As someone with cats at home during this time of social distancing and quarantine, I have found their presence very calming and welcome during a time of uncertainty, anxiety, and solitude. However, I don't think they have felt the same.
Now, I can't speak for everyone, as I'm sure some of you have cats who are nice and love that you're home, but my two cats… my cats HATE that I'm home all the time now. Sure, it was fun and exciting for them maybe for the first week or so. They didn't see me every day, as I lived on campus at my university and came home for the weekends, but at least they would be somewhat happy to see me when I did come home. Now, they want absolutely nothing to do with me. I want to pet them? Absolutely not. Pick them up? Out of the question. Want them to sit on the couch next to me? Not a chance. They will do anything in their power to avoid me, unless I'm going to feed them, because they don't want all the attention. I'm someone who loves to interact with my pets. I love to play with them and cuddle with them, and since I've been home, none of that has happened… I mean they didn't really before either, but now that we're in quarantine, I figured maybe they would be happier that I was home? Like they missed me? I guess not.
Sometimes I wonder what's going on inside their heads. What they are saying about all of us being home all the time. Sometimes I'll catch my cat staring at me like she wants attention, but then I'll go to pick her up and she's like, "uh-uh nope, don't touch me." I'll find her perched in front of the window looking at birds or laying in the middle of the floor. Other times, I'll find her laying on my chair or on my bed, content, but the second I pet her in any situation, it's the end of the world. Because, you know, how dare I touch her? Does anyone else's cat(s) do this? Where they just have mood swings, going from content to "I'll rip your face off if you touch me one more time" within a matter of seconds?
Honestly though, I get where they're coming from. The disruption of the schedule they were so used to is weird and off-putting. I understand that they can't sleep all day to their hearts content or run around the house like idiots with everyone home (well, I mean they could, but they usually don't anymore). It's a stressful situation for everyone, but my cats don't want sympathy or hugs. They want me to leave them the hell alone. So, for everyone with pets: please treat them with love and respect. This is a stressful time for them too.
