Why has my cat turned against me?

[Puppylucky]

Hi I wonder if anyone can help me with this one? My little 2yr old boy cat has suddenly turned against me. I'm not doing anything differently and am still his primary carer, but he doesn't want to know me, preferring to follow my husband around devotedly. It's got to the point that if my husband leaves the house, he will cry and watch for him out of the window, even though I'm still in the room! He's not ill and is full of beans at the moment, but he just doesn't want me to cuddle or pet him at all. I know it's silly, but it's making me sad and I miss my little pal. Is this a phase, or is he just growing up into a man's man? Here he is ignoring me 😔

Try ignoring him for a bit - he'll soon come to you when it's feeding time!

Good idea - my DH thinks he's taking me for granted as I work from home so am always there. I hope he does come round as being snubbed by a small cat is surprisingly upsetting! As I write he's upstairs outside the bathroom doing his best Greyfriars Bobby impersonation as my husband is in the shower. 🙄

I would say ignore him too. He's probably just not in the mood right now. There could also be many reasons including change of environment, change of routine, stress, hormones. Just carry on with your day, he'll soon come around x

Dreamies are your friend<evil cackle>

My cat takes it in turns who is in his favour, at the moment it's my husband, follows him everywhere, sits outside the bathroom etc, this can last for a few weeks and then suddenly, I'm in favour, follows me everywhere, sits outside the bathroom and then he'll switch again! Don't take it personally, I can guarantee you'll be back in favour again soon. I think in my next life I'm coming back as a cat just so that I can understand what goes on in their cute little heads!😼

Do either you or your husband have any potential medical issues going on? Cats and dogs can often smell these things and either be unsettled by it and avoid the person or concerned by it and follow them round.

Hmm that's interesting @Bemusedandconfusedagain - there's nothing lthat I'm aware of but one thing I am wondering about is my perfume. I've recently been sampling quite a strong fragrance that I'm not keen on so I'm wondering if he feels the same! Maybe I just don't smell right at the moment. He's also avoiding our bedroom which could be for the same reason. Agree that I probably just need to wait it out until his pea brain switches again and I am once more Queen Mummy 👑

The only time mine pays me any mind is when she's feeling out of sorts and needs a vet visit....Or when I'm getting the spot on parasite stuff out of the cupboard. She's devoted to the men in the house, herds them to bed when she thinks it's time but I'm just 'there'.

Cats are fickle

Yup you can say that again!

Ours hate me for about 2 months after I take them for their annual jabs. They definitely hold a grudge.

They also avoid me if I’ve given them medicine recently.

All my boy cats have done this! They love DH but could take or leave me since they grew up. I've just let them be and not tried hard but when DH is out I'll sit near but not too close to the one I've been closest to who's technically my cat and he's started making an effort with me again. I give him his favourite treats and won't let DH give them at all and that helps too! I got a lap cuddle for the first time in months last week.

Ah no @Iamthemoom - I was wondering if it was part of him growing up. I thought boy cats usually stayed cuddly and preferred women but you are confirming my suspicions that he's out growing me 😭

Don't give up. You can win him back! They mellow as they become seniors. Our oldest boy (13) never really liked me and loved DH but he's all over me now! I think it's a phase from around 1-5. My first cat who I had from uni and was my best pal instantly loved DH when we met but remained my baby until he passed. They're just fickle. And what you said about your perfume could be a factor. Mine all hate strong perfumes.

I was gifted a young cat by a friend. He seemed very attached to me but as he grew older he switched allegiance to my son who was 8 then. My son handled.him quite roughly I thought. But thecat loved it,loved my son , slept in.his dirty trainer ,got tossed about on his.bed waited at the front door till my son came home from school.
When 10 years later my son went.off to uni they were both bereft. I would find the cat in his empty bedroom wailing a low long mournful cry. Itwssunbeatra9ble.so ilocked the door but he just sat outside waiting. It was heartbreaking. He never swore allegiance to anyone else. Cats choose their human and are very loyal.it's best to accept that.

Oh my god @SammyScrounge that's heartbreaking! I do hope I can win him back , especially as I haven't actually done anything wrong 😞 Hopefully I've got one of the fickle ones!

Stop using the perfume and air your bedroom- see what happens.

Cats are pricks

Unless they want food

Or snuggles

They're still pricks though

Adorable ones

I'll bet he just doesn't fancy your new fragrance. Try not wearing it and see if it changes. He's gorgeousz

Well we had a brief snuggle today - on his terms obviously! Then the flags came out when my husband came home. It's so over the top now that I think my DH is embarrassed by the general fanfare and celebrations 🙄

I have a little male kitten and he thinks I'm the best thing ever. Best chewy toy, best climbing frame, best tummy tickler...

@VoteLabour enjoy it while it lasts!

Dreamies? Change your perfume? Watching someone else get all the attention? We're doing the pick me dance for our cats, I wouldn't put up with this crap from a man....

But then again, I have yet to find a man with cute little feeties and boopable nose who curls up into a perfect round on my armchair.

I've got boy and girl cats had them since kittens.... one girl will only come if my husband calls and rarely comes to me.

Another girl will only have cuddles if she is in the mood

The boy.. well he is a dick.... generally favours me but only if he wants something.

It's summer and I rarely see the cats until late evening.

I think the perfume is not a bad assumption, smells and sounds they don't like sends mine running.

I always found tuna a good peace offering and Always brings mine running

Get a dog

My daughter knew instantly that she was pregnant with her second baby because the cat’s behaviour changed just like it did when she fell pregnant the first time!