The sacred animals of Egypt, cats, have long become our favorite pets. Sensitively perceiving the mood of the owner, cats, however, remain completely independent and free. The grace and royal dignity of cats cannot be overestimated, and the worldview of a family pet is also difficult to understand. How to apologize to a cat if you accidentally hit, stepped on a paw, or offended the animal in some other way.
What are cats offended by?
The owner does not have to be guilty of the animal for the cat to be offended. Any little thing can upset and offend a cat, any behavior that does not correspond to the animal’s worldview and does not like it, and, unlike dogs, cats do not adapt to the owner, but rather try to re-educate him.
A cat can be offended by lack of attention, affection, or, conversely, by constantly carrying the kitten in your arms. Adult cats are offended by the lack of food exactly at the time when he wanted to eat, and not according to the owner’s schedule (and I don’t care if I get fat...), on the wrong food, if the owner suddenly stopped feeding the cat meat, and switched him to a balanced cat food.
Separately, there are grievances when the owner hit the cat, stepped on its tail, or kicked it out of its favorite place. Most cats remember such grievances for a long time and take revenge in the most primitive but effective way - they start going to the toilet, guess where? Some cats hide in a corner or demonstratively turn away from their owner.
How cats show offense
Cats have many ways to show that they are unhappy. Resentment can be expressed both in very harmless things and in serious dirty tricks that even the most inattentive owner will notice. One of the common manifestations of dissatisfaction is being ignored. If a pet is offended by a specific person, and not by the whole family, then he can sit demonstratively in the arms of others, but ignore the culprit of his bad mood.
Offended cats often avoid their owner. They choose secluded places to rest, hide and quickly jump off their knees, not wanting to accept affection.
You can see signs of resentment even with a short observation of the animal. An upset cat looks more sullen, moves little, lowers its tail and presses it to its hind legs in the presence of its owner.
Many people I know have cats that express joy and satisfaction with sharp flicks of their tail, but my pet, on the contrary, shows his dissatisfaction and resentment in this way. At the same time, by the frequency and force of twitching of the furry limb, one can understand how much the cat’s pride is wounded.
Vengeful and angry pets will act more decisively. They are capable of deliberately making a mess at home: throwing flower pots, vases and other objects onto the floor.
Often throwing things away is a way to show your resentment.
Many cats begin to damage furniture, tear wallpaper off walls and mark things. In some cases, cats begin to ignore the litter box, leaving “gifts” not only in the offender’s slippers, but also in other unexpected places. This indicates stress or depression in the animal. Therefore, you should not scold your pet; it is better to try to understand the reason for this behavior.
Remember that by punishing your pet for dirty tricks, you will distance yourself from him even more
Video: what irritates a cat
Manipulative cats
If a cat is offended by bathing, trimming nails or cleaning ears, the owner should not make concessions to the pet, and, for example, allow him to eat on the sofa if the cat usually eats in his corner. Having fulfilled such a whim once, cats remember the mechanism and begin to manipulate the owner. Many cat owners complain about their pets being completely disobedient.
For example, my neighbor’s cat loved to stick his face into her husband’s slippers and was very offended when he was pulled out of there. He took revenge in the standard way. It ended up that the cat now has his own slipper, and the husband had to buy a new pair. No amount of persuasion or punishment helped. This was the whim of the animal.
How to apologize to a cat so that she understands
If the cat is offended by the fact that you carried out the necessary hygiene procedures, then do not worry, at some energetic level the animal understands that you did this for its benefit. In most cases, it is enough to pick up the animal and talk to it. Yes, yes, he will talk. Tell your cat why you picked her ear, why you cut her nails, cats intuitively understand everything and will quickly forgive you. And if you also feed her a treat, then reconciliation will come very quickly.
If after washing the cat hides in a corner and does not come out, it means the animal is not only offended, but scared. You cannot forcibly remove your pet from a secluded corner; be patient and wait for the cat to come out on its own.
You can sit next to him and try to talk kindly, say that the owner is sincerely sorry. Cats that are smart by nature will understand that the owner did not do this on purpose and will willingly make contact. No one can say for sure whether animals really understand the spoken words or not, but they will definitely catch the intonation with which the apology is pronounced. Try an original toy in the form of a live fish; there has never been a time when a cat did not forgive after such a gift.
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Reasons why a cat might be offended
There are several main reasons for cat grievances.
Lack of attention
Lack of attention can offend even the most freedom-loving cat. Being alone for a long time, animals begin to experience stress, which leads to resentment.
Pets are especially affected by situations when the owner is at home, but completely ignores them.
You should devote time to your furry: short but regular communication with your pet will help you avoid the unpleasant consequences of cat insults. After all, an ignored animal often begins to play dirty tricks, thus trying to attract the owner’s attention.
Often cats get offended due to lack of attention
In the New Year's pre-holiday bustle there was absolutely no time to play with your pet. There was always something to do, and in the end the cat reminded herself in the most noticeable way. Despite her age (six years old is more than an adult), she began to regularly run around the house, picking up carpets and rumpling curtains. It was useless to scold her at such moments. In the end, it turned out that the cat needed affection. After a week of regular affection, the crazy running stopped.
Noise and rudeness
Screaming and swearing have a bad effect on your pet. Even if you did not yell at the cat or did it in a short fit of anger, the consequences can be very sad. The pet may become depressed or begin to hide from the person who not only raised his voice, but also frightened him with his behavior.
Rough handling can also offend an animal. If you hit, push or kick your cat, do not be surprised that after some time he stops cuddling and purring towards you. Sometimes even careless movement from place to place can offend the animal. For example, not everyone is ready to calmly endure being pulled by the scruff of the neck. This can offend gentle cats who are not used to such treatment.
Forced squeezing
Excessive squeezing against the will of the animal can also harm the relationship between the cat and the owner. It is important to take into account the will of the animal. If the cat does not want to sit in your arms, then you should not hold him by force, as this in most cases will lead to offense. Otherwise, don't be surprised if your pet starts biting and scratching.
To maintain a good relationship with your pet, take care of him and regularly show him your love, but do not overdo it with affection.
Carrying out unpleasant procedures
Unpleasant and painful procedures negatively affect the relationship between a person and his pet. This is especially true in situations where the animal is in pain. Castration and sterilization can harm an animal for a long time. The same goes for injections, wound treatment, declawing, etc.
Most hygiene procedures are unpleasant for the cat, so he gets offended
My cat has two main reasons for being offended. First of all, he doesn't like to wash himself. Therefore, every time after water procedures, he ignores me until the moment when his fur dries. Then the offense is forgotten, and your favorite treats help you make peace faster. Secondly, he is very jealous. For this reason, I try not to pet any other cats in front of him, in order to avoid being ignored for many hours, accompanied by dissatisfied growls.
How to pet a cat if you hurt it
If the cat doesn’t object and simply turns away its face, but doesn’t run away or growl, you can scratch it behind the ear or in the place where it likes. Many cats love to have their pads lightly caressed.
There are very affectionate cats that may even be the first to make contact, but this is rather an exception to the rule. If you have offended an animal and want the cat to forgive you faster, play, but not with it. Pretend that you are crying, sob out loud, with sobs, the sounds should be very pitiful. With such a game, the majority of even the most wayward and touchy cats come out of hiding and approach the owner.
Unlike people, cats are real empaths and subtly feel when a person is feeling bad, and such harmless deception is not distinguished from real grief.
The worldview of cats - pay attention here!
The cat's worldview is such that it may consider any behavior of the owner that does not correspond to its views offensive.
For example, a cat may be offended by bathing, nail trimming, or ear cleaning. These procedures are rarely pleasant for cats, but they are not inherently harmful. Apologizing to the animal is inappropriate in this case.
Cats are sensitive natures, so by holding the animal in your arms and calmly talking to it, the owner will be able to give it all the necessary information. It may seem that the cat does not understand anything, but animals, unlike people, understand everything, and, by the way, they talk about it in their own language.
After regular grooming, do not ask your cat for forgiveness, but rather pamper her by spending time together. Negative emotions after trimming nails, visiting the veterinarian, cleaning ears or bathing can be relieved by playing with the owner or giving the cat a treat.
How to apologize to a cat if you hurt it - a treat will help
If you step on your cat's paw, tail, or accidentally push it, use your pet's favorite treat for quick reconciliation. Try hand-feeding your cat, or pour food into her bowl and call your pet. But never force an animal to eat.
You can put the treat on the floor and go to another room. If after 10-15 minutes the animal does not come out and eat the treat, there is no need to remove it. Use flavored vitamins or catnip as a treat.
Do not delay reconciliation with your cat, otherwise the animal will be offended for a long time, especially if you hurt it.
Animal psychologists recommend giving your cat a treat in the place where you offended it. If the conflict occurred in the room, then the treat should lie in the middle of the room. If you take your pet's place on the sofa, you can put some treats on the sofa.
What are some ways to make peace with your cat?
It is difficult to find a creature that would be more touchy than a cat.
These pets can be offended by anything - accidentally stepping on a paw or tail, lack of attention from the owner or his constant busyness, a loud cry, not necessarily addressed specifically to the animal. There can be many reasons for resentment, and in most cases the owner does not even suspect that the pet is offended or what it is connected with. A cat can be offended for a long time, until the owner realizes his guilt and apologizes to her. It is important, when you feel that your pet is offended, to find an approach to him and try to make peace, the main thing is to do everything right.
How to understand that a cat has forgiven
In addition to a timely apology, cat owners should know the language of the cat's body, which speaks better than any words about the mood of the animal at the moment.
- Twitching its tail - the animal is unhappy at the moment, slightly offended and a little angry.
- Hitting the floor with its tail - the cat is overexcited and angry.
At such moments, it is better not to touch the animal, but you should definitely talk to the cat. A sign that the animal is ready to forgive will be its tail raised up. In addition to the tail, cat ears will tell you a lot.
If this is not a feature of the breed, then ears pressed to the head indicate that the animal is scared. If at the same time the cat arches its back, it is preparing to attack. Raised ears and calm fur will let the owner know that the pet has forgiven you and is ready for further reconciliation.
Household injuries are a fairly common reason for visiting a veterinary clinic. In addition to timely apologies for a pinched tail or a broken paw, carefully examine your pet, feel the bruise, and if the animal is in pain, take the cat to the veterinarian to avoid serious complications.
Personal space for a cat
An offended cat should be approached with caution. Always leave room for such a cat to escape. She may really need reassurance and reassurance, especially if there was a loud, sharp sound of an alarm or fireworks. At the same time, she may want to be alone, so an escape route is very important to her.
A severely frightened cat can quickly become aggressive in order to protect itself. In addition to everything, a frequent cause of animal grievances is the lack of personal space. This is especially true for those cats that live with small children. In this situation, try to create your own separate corner for the animal, where no one will touch it for several hours.
Time for an apology
If your cat is excited and acting aggressively, you should not apologize to her for accidentally stepping on her tail or running out of her favorite treats. Save your apologies for later. Otherwise, the animal may scratch or bite you.
Once your cat has calmed down, you can calmly apologize to her. To do this, approach her slowly, trying not to make sudden movements or drive the cat into a corner. This can provoke an attack of aggression. If the cat does run away and hide, leave a treat for it. She will definitely appreciate it.
Folk wisdom
There is a popular saying: pregnant women should not hit cats. And not only to beat, but in general to offend in some way. Of course, popular rumor says that this can affect the child's health, as he will have birthmarks or be nervous. In fact, this sign has a very realistic justification.
The fact is that during pregnancy, the cat’s owner abruptly switches her attention to the unborn baby. The expecting child receives all the tenderness and care that the cat previously received.
This causes jealousy and resentment in cats, because they only seem to be self-sufficient and independent, but in fact they really need our affection and are attached to us. Therefore, during this difficult period for a cat, any action that may offend her will have a very strong impact on her. Some cats may never forgive their owners after this - they will stop being affectionate and act as if they have been replaced.
Choose the best way to apologize
If you are attentive to your pet, then you have long learned what your cat likes most. Some forgive for a treat, and some cats wait to play or talk to them. If you have already tried to give a treat to your cat and the animal has not responded. Try to apply the advice of animal psychologists.
Call your cat's name, very gently, several times. If the animal did not come out of its hiding place, it still heard the voice without aggression. For example, my neighbors’ cat once sat under the stairs for more than a day.
Start playing with a ball, candy wrapper, or your cat’s favorite toy. There is no need to throw the ball at the animal; play near your pet, but try not to let the toy touch it.
Use the cat pointer. You can place a light spot on the cat’s paw or in front of its face, but don’t try to put it in the cat’s eye.
Animal psychologists advise
It is very important to establish visual contact with the cat at the moment of reconciliation. Look her in the eyes when you talk to her. Try blinking slowly. If the cat trusts you and is tuned in to your wavelength, it will begin to blink back at you. By doing the same, you will demonstrate that you trust your pet and are ready for contact and dialogue with him.
If the cat lets you in, that’s great. You can cement apology and reconciliation with tactile contact. Pet your cat where she likes it most. As a rule, this is the place behind the ear, between the eye and ear, under the chin, at the base of the tail, in the back and chest. If the cat responds by rubbing against your hand, purring loudly and closing its eyes with pleasure, your apology is accepted.
Confidential conversation
Spending time together is the best reward for a pet. Eye contact and affectionate intonation will help him forget all the grievances and again feel the owner's care and love. That is why it is advisable to spend more time with your cat, taking her with you to the sofa and gently stroking her while reading a book or watching a movie. And also, don’t forget to praise, speaking in a gentle tone about how smart and beautiful she is.
When making any attempts at reconciliation, it is important not to be overly persistent. But leaving a cat offended for a long time is also not worth it, since this can lead to obsessive anxiety, neurosis and even depression.
Secure the result
I can’t think of a better way to end reconciliation than a game. An active and energetic cat will be the best to play with.
If your cat is old, sick, or due to her mood does not want to play, the best thing to do is to spend some time in her company. Cats love having their owners around. Read a book next to your cat, hold her in your arms while watching TV... She will definitely appreciate it.
