They always have time for you. The challenge of the Gamma is not immediately apparent. You must make time for them.
They are so deferential and unassuming that they will not assert themselves except in an emergency. It’s up to you, as a responsible Gamma owner, to keep tabs on them, making sure the water bowl is fresh, and the food keeps coming.
Gammas hate to make a fuss. When they do, it’s likely to be in very nonverbal ways; leaving the not tasty food untouched or trying to catch your eye with their pleading face.
People who love Gamma types treasure their mint Hummel collection, tend to leave for work and come home at the same times each day, and cherish the good book, the cup of tea, and their cat, somewhere in the vicinity. Gammas can be lap cats, but they will study you for a bit, figuring out the times and places where they know you will plant yourself for a while, before hopping up on your chair or finding a handy hassock. When they want to be out of the way, they find hiding places, and when they want affection, they will appear.
Gammas don’t mind being only cats. You are their companion. When you are away, they will drowse in windowsills, play only with their own toys, and prowl the apartment like little ghosts. They are the most geographically oriented type of cat, feeling secure when they know where everything is, and when those things stay there. A Gamma can be disconcerted momentarily when the couch pillows form a new configuration or their old food bowl breaks and they are presented with a new one. They like to know what to expect at all times, and bond with people who feel the same way. Their favorite toys tend to be the small crinkly balls or fluffy feathered things, but will chase a wand toy gladly when it is offered. They have less need than other cats for new toys, becoming fond of their old ones.
Gammas must be protected in households with dogs or children, and then they can get along. Without proper support, even with other cats, they can feel constantly under siege in these situations, and will misbehave only because of the stress, which they have difficulty communicating. Make sure they have places to unwind and times when they know they can get our attention, and they will be able to cope.
The only times a Gamma will get in trouble is when they find an unsuitable spot for sleeping or they are chasing a toy into a forbidden zone. At such times, a gentle correction and moving themselves or their toy into the right spot is all that is needed. They hate to be a bother.
Gamma kittens can be as playful as any kittens, but will show a tendency to be quiet and relaxed at other times. Even when they do misbehave, a gasp of shock is all that is needed to make them take notice of your distress. Many Gammas are long haired, and need to be groomed often. Acclimating the kitten to a grooming schedule, and following it with treats, is an important part of their raising.
Some breeds known for their Gamma qualities are the Persian, Chantilly-Tiffany, Chartreux, Himalayan, British Shorthair, Ragdoll, and Birman. Mixes with these qualities tend to be long haired and broadheaded, with stocky legs and a compact body. But any cat can have a Gamma personality. Look for them as kittens; they hang back from new toys at first, tend to have a wide-eyed stare at new things, and will usually be found in the corners of cages at the shelter. Ask the shelter folk for quiet, gentle cats, and soon you can have one of these “teddy bear types” for your very own.
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