Help Needed: Why does my kitten friggin hate me?

By Leo
@d_e_v81 (360)
Singapore
February 3, 2011 3:59pm CST
We rescued this male kitten a few months back. I am not too sure what breed he is but he is like pure black with a white nose and belly. Anywayz... He is like really affectionate towards the rest of my family members (well not really) I mean, he lets others carry him around and stuff... but... he friggin hates me... whenever i'm alone in the house with him...he will just walk across me and when he knows I'm lookin at him, he will start growling at me... when I get closer he will start hissing at me... and when the rest of the family comes home, his demeanor changes. He starts purring and rubbing himself against their legs... and when they are around, he is fine with me...as in...behaviour wise...sometimes he will rub himself against my leg and I will think that everything is alright until.... I am left alone with him again... Im the only guy i the house...could that be the reason? PS: I have never been mean to him before...
2 people like this
11 responses
• United States
7 Feb 11
someone male might have mistreated him before you adopted him. i have a female cat right now that seems somewhat afraid of women. although she is starting to warm up. sometimes abandoned/abused cats have to have their trust won back.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112875)
• El Paso, Texas
4 Oct 21
Yeah, that makes total sense.
• Canada
4 Feb 11
I agree with the others that think he was abused by a man before. It's likely he was abused by a man who only abused him when no one else was around, so he feels safe as long as other people are there, but when it's just you and him he gets suspicious and aggressive.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112875)
• El Paso, Texas
4 Oct 21
That makes sense, many feral kritters are more likely to warm up to women rather than men.
@smacksman (6053)
3 Feb 11
Yep. You have one mixed up kitten there. Obviously brought some really bad history with him. Maybe talk to the rest of the family and become the only person to feed him. Maybe love will come through his tummy?
@d_e_v81 (360)
• Singapore
3 Feb 11
Haha! It should work! I guess that is a guys' weakness that runs across the species...
@jwfarrimond (4473)
3 Feb 11
As said above, he might have been abused by a man before, but my sisters cat, a female hates me and did from the very first time that I saw the cat. I've never experienced that from a cat before and I've no idea why she reacts to me like that but it sounds like this cat has the same sort of reaction to you.
4 Feb 11
Yes, I take it personally as well - I'm not used to cats attacking me on sight
@d_e_v81 (360)
• Singapore
3 Feb 11
I cant help but take it personally sometimes... Especially at times when im minding my own business watchin TV... and he tries to slip away unnoticed and then when he sees me lookin at him...starts growling... kindda pi$$es me off...lol
• United States
3 Feb 11
Since you don't know anything about his past before he was rescued it could be someone hurt him at some point who was a male unfortunately. My advice besides getting him neutered is be patient. Show him by talking gently and being nice that you will not hurt him. There is a chance he will eventually learn that you are a nice person.
@d_e_v81 (360)
• Singapore
3 Feb 11
Yep, I guess it is a work in progress...and that could be one possibility... The thing is...he is nice to me when the others are around...he only gets into his "demonic possession" state when he is alone in the house with me...lol! Thanks for your comment :)
• United States
3 Feb 11
maybe the cat is scared of your presence, so whenever there is someone around the cat feels assured that there will be someone who will care for him, so he is at eased with you. Give him. time and he will learn to like you.He is still a kitten.
@Lore2009 (7378)
• United States
4 Feb 11
Do you feed him? What if you started feeding him?
@Lore2009 (7378)
• United States
6 Feb 11
Aw poor kitty. You should give his food in another room where the other ones wont bother you guys and start offering the food to him closer.
@d_e_v81 (360)
• Singapore
4 Feb 11
I do feed him once in awhile...but my other 2 older cats are always around...he does not like to take things off my hand..he will wait for me to drop the food on the floor or plate and wait for me to leave before eating his food... :)
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
4 Feb 11
could be that it's because you're the only guy, maybe he was abused by a guy before you got him. We had a dog that wouldn't go near my dad because she had been abused by a man.
@angelic123 (1108)
• United States
3 Feb 11
Maybe, the kitten was abused by a guy,or the kitten had bad memories of guys. My husband had a cat given by her ex and the cat was really mean to me. The cat will chase me and scratch me and bite me. So as with other ladies in the house.The only person that the cat is kind was my husband. Then his sister in law came to visit from abroad and the cat frightened her sister in law.So the cat was given away. I think cats have gender preferences too.
@d_e_v81 (360)
• Singapore
3 Feb 11
Hmm...that could be another possibility... but...why does he get that way only when I am alone? when the rest of the family is around, he is fine...maybe it could be because he doesnt see much of me and when suddenly no one is around but me...he gets upset... I have 2 other very old cats and ive never had this problem with them...
@jeyeem (55)
• Philippines
4 Feb 11
maybe you're a stranger to him or something. well, first, don't stare or look at the cat directly in the eyes for too long. animals hate it when people stare at them, especially a blank one (as in you don't put any expression as you look at it). it's like you wanna fight him or something. then greet him with a smile (a heart felt smile) then feed him. that's how our pets loved us. even the street cat frequently visits us because we feed it. pets are like children. they would only feel secure when you SHOW them that you love them.
• Pakistan
4 Feb 11
lmao! seems like he sense the fact that ur evil =P jk nah he prbbly just needs 2 get used 2 u,hav u tried feeding him?it might help build trust.........hmmmm plus u can try n 'meow' 2 him or somthing.......stroke him n stuff like that....if he still doesn't soften up 2 u then i say start growling back =P
@rawwire (22)
• United States
4 Feb 11
that cat really have some serious issues with you, it seems like he had a very rough experience in the pass. you need to give him a peace offering, try and put some butter on his paw for him to lick.