Cats are often mislabeled as asocial and aloof animals just because they do not behave like we would expect them to do, or like dogs do. However, they can indeed be and often are very sociable, depending on the right circumstances. Many will live in social groups with other cats, as well as dogs, and this may come down to individual preference and early socialization.
Still, some cats may be very shy or reserved around certain people and even their owners, especially in the very beginning after being adopted. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that your cat hates you, as they are not capable of such a complex emotion. These interesting animals simply act and communicate differently than others. Behaviors that we may consider rude (or signs that our cats hate us) aren’t necessarily seen that way by our cats.
However, cats can fear certain people, just like any other animal. Here are some signs that your cat may fear or dislike you:
The 5 Behavior Signs That Your Cat Dislikes You
1. They Hide from You
When cats hide from you, it could mean that they are not comfortable in their environment or with you. Cats are very sensitive creatures, and they need a safe and cozy place to relax and feel secure. If they don’t have that, they may retreat to a hiding spot where they can avoid any potential threats or stressors.
If they consider you to be that stressor, you may notice them hiding when you come into the room specifically. Of course, cats hide for all sorts of reasons, and not all of them are bad.
- They are new to your home and need time to adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings and smells.
- They are sick or injured and want to protect themselves from predators or pain.
- They are scared of something or someone in the house, such as a loud noise, a stranger, a dog, or even you.
- They are stressed by changes in their routine, such as moving to a new place, getting a new pet, or having guests over.
- They are bored or lonely and need more stimulation and attention from you.
However, if your cat seems to hide every time you end the room, then there may be something to that. Cats tend to hide more when they are injured or sick. If your cat suddenly starts hiding more, you should seek help from your vet.
2. They Hiss at You
When cats hiss at you, it could mean that they are scared or defensive. Cats use hissing as a way to communicate their feelings and warn others to back off. Hissing is a natural and instinctive behavior that cats inherit from their wild ancestors.
Cats are more likely to hiss at people they don’t trust. After all, if your cat trusted you, they may not feel as scared. Therefore, if a cat always hisses at you, there is a chance that they may not feel safe around you.
However, cats also hiss whenever they are injured. Even if they do trust you, they may hiss at you because of an injury. Petting or touching may cause pain, and hissing at you is the best way they can keep you away.
That said, if the cat only hisses at you, then it may be that they don’t feel comfortable around you in particular.
3. They Don’t Make Eye Contact
Cats use their eyes to communicate a lot of things. Cats often make eye contact and blink slowly as a way to invite close physical contact (like petting). Therefore, if your cat never makes eye contact with you, then there is a good chance they may not want you to touch them. They’re avoiding signaling that they want to be petted, in other words.
That said, some cats do communicate with their eyes more than others. Some hardly ever make eye contact with anyone, while others look everyone in the eye.
Therefore, you need to consider how much your cat makes eye contact with you versus other people. If they’re constantly making eye contact with everyone else but not you, it could signal that they don’t feel comfortable asking you to pet them.
4. They’re Aggressive
Cats can be aggressive for all sorts of reasons. However, one of them is that they just don’t feel safe with you (or whoever is interacting with them).
Aggression can take many different forms and is often a consequence of the cat feeling cornered or threatened. Some cats may simply “poof up” and back away. Others may hiss or scratch. Active avoidance (where a cat does everything they can to not interact with you) can mean they fear you for some reason.
Of course, cats can be aggressive for other reasons, too. Therefore, it’s important not to assume that your cat hates you just because they scratched you. Sudden aggression indicates pain or an underlying health problem, and you should seek help from your vet. Aggression towards everyone may be a sign that the cat wasn’t properly socialized as a kitten and can indicate the need for behavioral intervention.
It’s important to rule out other reasons for aggression before you assume that your cat just doesn’t like you.
5. They Rarely Engage in Rubbing Against You
Cats naturally become accustomed to the scents of other people (and animals) they like. This way, being exposed to various scents was how a cat figured out who was in their group and who wasn’t. In our homes, cats will still try to mix their scents with those they consider part of their family.
Cats do this through rubbing and “mutual” grooming. When your cat rubs against your legs, this is what’s going on—the cat is trying to keep you firmly as part of their family, making you smell more familiar, like themselves. When your cat doesn’t do this, it can mean that they don’t consider you part of their family at all.
Worse, cats may actively try to get rid of your scent by grooming themselves after you touch them. Grooming is a completely natural behavior, of course. But, if it tends to happen right after you touch them, or they rarely rub up against you, then it may be a sign that they don’t want your scent hanging on them, as well as avoiding leaving their own scent on you.
Final Thoughts
Cats are not capable of hate in the true sense of the word, but they may fear or dislike someone until they gain trust in them, especially if they are new to the household. This will greatly depend on the circumstances, as well as the cat’s personality and early socialization. In most cases, cat behaviors are simply misinterpreted as hate when they may really indicate an underlying health problem or lack of contentment.
For instance, cats show each other affection by avoiding each other. It’s a matter of “I stay out of your way because I respect you.” Therefore, just because your cat seems to ignore you doesn’t mean they don’t like you. However, any excessive and unusual behavior should always warrant a check-up by a veterinarian.
The best way to tell if a cat likes you or not is to compare how they treat you to other humans. Sometimes, cats may treat all humans in an aloof manner—that may just be their personality. However, if they go out of their way to avoid you particularly (and get aggressive or hide when you do come close), it’s likely that they don’t like or trust you for one reason or another.
Featured Image Credit: Anna Kraynova, Shutterstock
