Why Don't Cats Listen? 6 Reasons

Cats are known for being independent and not always listening to their owners. You might call your cat repeatedly, yet they ignore you or wander off to do their own thing.

This can be frustrating, especially for owners used to dogs that eagerly follow commands. But there are good reasons why cats don’t listen as well as other pets.

Understanding the roots of this behavior can help you accept your cat’s nature and learn to communicate with them effectively.

Here are six of the top reasons why cats don’t listen and seem aloof at times:

1. Evolutionary History

Cats are descended from solitary wild cats that hunted alone. They didn’t evolve to live in social groups like dogs.

As a result, they are more independent by nature and don’t rely on others to survive. Obedience and listening to others was not an essential skill for their ancestors.

Domestic cats retain a lot of these wild instincts and preferences for autonomy. They bond with us, but are not programmed to follow orders to the same degree as pack-oriented canines.

2. Different Communication Styles

Cats and humans have very different communication styles.

As humans, our primary way of communicating is through language. Cats, however, rely more on body language, pheromones, and vocal tones.

When you talk to your cat, they are not understanding the meanings of your words. They are picking up on more subtle cues from your tone of voice, posture, and eye contact.

Because cats don’t comprehend language, they can’t make the connection between commands like “come” and the desired behavior. They need communication tailored to their innate abilities.

3. Lack of Motivation

Unlike dogs, cats are not extremely motivated by praise or food rewards. This makes them more difficult to train.

Your cat likely doesn’t come when called because they don’t see any benefit to responding. There’s no payoff for them.

Without a clear reward, cats don’t have much incentive to listen or obey. Their independent nature means they are less interested in merely pleasing their owner.

4. Their Priorities are Different

Cats value different things than humans.

While you might be eager for your cat to come snuggle up on your lap, they are often more interested in gazing out the window, patrolling their territory, or finding a quiet place to nap.

A cat has their own priorities and preferences. Listening to you may not align with their plans or interests at that moment.

5. Lack of Training

Cats aren’t born knowing how to interpret human words or commands. These behaviors need to be taught through training.

Without being trained, your cat has no understanding of what words like “no”, “come”, or “down” mean. They can’t follow directions they don’t comprehend.

Putting in the time and effort to positively train your cat can help bridge the communication gap between you. Clicker training is especially popular for cats.

6. Possible Medical Issue

In some cases, a medical issue could influence your cat’s listening abilities or willingness to respond.

Problems like dental disease, arthritis, impaired vision or hearing can all affect how well your cat interacts with you.

Pain or discomfort may make them less likely to want to move, jump up, or come when called. Cognitive issues can also impact their training.

If your cat used to listen well but is no longer responsive, schedule a vet visit to rule out a health problem.

Conclusion

While it can be frustrating when cats don’t listen as well as other pets, it’s important to remember they are just following their natural instincts.

With time, patience, and training using rewards they value, you can teach your cat to be more responsive. But ultimately, their aloofness is part of what makes cats so charming.