There are a lot of cat behaviors that are much easier to notice with two cats instead of one. There are many more where it is easier to figure out what's
going on/what the behavior is all about.
One of my favorites dispels a common misconception about domestic cats and is the easiest for we hopelessly tall and awkward humans to adapt to:
They touch noses. If you see the cat stretching out its neck a bit in your direction, SCORE! He's offering to shake hands. Don't offer him your whole hand or palm like you would to a dog, simply extend your index finger. Look at your fist, it's about the size of kitty's head. Look at your fingertip, it's the size of kitty's nose. If you stick your finger out tentatively, it's as close as you can get to what another cat would do.
If kitty doesn't take the initiative, you can. Squat down to his level, speak quietly, etc. and extend the fingertip.
There is no formula for how to proceed after that, but the next time you meet the cat, you should again say "hello" in this way. But just once per meeting. Any more than that, the cat will consider you weird.
One of my favorites dispels a common misconception about domestic cats and is the easiest for we hopelessly tall and awkward humans to adapt to:
Social Greeting
It's a myth that cats are aloof or anti-social. Compared to dogs, they're very subtle in the way they extend invitations. A cat that
doesn't know you isn't going to trot right up and beg you to be his/her friend. And a feral cat or stray is going to be especially wary. But
let's say you have squatted down to kitty's level, spoken softly, perhaps piqued their interest by jingling your keys, or in the case of strays, maybe
established trust by leaving them food or water over several weeks. Somehow or other, you've been allowed to approach the cat or allowed the cat to
approach. How do cats proceed from here?
They touch noses. If you see the cat stretching out its neck a bit in your direction, SCORE! He's offering to shake hands. Don't offer him your whole hand or palm like you would to a dog, simply extend your index finger. Look at your fist, it's about the size of kitty's head. Look at your fingertip, it's the size of kitty's nose. If you stick your finger out tentatively, it's as close as you can get to what another cat would do.
If kitty doesn't take the initiative, you can. Squat down to his level, speak quietly, etc. and extend the fingertip.
There is no formula for how to proceed after that, but the next time you meet the cat, you should again say "hello" in this way. But just once per meeting. Any more than that, the cat will consider you weird.
