How do they know who they like?

[smg680]

I've been wondering about something ever since I brought Ambre home. How do cats, or dogs, know who they like when they're first brought home? When I brought Ambre home in 2007, he and my dad became best friends until the day Ambre died. Now I'm seeing the same behavior in some of the feral cats we have.

For example, my dad calls Little Mama his little girl, and I told you once how Bob walks me home after I visit him. I understand how Bob might act this way, since he was most likely abandoned as a kitten.

How do animals know who they like and how they can trust them?

[hazelrunpack]

That's the $64 million question! My husband is a dog magnet! I don't know how he does it, but they seem to recognize his love for them on an almost psychic level! Animals are excellent at interpreting nonverbal communication--maybe they pick up signals and vibes that we talkers are too blind to see.

[marko]

I'm with HRP here, I lean toward the picking up of body signals.

I'm pretty good with getting stray cats to come to me but that's because I give them postures and gestures that are absolutely non-threatening yet inviting .