With maturity he has learned to be proactive. He’s still a little shaky on how to get attention. But once he’s got it, he happily twirls and rubs his cheek on what he wants, thrilled to be able to communicate his wishes, and ecstatic to have them granted.

It only took four years.

RJ is the epitome of the late blooming cat. Circumstances combined to create almost every instance that leads to it in this one kitten.

Big cat. The more massive the cat, the more slowly they reach full maturity. Maine Coon Cats, Norwegian Forest Cats, Persians, or any other Northern cats take time to reach their full potential.

Cobby type. Biology is destiny for this body type. Compact and stocky, round-headed and beachball-bodied, the British or American shorthairs exudes calm confidence. Even more moderate types, such as the American Burmese, linger in kittenhood and sneak up on maturity.

Deliberate thinker. Late bloomers have a careful mindset. They like to consider all possible angles. If this unearths some new angles to consider, those deserve attention too.

At left, RJ (top) and Tristan are a study in contrasts; body types and mental attitudes.

It’s not that they are slow thinkers. It is that they think slowly.

They are particularly good at seeing events before they might happen; unlike a more impulsive companion who uses their intelligence to get into trouble as much as they get out of it.

Late bloomers are not the quicksilver kind of cat, but they shine all the same.

Early challenges. The keen curiosity and butterfly thought pattern of the young kitten encourages them to explore their world, so they can figure out what is in it.

RJ was severely deficient in terms of getting input and having a chance to influence events. When we first got him, he didn’t even know how to play. But he learned in the course of one evening; and then try and stop him!

Supportive environment. This last element is what allows our late boomer… to bloom at all.

When put under too much pressure, the challenged cat of this type wants to freeze up in an attempt to slow things down. If they are pushed too much they will withdraw, rather than panic, but this brings their development to a halt.

Recognizing the kind of cat we have makes our expectations reasonable, our love less anxious, and our home, secure.

Then watch them bloom.

See the range of cat body types here.

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I don’t know what happened. He still hides and avoids laptime and I want more cuddling and kissing. What can I do?

Dear Readers,

What we want, and what our cat is, might be two different things.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

One of the most difficult tasks of cat evaluation is distinguishing the behaviors that are in response to a poor environment from the behaviors that are intrinsic to the cat. We have a tendency to regard a cat’s “shyness behaviors” as a response to traumatic events; behaviors that will melt away when we open our heart and our home to them.

While it is true that making a cat happy and secure will reveal the true cat; that doesn’t mean their favorite way of bestowing affection will perfectly align with our wishes.

When I brought Reverend Jim home, we discovered that he loved cuddling; but he doesn’t do drive-bys. RJ wants a time commitment so he can spread across a chest or lap with complete relaxation and get his purring cranked to the max. After twenty minutes, or even more, he’s “full.” It could be another 12 hours before the tank gets that low again.

He always loves Petting in Place, but for the rest of the day he doesn’t want to be scooped up and cuddled. Fortunately, we have an alternate system for such human needs. We have Sir Tristan.

Since very early kittenhood, Tristan has displayed the opposite pattern. He likes to “touch base” more than a dozen times a day. Despite his obvious affection, he’s never been a lap cat. He gets on my lap, but it’s to bury his shoulder in my chest, ask for hugs and kisses on his forehead; and then he’s off again.

If I wanted a lap cat, Tristan would disappoint me, over and over. If I wanted a cat who liked lots of short-notice short cuddles, Reverend Jim would avoid me; and seem like a cat who is not affectionate at all.

We can create a better chance of getting the kind of affection we would like from our cat with these “affection matching” tips:

Know what we want. Some people would find the demands of RJ’s long sessions difficult to fit into their busy schedule, and then we both wind up affection-starved. Others would miss their great “lap sessions” during a movie if they had a cat with Tristan’s preferred pattern.

We should consider our own preferences, schedule, and expectations; then seek out a cat who will most closely fit them.

Know how to ask for it. I keep an open line of communication with all my cats, and issue “cat alerts” if I’m going to be open to their favorite way of sharing friendship.

We can train our cat that a blanket thrown over our lap means they can settle in for an hour or so while we watch our favorite shows or play a movie. We can show our cat we missed them all day if we hang up our coat and start a play session.

Know when it’s being offered. We can instantly respond if our cat places a paw on our knee or meows at us. If we brush them off as “bugging us” we have just hurt their feelings; and discouraged them from making such overtures.

If our cat seems to pick all the wrong times to ask for attention, we need to let them know when there is a good time.

Know when they are doing their best. It doesn’t make any sense to feel hurt when our Gamma doesn’t need a play session every day, or if our Alpha can’t settle down long enough to cuddle on the couch.

We should keep in mind that it’s a rare cat who will display every possible flavor of affection.

I often get asked how someone’s cat could be more cuddly; or less intrusive. How to get their cat to be more friendly with strangers, less driven, different. But while we can make our cat more confident and trusting, less fearful and suspicious; we cannot change the cat’s essential nature. Any more than we can change our own.

There’s always what I do; have multiple cats to cover all bases.

Maximize our kitten’s potential with Keeping Kittens Cuddly. Figure out all the subtle ways cats express affection with the first post in my Presence series.

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They combine a sweet and trusting nature with an uncertainty about how to manipulate our mutual environment.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

The key to happy Gammas is support. If we can provide enough understanding, attention, and adoration for our Gammas, they will be devoted, and delightful, “children.”

There are great advantages to Gammas:

Leaving our stuff alone. They are the best cat for not messing with our things.

They stay kittens longer. Gammas are the most dependent cat types. They also stay mentally dependent for longer. It can seem that Gammas are slow to grasp something, when that’s not true. They have a slower thinking style. They “get it” but don’t want to commit right away.

Very focused on relationship. This is wonderful for us if we can match that level of interest. Gammas need that coming back, too.

This is why I think of them as the “rabbit cat,” since they are so low-key and cuddly. Gentle Gammas are easily provided for, yet require our small attentions more, than other cat types.

Because there are cautions regarding Gammas:

Need maintenance. We cannot rely on them to let us know they are hungry or thirsty or have an upset; not quickly. Gammas prefer to suffer in silence. We can’t let that happen.

Must have routine. Least flexible with environmental stress, especially since they will leave things alone and don’t even have the stress relief of trying to fix it.

Least of the greeters. They will meet friends; not strangers. Getting from one to the other takes some hanging around and being open, but not pushy. Still, anyone who comes by often can be friends with our cat.

If we want a “living doll” these lovely and loving cats are a wonderful experience.

Look for these breeds & breed characteristics:

Look for the short nose, broadset ears, thicker paws, and stocky bone structure that indicates Gamma traits. A wide-eyed expression, a quiet acceptance of the situation, and a close interest in details of their environment can point to Gamma mental traits in any cat. They come from colder climates and are the least active cat type.

Persians, and their combinations, are the core Gamma heritage.

Read more about the Gamma cat type.

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They combine great social skills with an ease about asking us to manipulate our mutual environment.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

The key to happy Betas is friendship. If we can provide enough companionship, interactivity, and social possibilities for our Betas, they will be compassionate, highly-invested, community contributors.

There are great advantages to Betas:

Easy going. They are the hardest to unruffle or tip over. But they are the best to notice where improvements can be made, and so do not have their tolerances tested as much as other cat types.

Easily amused. They have the driest sense of humor, and find it more often, than other cat types. Their forgiving nature smooths out grievances, even ones they were not involved in.

Social, social, social. Maybe not the life of the party, but definitely the soul of the house, Betas will work at everyone getting along. Their delight in any other friendly creature is infectious.

This is why I think of them as the “dog cat,” since it is so easy to be friends with them and make them happy. Betas are born with the most innate trust of humans.

Still, there are cautions regarding Betas:

Loneliness. The worst thing you can do is leave them alone; some suffer with more grace than others, but it’s an unnecessary stress on this kind of cat. Since they get along with other cats so well, starting off with two Betas is the best way of covering their needs for interaction.

Right toys. Betas must have the prey cycle in their play. It’s not wearing them out so much as satisfying their need for a daily hunt.

Target for distress. We are so important to our Beta that their efforts to get needs met will target their people. They will need our attention to focus on them at such times until the difficulty is worked out.

They want to be our best buddy.

Look for these breeds & breed characteristics:

Betas tend towards round heads and body type known as “medium,” with neither the long slenderness of Alphas or the stocky big-boned builds of a Gamma. They have prominent facial structures, adaptable personalities, and a high interest in prey behavior.

These are the great mousers and ship cats and sailor companions who spread all over the world because people loved to have them around. And it was mutual.

Shorthair is the core Beta heritage, and can appear in the most unlikely of places.

Read more about the Beta cat type.

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They were a ship’s cat who spread to Europe in the 1860′s, and became a recognized cat class in 1912. American breeders developed the cat we know today, after WWII, by crossing what were then separate English and Scandinavian bloodlines, and breeding out the Siamese that had been added to keep the breed healthy in a small gene pool.

But everyone agrees the Russian Blue has always been a class act.

GC, RW VALNIKA’S LONE TSAR OF TYLONA,
Russian Blue Male – Photo: © Larry Johnson

They aren’t really “blue.” (No blue food, no blue roses, and no blue cats.) “Blue” describes a slate-gray cat color, and there’s only a few breeds (such as the Chartreux or the Korat) where there is only one such color appearing in the breed.

The arrowhead shape of their skull and the round, bottle-green eyes join a lush, silver-tipped, double coat for the distinctive Russian Blue look.

Despite a long, lean appearance that suggests Alpha, Russian Blues are more Beta in their personality, which is quiet, gentle, and deeply devoted. One of their traits is to vanish when strangers appear, yet once they know someone, they love cuddling and attention.

One of the special traits of the Russian Blue is their calm, quiet, tranquil personality that nonetheless displays plenty of playful and amusing interests. They have an extraordinary mix of Alpha looks, Beta social skills, and Gamma harmony which helps them settle into diverse situations as needed.

The one non-negotiable, as with all Betas, is close companionship, but with Russian Blues, it should be quiet and dignified, just as they are. While they have a clown side that enjoys play, their most compelling need is inserting themselves into our daily activities, and not letting too much time pass before they get another dose of attention. They seem to choose one person for this important task, though they will make friends with the whole family, regardless of species.

“Brains, not brawn” is their motto. Keenly intelligent and fond of puzzles, they need mental activity far more than physical exercise. They also have a highly intuitive sense of what other beings have to offer, and how they feel. This helps them insinuate themselves into all kinds of shared tasks where we might not have thought a cat could be welcome.

Our Ordell was probably a Russian Blue cross. A clear “tell” is the dense gray fur with silver tips that let me trace patterns with my fingers, and his mauve paw pads. But many gray cats are mistaken for Russian Blues. Pink paw pads and nose leather, and no silver tipping, means their “blue” came from somewhere else.

As a natural breed, Russian Blues are quite hardy and healthy, and routinely get to their teens without much in the way of health problems. Another advantage they bring to the table is their reputation for having less of the glycoprotein Fel d 1 which triggers human allergies.

Want a Russian Blue? Find an ethical breeder who cares about their cats, or reach out to Russian Blue Rescue.

Use Petfinder.com to see if there’s one nearby, just waiting for a home.

Love certain breeds?
There’s more about getting the cat you dream of at The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See MORE ABOUT CAT BREEDS.

They combine ceaseless curiosity with an ease about manipulating our mutual environment.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

The key to happy Alphas is enough. If we can provide enough attention, play, and diversion for our Alphas, they will be amusing and delightful comrades.

There are considerable advantages to Alphas:

Forever kittens. If we worry about “not enough play” and “they grow up too soon” we must consider an Alpha.

Endless fun. The status won’t be quo for long with an Alpha investigating.

Friendly and approachable. Guests love the Alpha, and the Alpha loves them back. While not as available for stranger-petting as a Beta, they are the most likely cat type to appear and do interesting things for the guests to enjoy. This line started as “temple cats” and continue in many countries to this day.

Demanding. We never wonder where we stand when an Alpha loves us; and loves us some more. Alphas have deep roots in Determination and Confidence, but this can backfire on us if we don’t handle it correctly.

This is why I think of them as the “monkey cat,” since they are so bright and dextrous. Delightfully mischievous and deliberately stubborn, they require more managing than other cat types.

That’s why there are cautions regarding Alphas:

Demanding. Alphas want what they want very much and they’d like it now. This works better for some things than others.

Wearing them out. We absolutely must wear them out. Again. This driving energy is lively and amusing, but must be channelled properly for the health of all concerned.

Keeping them amused. They like to watch what we are doing very closely. They want to press buttons themselves; and do. They like to take things apart.

We have to keep them busy and interested and satisfied.

Look for these breeds & breed characteristics:

Alphas are long and lean, with long noses, large oval ears, and pointy paws. Verbal and intense about whatever interests them. They come from hotter climates and are the most active cat type. They are the “mad scientists” of the Cat world.

Siamese is the core Alpha heritage, and all Oriental types express these traits.

Read more about the Alpha cat type.

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When the dust settled six kittens and one young adult cat had gotten new homes. Two out of those five homes already had cats in them. Last year, Tristan and Zora found homes; with people who already had cats.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But we have a bit of overproduction in the cat department, and need to move this merchandise, so to speak.

We need more cats, in more homes.

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

I don’t know how likely it is for someone’s New Year’s Resolution to be: Get a cat. But perhaps it should be.

When I speak to pet-less people, some of them are quite sensible in their decision, because of their time spent traveling or a hectic lifestyle or they simply don’t miss having a pet. (It is a mark of my animal interests that I adjust my lifestyle to have pets.)

Some would like to have a cat; but don’t. Some could have a cat… and haven’t thought of that yet. I’ve found most people would consider a cat as a pet option; when they are convinced that what they seek can be found there.

It’s not my imagination. The article, “Cat People Are People, Too” makes the prejudice perfectly clear:

I only have the one and she’s a rescue so it’s O.K.

So goes the party line regarding my cat.

As the writer bewails the fact that

As a culture we never outgrow the joys of puppies. There is no break in our obsession. If a grown man walks down the West Side Highway with an adorable puppy, it can only mean good things for him. But when it comes to kittens, we’re supposed to have cut the cord by age 10 and reattached it around age 100.

For instance, we could be impressed with the “science” displayed in the article “Personality Differences Between Dog and Cat Owners.” It’s written by Stanley Coren, Ph.D.! A professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia! The author of The Intelligence of Dogs!

Surely he’s being even-handed when he points out such nuggets as:

Apparently cats appear to be much easier to hate. Fifteen percent of the adults questioned said they disliked cats a lot while the number who said they disliked dogs a lot was only two percent.

and

Cats, on the other hand, are often invisible during the day, seeming only to appear in the evening, especially if that is when they are fed. Cats will occasionally engage in social activities or play with people, but their interest is limited. Usually, after only a few minutes, cats will abandon the game and wander away.

and

The general pattern that comes out of both studies is that dog owners are more social, interactive and accepting and cat owners (who own cats exclusively) are more introverted, self-contained and less sociable.

Gee, thanks a lot! I’d get depressed… except that I know Dr. Coren is not impartial on the subject. Right in the midst of the popular book, The Intelligence of Dogs, Dr. Coren includes an entire chapter devoted to what I can only describe as a rant about how sneaky, unintelligent, and self-serving cats are, and how deluded, neurotic, and psychopathic the people who love them, are.

Not what I’d call objective reasoning on the subject. So this study can’t be taken seriously, either. Not when he has the gall to include people who have both cats and dogs… as dog owners; for the purposes of his study. Not stacking the deck or anything, are we, Dr. Coren?

I’m far more impressed with this Cracked article, 5 Reasons The War Between Dog and Cat People Needs to Stop.

Don’t let me make too much of the differences, either. With the surveys mentioned earlier you also have kind of a Bell Curve situation, where the differences are in the 10-20% range. Cat owners aren’t all crazy shut-ins, they’re just 10 percent less extroverted. So hopefully you won’t go around repeating these findings like they’re absolute proof that it’s unnatural to own a cat.

The dog’s hierarchical responses and forgiving nature means people can massively screw up; but it doesn’t matter. Maybe the couch is chewed and there are often “surprises” when they come home, but if they love the dog anyway, no real harm done.

Likewise, the right kind of personality can “fall into” a cat relationship and do most things right if they are not the kind of person who would think of demanding obedience in the first place. A low-key interest in the cat’s welfare can create a space where the relationship can grow. Especially if neither side had too many expectations going in.

But most of all:

Cats are a skill.

We recognize that people who train dogs for search and rescue or guiding the blind are good at what they do. If our dog can’t locate an injured hiker or keep us from stepping out into traffic; we don’t think of that as any bad reflection on our dog raising abilities. We can enjoy our dogs with a minimal level of expertise.

Likewise, I believe cats are the even-easier-option. We don’t need to housebreak them. Giving them the right scratching post means our training is half-done; that does not apply to chew toys we give to puppies.

The problem is not that raising happy, loving, cats is difficult.

The problem is that so few people know how easy it is.

Thinking of cats for the first time? See who I think is the Best Cat for Newbies.

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I believe this Christmas is the one where RJ has finally achieved everything he ever wanted.

Once upon a time a little kitten almost died and had to be rescued by the police. He wound up at three shelters in as many weeks. Problem was, he didn’t look like a kitten. He looked like a sickly adult cat.

If no one wanted him, he would wind up at a cat ranch where he could lead a cared-for, somewhat feral, existence.

This would be an excellent choice for some of the wilder cats, and certainly better than the euthanasia alternative for any of them. But my hunch was that Reverend Jim needed some focused attention and lots of love.

Or he might not make it.

RJ went from a cage at the shelter to sleeping on velvet.

He has cat friends and human friends and regular treats and a window to look out of over a busy nature scene.

Last year he got a younger cat to play with; a cat who has become his best buddy.

This year, Reverend Jim lies on his Christmas rug, and seems unable to think of a single other thing he might want.

In the grand scheme of things, perhaps it is a rather small miracle; that Reverend Jim was rescued from near-death to be made so happy.

But to Reverend Jim, it is everything.

A very wonderful holiday to all Cat Appreciators everywhere, whichever it is and where-ever you are.

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There’s more ways to get our cat to be affectionate in The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See all of my CAT AFFECTION posts.