My cat ignores me for my roommate. How can I be her favorite?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Aww! I understand your feelings but Halley is still very young. Animals can be fickle especially cats. I would continue spending time with her and offer treats. Call her to sit on your lap. Also watch closely to signs she’s getting annoyed: slight flicking of ears, tail wagging that would indicate she doesn’t like how she is being pet. It is just as possible she’ll go back to showing you more attention. I wish you the best!

Hello, some cats can undergo different behaviors and may prefer different people at times. This is typically not associated with anything major. However, there are some diseases that may cause changes in attitude. This includes hyperthyroidism and rarely acromegaly. Other signs with these diseases include increased drinking and urinations, a ravenous appetite, and weight loss. This can be screened with routine bloodwork, so have him evaluated by your veterinarian for these. If normal, other causes could include a different fragrance from perfume, body lotion, or laundry detergent that you could be using. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Keep in mind that this can take time, and Persians tend to be a little standoffish as a breed (I personally have a male Persian). They can be very selective about giving love, and may not be interested in being lap cats. I would be very affectionate with Mini, scratching her in places she likes (cats typically love to be scratched under the chin). I've found with my Persian that he loves having his little snub nose scratched. Give her lots of treats, and praise her when she comes to you for love.

Great news that Sky is so friendly with new people! Dogs will have favourites in the same way that we will and there is very little you can do to discourage this. Try to spend quality time playing with her and doing some reward training and this may help to refocus her attentions!

Great question. Most dogs respond best to the family member who spends the most time doing things such as feeding, walking, bathing. It sounds like you are that person. I'm sure she loves you but your Mom may have a special bond of some kind that seems to attract you dog's attention. Continue to work on it and over time find the special things such as rubbing her ears, or massaging her back, that makes you the person she wants to be around most. Small treats can be a great motivator. She is still a young dog so plenty of time to develop that special bond between you and your dog. Best of luck. Thanks, Dr Steve Popish.

Cats are individuals and just like people, they all have different preferences. Not all cats like to held. It likely has nothing to do with loving you. If you want to encourage your cat to like the experience, remember the always be slow and patient. Don’t force the behavior upon your cat or he will have a negative experience and then will rebel against it. A good place to begin is encouraging him to sit quietly in your lap. Once he is comfortable on your lap, he may allow more handling. If he seems otherwise happy, you may be content with meeting him where he is and finding a different way to express affect and bond. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Your question doesn't really describe what is going on. If the cats are fearful of you, taking time to let them approach you, and making sure you're the one feeding them, etc, can help with bonding. A toy that can be played with from a distance, such as a feather on a stick or laser pointer can also help with bonding without stress. If they get stressed out from handling, taking a break is best. If the cats are having trouble with each other, making sure they both have their own access to food, water, litter, etc can help avoid competition over resources. A pheromone diffuser such as Feli-way can also be plugged in to common rooms to help reduce stress.