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How to Win Over Someone Else's Cat

How to Win Over Someone Else's Cat

Cats aren’t dogs. And if you want to make friends with a new cat, you don’t treat it like a dog. You patiently figure out what works for this particular cat, and you don’t expect it to work every time. But the slow process of befriending a cat makes it deeply rewarding when you finally win one over.

Earlier this year, I talked to three experts on cat behavior for the post “How to Get a Cat to Like You.” The post was so popular that we decided to try out the techniques on Cosmo, a cat owned by Lifehacker video producer Adam Powers. In the video above, I butter up Cosmo not just with snacks and toys, but by giving him space and being patient. As you’ll see, even with a friendly cat like Cosmo, it’s not always easy. For one, he’s a chomper.

Now Cosmo and I are friends forever—friends who sometimes ignore each other and sit on opposite ends of the couch, but also friends who nuzzle close and beg for shrimp snacks. And sometimes Cosmo begs for shrimps, too.