| One of my cats, Cooga, is a Burmese. He is | | | | encourage a reluctant cuddler to enjoy it more: |
| genetically designed to enjoy human company and | | | | * Wait for the cat to make first moves. Let them |
| cuddles. He is an attractive cat and his humans can | | | | get used to their new situation, and keep your hand |
| hardly walk past him without touching him. He usually | | | | around for them to rub their face on. Then you can |
| allows us to cuddle him like a doll...he will relax into our | | | | move your hand down to their chest or stroke their |
| arms and enjoy the attention and warmth, rubbing | | | | ears. Full contact hugs are for relationships of great |
| his head against our faces. Cooga is likely to be | | | | trust; don't be impatient. |
| cuddly all his life. He is bred that way and we are | | | | * Know when to swoop in, and when not to. Resist |
| lucky to have him. | | | | the urge to interrupt play or mealtimes. Make your |
| My other cat, Coco, is sweet, but not so cuddly. She | | | | moves when the cat is already relaxed and open to |
| enjoys a pat while standing on her own four feet, | | | | your overtures, or has indicated it would like some |
| but detests being held. When we first brought her | | | | by coming near you. It's coercive to demand that a |
| home from the shelter, she was far more skittish, | | | | cat stops everything for a cuddle. Being sensitive to, |
| but now she readily climbs onto our laps and seeks | | | | and respectful of, their moods builds the trust that is |
| our warmth and affection while we linger in bed. | | | | so essential to good cuddling. |
| Can any cat become cuddly? Not all cats have the | | | | * If the cat want to get down, let it get down. If |
| same interest in human company and affection, or | | | | you insist, you are not getting a cuddle, you are |
| are of such a nervous disposition that they find | | | | making a prisoner out of your cat. |
| cuddles too overwhelming. | | | | * Cuddling should be fun for both of you, and stay |
| If it is important to you to have a cuddly cat, it helps | | | | that way. Never turn a cuddle into something else, |
| to choose carefully, and to know what to look for. | | | | and won't mind their eye medicine now. They will |
| Most kittens seem happy to be cuddled, but naturally | | | | mind, and you will sabotage their trust in cuddling you. |
| cuddly kittens seek it out. They will quickly relax into | | | | * Keep the moment soft and sweet. Squealing into |
| your hands, eager to curl up in your lap, and enjoy | | | | their ear about how cute they are, or conversely not |
| face to face contact. Kittens that stop playing to | | | | saying anything, will send the wrong reinforcement. A |
| show interest in you, who worm their way into your | | | | soft voice will strengthen your cuddling bond. |
| hands, show that they like a lot of contact. | | | | * You can begin or end a cuddling session with treats. |
| Cuddly adult cats are even easier to spot. Unlike | | | | Mealtimes lead to a full tummy, when cuddling might |
| kittens, they might not show immediate trust, but if | | | | be uncomfortable, but telling them how much we |
| you look at adult cats in a shelter, the people | | | | love them with a tasty treat is just another form of |
| working there will know the cuddly ones and will be | | | | closeness. |
| delighted to help one of their favorites find a forever | | | | By using these techniques, you can establish whether |
| home, where they can get all the cuddling they need. | | | | your cat can be cuddly, if it is not already. It can |
| Once you have a cuddly cat, you can train it to | | | | take time for trust to build and for a cat to |
| retain these happy characteristics. With kittens, it is a | | | | appreciate the pleasures of close contact with you. |
| matter of helping them stay that way, while with | | | | They are especially good rules to teach children who |
| adults it's more a case of letting them relax into it. | | | | want to get close to a cat. |
| Regardless of the cat's age, the following principles | | | | This world could do with more respectful cuddling! |
| will help you to keep your cat cuddly, or to | | | | |