How do you make friends with a new cat? Do you scratch them behind the ears? Approach them gently? Or do you, as the vet in the video above suggests, “Squish that cat”?
The hilarious video is a supercut from a longer video by Veterinarian Dr. Uri Burstyn where he goes over some tips on how to pick up a cat like a pro. His best advice is to give the kitty a squish! Somehow, hearing it repeated over and over again makes it so much funnier.
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Of course, there’s more to making friends with a cat than just putting the squeeze on them. Here are a few of our own tips on how to introduce yourself to a new feline.
How To Introduce Yourself To A New Cat
(Picture Credit: Cyndi Monaghan/Getty Images)What’s the best way to do a “cat handshake” and make a great feline first impression? Here are some tips for introducing yourself to a cat properly.
- Don’t pet them without an invitation. If a cat wants pets, let them approach you first. Outgoing strangers can frighten a kitty.
- Pet them slowly and carefully. Offer your hand to them, knuckles first. Give them a chance to sniff your hand and get used to your scent. Then they may push your hand with their head. Pet softly and not for too long at first.
- Avert your eyes, and do a slow blink. Close your eyes slowly, hold them closed for a moment, and then open them slowly while looking at the cat. In cat language, this means “I trust you.”
- Watch for signs of stress. If a new cat is hissing, twitching their tail, or just running away from you, don’t try to pet them.
- Kick off some play time. If you want to draw a new cat out of their shell, sometimes a good toy is the way to do it. A wand toy that has a feather at the end can be really tough for a cat to resist.
Once you’ve done all that and make good friends with a cat, feel free to squish away.
Have you ever “squished” your cat like the vet in the video does? How does your cat like to be held? Let us know in the comments below!
