Owners should be pleased if they have good communication with their cat because it shows that they understand their pet. If an owner does something the cat needs, they’re being sensitive to what their pet is telling them.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean you should let your cat get everything they want, or at the times that suit them. The best way to discourage behaviours you don’t like is to ignore your cat when they exhibit an unwanted behaviour or prevent them from doing things you don’t want them to do, as well as provide an alternative outlet for their needs, where possible.
For example, when a cat wakes up their owner in the night, hoping for food, it’s worth remembering that it’s natural for cats to eat little and often throughout the day and night. So, to reduce their reliance on their owner, but still provide for their needs, the cat could be given an automatic timed feeder, set to open just before they would normally ask their owner for food. Remember that negative attention, such as scolding your cat, could be seen as a ‘reward’ in their eyes.
Once they are no longer rewarded for behaving in a certain way, cats will be disinclined to continue that behaviour. So, if you don’t want your cat sleeping on your bed, don’t allow it, as long as they have somewhere else cosy to sleep. Bear in mind that cats naturally like to rotate their sleeping places, so you may need a few cosy spots!
Finally, we shouldn’t assume that our cats only make a fuss of us when they want something. In fact, cats do display attachment to their owners that transcends mere ‘cupboard love’. This attachment is seen in behaviour such as rubbing, purring and licking, which cats use to cement bonds.