It started with soft paws and curious eyes. I wasn’t expecting to become a kitten magnet, especially not when her mother was just a few feet away, lounging with the regal indifference only adult cats can master. But from the moment she spotted me, this tiny furball decided I was her person. She followed me from room to room, curled up beside my feet, and meowed if I disappeared for more than a few seconds. And while her mother watched from a distance, occasionally grooming herself or napping, the kitten stayed glued to me like I was the sun and she was orbiting.
At first, I thought it was a fluke. Maybe I smelled like tuna. Maybe I moved slower than her mother, making me easier to chase. But as the days passed, her attachment deepened. She’d ignore her mother’s calls, skip nursing sessions, and instead try to climb onto my lap while I worked. It was endearing, confusing, and—if I’m honest—a little overwhelming.
So I started wondering: why would a kitten choose a human over her own mother?
Imprinting and Early Bonding
One possibility is imprinting. While more commonly associated with birds, imprinting can occur in mammals too—especially when a young animal forms a strong attachment to the first responsive figure it encounters. If I happened to be the one who picked her up, fed her, or comforted her during a moment of stress, she may have locked onto me as her primary caregiver.
Cats are surprisingly sensitive to tone, touch, and presence. If I spoke gently, moved slowly, and offered warmth, she may have interpreted those signals as maternal. Her mother, while biologically equipped to care for her, might not have been as responsive or nurturing in that moment. Some mother cats are aloof, especially if they’ve had multiple litters or are stressed themselves.
Scent and Familiarity
Another factor could be scent. Cats rely heavily on olfactory cues to identify safety and kinship. If I’d handled her frequently, she may have absorbed my scent and begun associating it with comfort. My clothes, my skin, even the rhythm of my footsteps—these could have become her version of a heartbeat.
Interestingly, her mother might smell different due to hormonal shifts, diet, or environmental stress. If I smelled more neutral or familiar, the kitten might have gravitated toward me instinctively.
Personality Match
Let’s not underestimate the possibility that she simply likes me. Animals, like people, have personalities. Some kittens are bold and curious, others shy and cautious. If her temperament leans toward exploration and social bonding, she may have found my presence more stimulating than her mother’s.
I noticed she was particularly drawn to my voice. If I hummed or spoke softly, she’d perk up. If I laughed, she’d trot over. It was as if she was tuning into my emotional frequency. Her mother, meanwhile, remained stoic and silent, preferring solitude. Maybe the kitten saw in me a kindred spirit—someone who responded, engaged, and offered companionship.
Seeking Warmth and Safety
There’s also the practical side. I’m warm. I sit still for long periods. I offer soft surfaces like blankets and laps. Her mother, on the other hand, might be more mobile, less predictable, and less inclined to share her space. Kittens seek warmth and stability, and I unintentionally became a cozy, reliable fixture in her world.
I remember one afternoon when I was lying on the floor reading. She climbed onto my chest, kneaded gently, and fell asleep. Her tiny body rose and fell with my breath, and I didn’t dare move. It was one of those moments where time slows down, and you realize you’ve become someone’s safe place.
Socialization and Human Bonding
From an ethological perspective, kittens that are exposed to humans early in life tend to bond more deeply. If she was born in a home environment and handled regularly, she may have developed a preference for human interaction. Her mother, while essential for survival, might not offer the same level of engagement.
In multi-cat households, it’s not uncommon for kittens to form attachments to humans over their feline family. Especially if the human is attentive, gentle, and consistent. I may have unwittingly become her anchor in a world that’s still big and confusing.
Emotional Projection
I’ll admit—there’s a part of me that needed her too. Life has its stressors, and having a tiny creature choose you, depend on you, and trust you unconditionally is healing. Maybe she sensed that. Animals are intuitive. They pick up on energy, mood, and intention. If I was feeling low, she’d curl up beside me. If I was busy, she’d wait patiently. It felt less like ownership and more like a mutual understanding.
The Mother’s Perspective
It’s worth considering the mother cat’s role in all this. She wasn’t neglectful—just independent. She allowed her kitten to explore, to bond, to choose. In a way, she gave her permission to find her own path. Some feline mothers are fiercely protective, others are more laissez-faire. This one seemed to trust me, and by extension, allowed her kitten to trust me too.
There were moments when the mother would watch us quietly, her eyes half-closed, her tail flicking. I wondered if she was judging me, or simply observing. Either way, she never intervened. She let her kitten follow me, sleep on me, and even ignore her calls. It was a silent endorsement.
What I’ve Learned
This experience taught me that bonding isn’t always logical. It’s emotional, intuitive, and sometimes inexplicable. A kitten choosing a human over her mother isn’t a rejection—it’s an expansion. She didn’t stop loving her mother; she just found another source of comfort, curiosity, and connection.
And I, in turn, found a reminder of what it means to be chosen. Not because of biology or obligation, but because of presence. Because I showed up, stayed still, and let her climb into my world.
Now, she’s growing fast. Her steps are more confident, her leaps more daring. But she still follows me. Still curls up beside me. Still looks at me like I’m her lighthouse.
And I’ll keep being that—for as long as she needs me.
That was his picture from a weeks ago. He is a boy, and his siblings are female. Now he is four weeks old.