Because I live alone my cats are thus only used to me being around. Rarely do they get the chance to meet new people with the only occurances being the occasional visitor, trips to the vet, and the annual trip to the animal shelter during the holiday season for pet pictures with Santa. For the most part they're semi-familiar with my family. They've never gotten used to the idea of visiting the veterinarian about once a year each as they just get clueless when they're put in the cat carrier and taken out the door to go 'somewhere.'
When my cats meet people, how they deal with company and deal with meeting people is a good barometer. Good way to measure hwo well they are developing in social circumstances (i.e. company over) or allowing them to determine how good or bad a person stopping by is. They haven't really quite gone fully for any of my ex's, with the exception of only Susan that they sorta took to. But even then they had me fooled because Susan turned out to be ... a .... well.....since I try to keep this blog written family-friendly, I can't say what. One of my ex's they really did not like at all, Beth. During the relationship Beth was over a few times, obviously, and one day it really stood to tell everything. Me and the cats were outside on a nice summer afternoon enjoying the outdoors. Beth stopped by to visit and stay a bit of time. At one point I picked up Sylvester and held him while I approached Beth so that he could get familiar with her, allow her to pet him and so they could just get to know each other. There was simply something about Beth that he could sense, that I was unaware of, and he didn't like her. (Smart kitty.) She never really got her hand near him to pat his head before he freaked out in my arms. He didnt want to be held at that moment and he wanted down. Right then and now. For as old of a cat that he was at the time he was very energetic - and still is to this day - and he knew how to put up a fight. Squirmed, kick, fought, and brought out the claws as I held him. Within a few seconds he managed to get out of my grasp but not before lashing out with his claws which partly managed to scratch at my face and even cut inside my mouth. By the time his feet his the ground and he dashed off like lightning my mouth was full of blood.
I say this will all sincerity and love for my cats, but they can be quite often two-faced phonies when it comes to company. As it is when I am home alone with them they act one way but different toward visitors who stop by. Friendly, outgoing, socialable, anti-social, distant, visible, hiding, whatever the case is.... what they act like when other people are here is almost the opposite of what it's like when I am home alone with them. The biggest example has got to be Sylvester. Active, energetic, socialable, curious, boastful, and just really all over the place making his presence known. But that's when its just me here. When visitors are here, you almost wouldn't know that I had him. Hiding off in the other room. Rarely making an appearance. If I ever physically drag him out of the bedroom so that others can see him and show him attention, he's at a discomfort in my arms, and squirms until I let him down so that he can go run off and hide again.
The other weekend on Super Bowl weekend, I had some of the family over. My mom, stepdad, sister, brother-in-law, and two little nieces over for pizza, soda, snacks and watching part of the game if anyone wanted to on my HDTV. It was interesting beforehand to predict their behavior, curious while company was here, and the change back to normal after everyone left. A few of the cats, mainly Whiskers and Porkey made appearances and came out and wandered around everyone's feet. I think in hopes that someone would drop a piece of pizza down to their level. Athena was resting in the bedroom, but understandably so because she was still quite sick and not feeling well. Tabby came out maybe once, but otherwise was prefering to be in the bedroom or bathroom where it was less crowded. Sylvester, was.... well, hiding as only he typically does. As soon as people left, it was quite once again here. Slowly one by one the cats began venturing out into the living room. Looking around. Sniffing around. Taking in all the smells and scents of those who were here.
When its just me here, the cats are all over the apartment. In every room, laying on the couch, on the bed, anywhere they darn well want to be. I think they do so when they know they have me outnumbered and they're in charge. But as soon as someone else is here, or once it gets so that they're at a disadvantage, they're all too willing to go hide where people can't see them.