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Why does my cat push me away?

If your cat has been pushing you away a lot, this post will show you likely reasons why and what you can do about them.

So, why does my cat push me away? Likely reasons why your cat pushes you away are that it does not like how you are petting it, intimidation or that it just does not want to be bothered.

There are actually a number of possible reasons why your cat pushes you away and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider when figuring out the main cause and there are some things you can do about it.

Why does my cat push me away?

Below are likely reasons why your cat pushes you away and what would make them more likely.

It does not like how you are petting it

The reason why your cat does it might be that it does not like the way you are petting it. This would be more likely if your cat pushes you away when you pet it in a certain manner and if it also does things such as move away from you.

Intimidation

The cause could also be that it is intimidated. This would be more likely if your cat does it when you approach it aggressively, loudly or quickly and if it does it when you touch it firmly.

It is spreading its scent onto you

Cats have sweat glands on their paws. The reason why your cat has been doing it might be that it is actually spreading its scent onto you. This would be more likely if your cat puts its paw on you but it does not try to move away from you.

It wants something

The cause could also be that your cat wants something and it is trying to get you to get up and give it to your cat. This would be more likely if your cat tends to do it more in situations such as before you have fed it in the morning.

It does not want to be bothered

Cats are independent and self-reliant pets. They will do just fine without you, even if it means eating in the complete dark or getting to the litter box by themselves. But cats are also very social animals who crave the companionship of their owners. So when a cat pushes you away, it may not be because he or she wants you to go away. Instead, you may be asking more of the cat than he or she is willing to give. This would be more likely if your cat pushes you away when it is trying to sleep.

It is playing

It might also be the case that your cat is playing. This would be more likely if your cat also does things such as roll around when it does it.

Things to consider

Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat has been doing it.

If your cat has always pushed you away

If your cat did not always push you away, it would help to consider what else happened when it first started doing it. If it started doing it suddenly, it might be the case that you started interacting with it differently or something changed in its environment.

What else is different when it pushes you away

It would also help to consider what is different when it pushes you away. If it pushes you away when you pet it in a certain manner, the cause could be that it does not like how you are petting it. Whereas, if it does it when you touch it when it was sleeping, it likely does not want you to bother it.

The body language it shows

It would also be helpful to consider the body language it shows. If it does things such as move away from you and hiss, it would be more likely that it wants you to leave it alone. Whereas, if it does things such as roll around, it would be more likely that it is playing or being affectionate.

What to do about your cat pushing you away

Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.

Pet it differently

If your cat has been pushing you away when you pet it, it could help to pet it more gently and in a different manner. Generally, cats don’t like a full backrub and prefer to pet rubbed below the chin.

Observe its body language

It would also help to observe your cat’s body language and to react accordingly. If your cat starts doing things such as flick its tail and move away from you, it likely wants you to stop petting it.

Let it do it

If your cat seems to be doing it because it is playing, another option would be to let your cat continue doing it.

Why does my cat push me away with its paws?

Your cat might push you away with its paws for any of the reasons mentioned above. It would help to consider the timing of when it does it and if the other body language signs it shows.