If your cat won’t come near you, you might be wondering why and what you can do about it.
So, why won’t my cat come near me? Likely reasons why your cat won’t come near you are that it is intimidated or that it has not become comfortable around you yet.
There are actually multiple reasons why your cat won’t come near you and it might be due to a combination of reasons. However, there are some things you can consider to help figure out the main reason and there are some things you can do about it.
Why won’t my cat come near me?
Below are a number of possible reasons why your cat won’t come near you and what would make each of them more likely.
Intimidation
The cause might be that your body language and behavior has been intimidating it. This would be more likely if your cat has started avoiding you since a change in the way you have been interacting with it or a change in how you behave around it.
A problem with the environment
It could also be the case that your cat is actually avoiding something in the environment. This would be more likely if your cat has started avoiding you since a recent change such as since getting a new pet or moving homes.
It is not yet comfortable around you
If you have not owned your cat for long, it might also be the case that your cat has not become comfortable around you yet. In this case, it should start to become more comfortable around you over the course of weeks.
Illness
Sometimes, cats will start avoiding their owners when they are feeling ill and it might be why your cat has been avoiding you. This would be more likely if your cat has been hiding, it has started doing it suddenly and if it has been showing other signs of having an illness such as vomiting a lot. In this case the best option would be to take it to a vet.
It does not want to be bothered
The cause might also be that it does not want to be bothered. This would be more likely if it does come near you sometimes, but it does not come near you when it is trying to sleep.
Nature
The cause might also be that it is naturally timid. This would be more likely if your cat has always avoided you and if it has not been behaving unusually in other ways. However, there still things you can do about it even if it does seem to be doing it naturally.
Things to consider
Below are some things to consider to help figure out the main reason why your cat won’t come near you.
If your cat did come near you before
If your cat did come near you in the past, it would help to consider what else happened when it stopped coming near you. If it stopped coming near you suddenly, it might be the case that there was an event that caused your cat to stop doing it such as moving homes, getting a new pet or you started behaving differently around it. It might also be due to getting an illness.
The timing of when your cat won’t come near you
If your cat does come near you sometimes, it would help to consider what is different when it does come near you. For example, if it does come near you when you are quiet, it could be the case that it gets intimidated when you are not so quiet.
The body language your cat shows
It would also help to consider the body language of your cat. If it does things such as hide and make itself appear smaller, it would be more likely that it is intimidated. Whereas, if it seems to be calm around you but it does not come near you when you call it, the cause would be more likely that it just does not understand what you want.
What to do about my cat not coming near me?
Below are some options you have when dealing with the behavior.
Limit reasons why it might be anxious
If it seems like it has been getting anxious, it would help to limit reasons why it might be anxious. Ways to do so could include letting it stay in a room that is quiet and where there is a safe spot for it to sleep and letting it get away from other pets.
Give it time
If you have not owned your cat for long, it would make it more likely that your cat will start to come near you as it becomes more comfortable with its environment.
Be calm with it
It would also help to be calm with it, when you are interacting with it, by not being too loud, forceful and by petting it gently in a manner that it likes.
Get help
If your cat has been being very anxious, it would help to take it to a vet for a checkup. By doing so, you should be able to get expert advice tailored towards your particular cat.
Why won’t my cat come near me anymore?
If your cat won’t come near you anymore, it would be likely to be due to things such as a change in its environment, a change in how you have been interacting with it or illness or injury.
Why won’t my cat come near me at night?
If your cat won’t come near you at night, it would be likely to be because something changes in its environment, at night, that causes it to become anxious. Possibilities could include people being around that are not around during the day, different noises at night or a change in how you interact with it at night.
Why does my cat suddenly hate me?
If your cat suddenly seems to hate you, likely causes are a change in how you have been interacting with it, a change in its environment, injury, or because you accidentally hurt it.
Why does my cat avoid me?
If your cat has been avoiding you, likely causes are a change in its environment, a change in how you have been interacting with it or injury or illness.