otherwise.

Poppins2016 · 16/12/2020 13:54

Oldest (male) cat prefers me

Middle (female) cat prefers me, my toddler is a close second

Youngest (male) prefers me

My DH jokes that I've bewitched them... I think he feels quite put out sometimes!

Fluffycloudland77 · 16/12/2020 14:03

My poor pil had a cat who preferred the neighbour across the road. Harsh.

SilkiesnowchicksandXmastreecat · 16/12/2020 14:36

When I lived in a flat one of the neighbours cats fell in love with me would sleep on me every night her chin or my chin purring really loudly, dip its tale in my bath. I mentioned it to my neighbour and she said she was pleased as she had been a terrified rescue cat who she thought had been abused before, she thought she had just started going out a lot. In a way it was true but just upstairs to my bed. She used to try and eat off my plate whilst eating and one time I had put some left over sweet and sour chicken in the bin, she knocked the bin over to try and get it.

TheTurnOfTheScrew · 16/12/2020 14:41

Cat1 prefers me. Mainly because she is very needy, and I am the most likely to give in to her incessant demands for tummy and head rubs.

Cat2 is of looser morals. She flirts outrageously with passing strangers in the street, and invades other people's houses. She is not fussy.

Toddlerteaplease · 16/12/2020 17:49

Yep. Me. I'm the only person in the household!
My parents cat adores my dad, and my friend is that his cats prefer his Secretary.

SamsMumsCateracts · 16/12/2020 18:00

Yep, it's definitely me. He'll ignore DH most of the time, but will settle for a cuddle with him if I'm not home. As soon as I come in, he's my shadow again though.

lorisparkle · 16/12/2020 18:17

Certainly!

Our female cat adores DS1 cries to go in his bedroom, sleeps in his room whenever possible.

When I was growing up my sister and I had a cat each. My cat even dragged himself up to my bedroom when he had been hit by a car and broken his leg.

When we first lived together DH and I had two cats the one adored me until we had a lodger - she then changed allegiance to him!!!! However once he moved out she adored me again. When I had ds1 she sat on the fence waiting for me to come home from hospital and would only go inside fir food. She was a bit put out with the baby though!!!

Fluffycloudland77 · 16/12/2020 18:21

Ours was a mommy’s boy but dh would suffice if I wasn’t at home. Apart from when dh was ill for 6 weeks and the cat spent 6 weeks or so using the spare room instead of sleeping on our bed during the day “he’s here again? Well I’m going into the other bedroom then”.

Turquoisesofa · 16/12/2020 18:23

Despite the fact that I feed the cat and pick up her sh**, DCat definitely prefers DS.

Labobo · 16/12/2020 18:23

Yes. Pecking order goes
DS2
Me
DH
DS.

He is actually DS1's cat!

AnnaMagnani · 16/12/2020 18:27

Old Lady prefers me. Which is entirely reasonable seeing as DH is a recent interloper in her life. However DH provides most of her daily needs and she chooses to communicate these by asking me to ask him.

So I get continually stared at whenever she wants soup, milk, snackies, litter bin emptied or whatever. I don't know how she copes when I'm not here, I don't even get to go to the loo in peace. Apparently watching me on the loo is the high point of her day.

Silky cat is fickle. She knows DH is the provider of food so pesters him directly. When the weather is good she tells him to go out and sit with her in the garden in the afternoon. However she knows I'm better for cuddles, general attention and provision of Snackies so will spend hours curled up under the duvet with me.

AllDoneIn · 16/12/2020 19:08

Yes they do but do be aware they can switch allegiance. I used to be the favourite, now it's DD. DS and I look sadly on 😁

marvelousmadmadammim · 16/12/2020 19:17

Yep
Both happily ignore DH - he hasn't put the work in to bonding, thinks they should just love him.

JustAPassingFashion · 16/12/2020 19:26

My husband by a million miles. It was me originally, and then he was welder to me through both pregnancies, but now... nope Confused

SimonJT · 16/12/2020 19:30

Me, she knows if she looks cute shes essentially guaranteed treats and a cuddle.

dun1urkin · 16/12/2020 19:40

Yeah, of course both the cats prefer me. Sleep with me, sit on me etc. I am also the primary feeder.... coincidence?!? Grin

But both also know that DH is a massive daddy-soft-touch so will, on occasion, pretend to prefer him if they want to play or have a tickle RIGHT NOW

Lizzie523 · 16/12/2020 20:11

Yes, me. Got our cat when I was 13, I'm late 20s now

Cupboard love thing doesnt match up as the starting reason as it was definitely my mum for years! She follows me around like a shadow whenever I visit/she stays with me.

TroysMammy · 16/12/2020 20:19

If I'm upstairs he will stay there. As soon as I go downstairs he's behind me. He sits in the empty bath when I'm on the toilet. He's Mammy's beautiful, adorable boy but when he wants to play he goes to my DP.

During mealtimes he sits on his stool by the table facing my DP. He shifts position when he sees his plate getting emptier. As soon as my DP picks up something off his plate with his fingers Haribo sits upright as he knows that's his treat. My DP makes him meow thank you before he places said treat in his food bowl. I think he's saying "give me the fucking chicken".

TheGonnagle · 16/12/2020 20:21

Looking at MY beloved cat sitting smugly on DH’s lap I would say Yes, he clearly has a favourite. And it’s not me.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/12/2020 20:43

We got the DCats 18 months ago , MaleCat was so shy .

Now he allows DH to tickle his tummy , DD to stroke his face till he drools spit .
If I put my hand anywhere near he gives me a glare "Don't touch me woman, how very dare you ! "

FemaleCat favours whoever she can manipulate at the time . She photobombs DH work Zoom calls .
She will swipe at any of us , no favouritism Grin

lorisparkle · 16/12/2020 21:09

Cat preferences did cause a problem with both me and dsis were living back at home. Dsis had got two kittens but was working full time. I was on the long student holidays. Of course I did everything with the kittens - taught them how to jump into my arms, fed them, played with them, taught them to come when called, spoilt them rotten! My poor dsis did not get a look in. They cried when I left the room and followed me everywhere! Of course it did sort itself out when dsis left home!

Mammma91 · 16/12/2020 21:18

I have 2 cats. A male and a female.
I am very smug in that they are both attached to me like glue. In particular, my male cat follows me everywhere, always up for a snuggle and head butts me.
The female is more of a lone wolf. But always takes some time to get some attention from me! They both completely avoid my toddler DS though! DP likes to think because they approach him he’s the favourite! But he doesn’t have 2 cats accompanying him to the loo!