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You are here: Home / Kitty Wisdom / Human Manipulation Dos and Don’ts

Human Manipulation Dos and Don’ts

February 19, 2015 By: Summer Samba49 Comments

This ALWAYS works!

I am 11 months old today! In a month, I’ll officially no longer be a kitten, and that means I will have to work harder at human manipulation. When you are a kitten, humans will do anything for you, and you practically don’t even have to ask — if you so much as think it, they take action! It’s easy for a kitty to think it is going to be like that forever, but once you’re a little older you have to keep practicing all the cute techniques, otherwise your human might start being a little neglectful about things like treats and playtime. And as we all know, grown up cats need this just as much as kittens do. So I’ve compiled a quick list of dos and don’ts to help you keep your humans charmed well into your senior years.

DO

Gently tap your human on the leg when you want her attention.

DON’T

Use your claws when you are tapping. If you poke holes in their clothing or their skin, humans will not appreciate it.

DO

Ask for what you want with a tiny, polite meow.

DON’T

Yell stridently when you want something. Humans hate being nagged.

DO

Roll over on your back and squirm around while looking the human right in the eye. My human had a cat once that did that every time he misbehaved — he got away with his misbehavior every time!

DON’T

Let your human touch you when you are doing this, especially if you are the biting type. It’s better to get up and run away — latching onto your humans with teeth and claws will immediately undo all the good feelings you just created.

DO

The pleading eye thing when you want a treat or a taste of the meat from your human’s dinner.

DON’T

Jump on the table and try to help yourself. Binga does this a lot and it never works.

DO

Use the head tilt at every opportunity.

DON’T

…actually, there is no way this can be done wrong.

Do you have any more dos — or don’ts — to add?

Human Manipulation Dos and Don\'tsHuman Manipulation Dos and Don\'ts
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Comments

  1. Athena says

    February 21, 2015 at 8:13 am

    Yes, all those things work every time!

    Purrs xx
    Athena

    Reply
  2. Kjelle Bus aka Charlie Rascal says

    February 21, 2015 at 6:39 am

    You are spot on efurrything on the list 😀

    XOXO

    Reply
  3. Pawesome Cats says

    February 20, 2015 at 5:04 pm

    Great advice Summer! PS. I think you’ve mastered the head tilt!

    Reply
  4. barbara Rivers says

    February 20, 2015 at 3:12 pm

    Our pups have the head-tilt down to a science, as well ~ it’s just too adorable!

    Reply
  5. Savannah's Paw Tracks says

    February 20, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    The increased volume of my request for a snack has worked very well for me and now for TKS. So the polite meow is nice, but sometimes, especially when one human is hard of hearing, the louder request is appropriate as long as one gets what one wanted in the end; na’mean? You are learning well Summer

    Reply
  6. Talent Hounds says

    February 20, 2015 at 8:27 am

    Purfect list 😉

    Reply
  7. Marty the Manx says

    February 20, 2015 at 4:06 am

    Great lessons Summer. kneading works too. Our Mom can’t resist when we start making biscuits and won’t move if we are happy and doing this 🙂
    Marty

    Reply
  8. The Kitties of Purring Pines says

    February 20, 2015 at 2:13 am

    You’ve learned sooooo much! Great advice!

    Reply
  9. Gattina says

    February 19, 2015 at 11:32 pm

    Very good tips, only cats do what they want ! Pookie gives morning concerts until we have a nervous breakdown. They are all flying cats and sit on top of all tables around ! Arthur is a thief and steels everything he can get, even cookies and cakes ! I am a victim !

    Reply
  10. Spitty the Kitty says

    February 19, 2015 at 9:13 pm

    Head tilt + on-the-back squirm with eye lock = Permanent kitten status

    You totally got it going on, Summer.

    Reply
  11. Clooney says

    February 19, 2015 at 9:00 pm

    Summer you got it covered so well! Great tips…Neytiri taps our Human on the leg too!

    Reply
  12. Mark's Mews says

    February 19, 2015 at 8:10 pm

    DONT

    Jump on yer Bein when it is asleep!

    DO

    Sneak up an cuddle quietly.

    Reply
  13. ellen pilch says

    February 19, 2015 at 7:27 pm

    The head tilt gets me every time.

    Reply
  14. William says

    February 19, 2015 at 6:45 pm

    You are a very smart little girl, Summer! I would only add that it’s good to humor humans to respond when they call your name.

    Reply
  15. Raven says

    February 19, 2015 at 6:35 pm

    All great tips Summer. Many kitties never learn all these Do and Dont’s, so it’s amazing that you’ve learned them before turning 1 year old.

    Reply
  16. BeadedTail says

    February 19, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    The head tilt always works! Binga sure is used for the bad examples a lot. We just can’t figure out why though!

    Reply
  17. Cathy Keisha says

    February 19, 2015 at 6:29 pm

    I do that first one all the time and would you believe I don’t use claws. I do the rolling over thing halfway and put my chin up. TW knows not to touch me but always comes to see what I want. You’ve learned well.

    Reply
  18. Ratty says

    February 19, 2015 at 6:22 pm

    Claws are a definite don’t. I had one cat that always used it’s claws to pull in a hand so he could get petted. Ouch!

    Reply
  19. Annie says

    February 19, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    Oh my goodness, you’re growing up so quickly! Pierrot does the yelling and nagging thing and you’re right that it doesn’t go over well with the humans. Sometimes, though, the lady gives in just to quiet him.

    You’re a wise young ‘un!

    Reply
  20. Georgia and Julie says

    February 19, 2015 at 4:53 pm

    A little murp then putting your head down as if you were going to do a headstand works quite well too 😉
    We liked these tips.
    Purrs Georgia and Julie,
    Treasure and JJ

    Reply
  21. Emma and Buster says

    February 19, 2015 at 4:02 pm

    Summer you are so wise beyond your 11 months with these valuables tips on how to manipulate humans. We have been employing such techniques and we concur these work really well, especially with the soft cute meow. Emma does that to perfection.

    Reply
  22. Flynn says

    February 19, 2015 at 3:37 pm

    I do tap my mum’s leg, but I also yell at her as loud as I can if she isn’t quick enough to see I want her full attention.

    Reply
  23. Grace says

    February 19, 2015 at 3:33 pm

    Those are pretty much spot on..

    Reply
  24. Lone Star Cats says

    February 19, 2015 at 2:47 pm

    I’s never used my claws on da peeps once – it has made me a favorite at da vet’s.

    Reply
  25. Laila and Minchie says

    February 19, 2015 at 2:42 pm

    Boy, Minchie sure does need a refresher course! We won’t be able to attend Alana and Tree House Humane’s function next week because it’s pretty far (25 miles) and Mom doesn’t drive the expressways. We know, she’s a whimp! She would never survive out where you live!

    Reply
  26. Nerissa's Life says

    February 19, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    My brother, Anderson, has that back squirm down pat. PLUS, he likes havin’ his tummy rubbed so it’s okay if the peeps touch him while he’s squirmin’. I think he went pro.

    Purrs,
    Nissy

    Reply
  27. Sabina Ayne says

    February 19, 2015 at 2:11 pm

    Great list Summer! I’ll have to hide them from my clowder! I don’t want them manipulating me anymore than they already do!! Happy almost 1-year old!!

    Reply
  28. Lola and Lexy says

    February 19, 2015 at 1:19 pm

    *raises paw* I have one! DO give them face tubs, but DO NOT sneeze in their face!

    Reply
  29. Sammy says

    February 19, 2015 at 12:17 pm

    Eleven months old……..you just get prettier and SMARTER every single day !!

    Hugs, Sammy

    Reply
  30. The Swisscats says

    February 19, 2015 at 11:25 am

    Great advice Summer ! We would add the Silent Meow with Help-Me-Eyes to make humans melt. Purrs

    Reply
  31. Pipo &Minko ~ WeBeesSiameezers says

    February 19, 2015 at 10:29 am

    You know the charming methods fur sure!!

    Reply
  32. Katie Bella says

    February 19, 2015 at 10:16 am

    When your human wakes up (with your help tapping gently on her face of course) and she sits up…cross back and forth across her lap over and over and over, headbonking the chesticle area each way. Then, press the length of your body hard against the human’s side and stand there purring. Don’t forget the side rubs when she rises up and you still have her back right there to rub against as she stands before moving.

    Reply
  33. Timmy Tomcat says

    February 19, 2015 at 9:51 am

    My how time flies Summer! So glad you have settled in and we really like all your posts. This one especially! Buttons likes the the not-quite-meow for treats while Buddy and myself give Dad arm hugs and he is wrapped for the day. Buddy says Do Not go on the back of the chair or couch and meow loudly into the ear. He has tried it and… No treats!
    Purrs
    Timmy

    Reply
  34. Kitties Blue says

    February 19, 2015 at 9:19 am

    Mauricio has most of the Dos done pat, but unfortunately he is good at the “yelling” Don’t, which drives Mom bonkers. We all have our strengths and weakness. Fiona needs to learn to retract her claws and use a gentle pat. All together, we make one terribly good kitty or one terribly bad kitty depending on the day. Summer you still look like a kitten to us. Mom considers us kittens until we are two. See if you can convince your mom that you have 13 more months! XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

    Reply
  35. LP says

    February 19, 2015 at 9:15 am

    Good strategizing Summer! LP loves it when we make those merps and chirps and singing sounds. She claims when Levon is naughty, all he has to do is “talk his way out of it” with this sweet sounds for her to love him all over again 🙂

    the critters in the cottage xo

    Reply
  36. Tamago says

    February 19, 2015 at 9:02 am

    Happy 11 months, Summer! Your dos & don’ts tips are all great!
    Especially the rolling-over and squirm-around thing – that works like a magic. Every naughty behavior is forgiven 🙂

    Reply
  37. The Poupounette Gang says

    February 19, 2015 at 8:57 am

    The silent meow, Summer. I find it works every time!!!

    Purrs,
    Genji

    Reply
  38. Caren Gittleman says

    February 19, 2015 at 8:31 am

    Basically good advice Summer. I DO like my belly rubbed when I squirm on my back and I do it all of the time! Also, I am not supposed to go on the table, but I do………..when I do it, sometimes I DO get something tasty….recently Mom started yelling at me for being on the table when she and Dad are eating….she needs to stop sending mixed signals! love, Cody

    Reply
  39. Kitty Cat Chronicles says

    February 19, 2015 at 7:24 am

    Great advice, as always, Summer! We have a few things we need to work on… like our “yelling”…

    Reply
  40. Simba says

    February 19, 2015 at 6:17 am

    Mom agrees with your list, Summer. Well said!

    Reply
  41. Melissa & Truffles says

    February 19, 2015 at 6:14 am

    You sure have learned a lot in your short 11 months, Summer!

    Reply
  42. Austin Towers says

    February 19, 2015 at 6:10 am

    It seems I’ve been doing everything wrong for seven years, except the head tilt thing! I might have to revise my terms and conditions!!

    Reply
  43. dma says

    February 19, 2015 at 5:51 am

    would you please remind diego-san of the stridently yelling one?

    Reply
  44. Toby & Leia says

    February 19, 2015 at 5:25 am

    All excellent tips. Our Mom especially loves that we talk to her a lot. Chirps and trills and tiny meows.

    Reply
  45. Brian Frum says

    February 19, 2015 at 5:12 am

    Well, I have been doing it mostly right pretty Summer!

    Reply
  46. Mr. Chivers, Greyson, and Tabitha says

    February 19, 2015 at 5:01 am

    Great advise Summer. My furdad loves when I gently butte head him. I am the only one out of 5 cats that do this. He says I’m his little girl. It works all the time. Chloe

    Reply
  47. Fuzzy Tales says

    February 19, 2015 at 5:01 am

    Nicki is a master at the cute rolling around when he’s been naughty. Well, let’s face it, he’s had a lot of practice over the years! He’s NOT learned that “yelling” at her only irritates her, though. 😀

    And Derry’s not learned to keep his claws in all the time.

    Our human would like to add a “don’t,” and that’s please don’t paw at your human all night long for pats and cuddles, thereby keeping her awake or continually waking her up. Sure, on the surface it seems like an okay thing to do, but most humans don’t get to sleep through the day like we do, and when they’re sleep-deprived, at least some (ours) are super-cranky and then don’t have the energy or motivation to dote on us the way we expect.

    Reply
  48. HaHnnah and Lucy says

    February 19, 2015 at 12:43 am

    Summer we use most of those when we are trying to get round our Mum for tasty treats – it’s a walk over!!
    Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

    Reply
  49. Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101) says

    February 19, 2015 at 12:43 am

    Here’s another first! I’m never first to comment. Summer, you’ve learned well grasshopper 🙂

    Reply

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