Selective with affection and human-time?

[Deleted User]

Recently I have really noticed that Ophelia doesn’t want me to touch her at all when I come home from work. I do work in a hospital so I thought maybe it was smell related, but now I don’t think so since I’ve noticed the same pattern on the weekends, and even after I change from work clothes. She dodges all my attempts to pet in the afternoon, but will take all the attention she can get later in the night, say around 9pm. I usually lay on the ground with her and give her lots of pets for 30mins-1hour before bed. She hangs out a lot in my bedroom, and usually comes up on the bed during the night (well, technically morning), around 4-5 am and she will take lots of cuddles and pets then. Why does she only want my attention in late evening and early morning? I do feed her salad as soon as I get home from work and then various snacks (bell peppers, herbs, etc) intermittently until bedtime. Is this feeding schedule making her not want anything to do with me if I don’t have food during that time?

[sarahthegemini]

It might just be the time she doesn’t feel like socialising. Afternoon is prime sleeping time so maybe she just wants some alone time? Lol.

[Deleted User]

Well, I guess I should have said late afternoon. I don’t get home from work until 5-5:30pm. She doesn’t spend the time sleeping but lounges around near me just won’t let me pet her. She isn’t sleeping though and will move about often and go play in the sandpit or eat hay or zoomie around the couch. Guess I’m just trying to figure out if it’s something I’m doing to make her stay away during that time

[Luna]

I agree with STG. It could also be that Ophelia is just not in the mood – something we tend to see in our buns every once in a while where they suddenly are like “Meh, whatever.” It doesn’t sound health-related nor attributable to something you did.

[Wick & Fable]

I think you’ve mentioned while you’re at work, there’s someone at home with her? I don’t remember clearly.

She could be settling into the fact now that you aren’t there for long periods, thus has grown less interested in interacting with you as intimately as frequently. Wick kinda went through this with me. He’s much more independent now than previously, especially at times he knows I’m not scheduled to give him food.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[joea64]

Panda and Fernando are used to being on their own pretty much 12-13 out of every 24 hours five days a week, and they enjoy a very close bond to boot. So they’re not excessively needy for human interaction, to my observation. That being said, they’re always very pet-ready in the early morning just before breakfast and while being given treats.

[Q8bunny]

Chewie is definitely at his cuddliest around breakfast and dinner time. So it doesn’t sound weird to us

[Author]

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