I was in basically your same situation with my now fiancé and my kitties. We've been together for almost 4 years. When we first started dating I had two, and in the first month one passed away suddenly from aortic thromboembolism and ultimately HCM. My girl was so heartbroken, I considered getting her another kitty, but he said NO. No more cats! She's 10, so if I get a new one now, it will be an endless string of cats! Ugh the horror. Well 3 months in we broke up temporarily and she was still struggling being an only cat, so I got her Apollo. When we got back together about 2 months later, he wasn't thrilled at what I'd done, but how could you not like a little kitten?
Over the years, he bonded with Apollo much more, although he's definitely had his challenges. He's the first skiddish cat I (we've) had, so we had to change our behavior, even the way we walk, to get him to trust us And not default into a fear reaction. At first, I think my fiancé had no patience for this and thought it was all a bother. He also didn't really care for the girl kitty very much, he thought she was stupid because she wasn't one of the "cool" personality boy cats and only wanted to be a lap cat and affectionate. She didn't do tricks or want to play as much because she was older, so that was boring to him. She was also much more of the independent cat type, and that type of behavior frustrates him about cats. Whereas Apollo is more dog like, maybe even more intelligent, he warmed up to him more.
When the girl passed away last December from HCM, he was very worried about how Apollo would warn and respond to being an only cat...because we agreed initially we wouldn't get another one, to him more than one cat was just too much. But in the past eight months of Apollo being by himself, they bonded even more, and he was able to really let go and start appreciating cats for what they are and their special things. Yes, cats are not dogs and don't do a lot of dog things. But there are lots of things they do do that are just so friggin cool, and I think it was when he learned the proper way to play with him and trigger his hunting instincts that he really started to get it and see the greatness, and come to appreciate it.
Now we have Orion as well, whom he finally agreed to get as a playmate and companion for Apollo during times when we are out of town and Apollo is not appreciating the "companionship" and visits of stranger humans. He went into his relationship with Orion completely open, he is HIS daddy, he owns it, and loves it now. He freely admits Apollo made him a cat person, and has even gotten into tiffs with his dog-loving family over treating his cats as second-rate pets, lol. I'm so happy he finally came around.
I hope your boyfriend does too. You just need to "gently" make suggestions about the right way for him to do everything, because being a dog person, he just doesn't know. He doesn't see it, he doesn't get it. Initiating play that triggers Zuki's prey drive will help. The pillow whack a mole game or feather or other toys popping out from under sheets or blankets on the bed really did it for him. :) he also used to make fun of me for talking in such a high-pitched voice to him… Until I explained that the reason he responds to me more is that he can hear my high-pitched voice better, the frequency range of their ears are different than ours and that's why a high-pitched voice is more appealing to them. You should hear him talk to the kitties now hahaha. :)
_________________ ~*~Holly~*~
Orion ~ Light Gold Black Rosetted Bengal, born 5/19/15 Apollo ~ Tuxedo Marbled Tabby, born 1/7/12
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