16 Things That EMOTIONALLY Hurt Your Cat

Despite their reputation for aloofness cats have delicate feelings.  Perhaps because cats lack the eagerness to please the openness of dogs,  many people overlook the big and small ways they can break a cat’s spirit. In this blog, we will talk about 16 surprising ways you could be hurting your cat’s feelings

 

16. Calling them for something they don’t like.

Cats get excited when you call them because they expect treats or rewards. When you call your pet when something unpleasant is about to happen,  like being forced into a carrier to go to a vet it can hurt their feelings. 

15. Teasing

Pulling on your cat’s tail,  blowing in their face,  scaring them during deep sleep and cornering and picking them up against their will,  such behaviours confuse and agitate your cat. Remember what’s amusing to you is not always fun for your cat. Scaring your kitty with cucumbers or other objects for entertainment value isn’t fun for them. One of the basic needs a cat has is to feel safe and secure in your home. It’s best to look for other ways to have fun with your pet.

14. Pushing them away

Cats are curious and nosy about their environment. They always need to know what you’re doing and they love being involved. This means, your cat might be persistently getting in the way of something, so you might feel compelled to push them away.  Before you do, consider if you would like it if someone pushed you away for just wanting to be a part of something that interested you. Instead of pushing your cat away try gently redirecting them somewhere else and remember cats want to be close to their humans and also want to be their focal point. If you are constantly rejecting your pet’s attempts to be around you, your cat may come down with a serious case of feline blues. 

 

13. Punishing them

Tossing your cat off the counter, throwing things, swatting and scolding them does inform your pet that you are angry but they’ll have no idea why. Grabbing them and shoving their face in a mess will leave them petrified. Fear will often make a cat’s behaviour worse rather than better. Anger does not teach your cat to behave, it simply teaches them to be afraid of you. A cat who feels unsafe at home is more likely to run away at the first opportunity to look for a new home. 

 

12. Leaving old food out

Food that has gone bad is no better for your cat than it is for you.  It can result in illnesses like food poisoning and problems with the pancreas. Moreover, cats appreciate being served fresh food. They don’t like it when the stuff in their bowl sits out too long. It could be part of their finicky personalities or it could stem from an ancient instinct that protected their ancestors from eating rancid meat. Either way, cats feel appreciated and understood when their families respect their desire for fresh food.

 

11. Neglecting them

Offering your cat no attention, no affection, no interaction, no conversation and no play time can leave your pet depressed. Many people assume that cats are not social animals but that is far from the truth. Cats benefit from interaction and affection from their humans. Some cats are naturally affectionate while other felines are more skittish about being held and petted.  If you have a skittish cat, leave yourself open to receiving affection from them and return it in kind. 

 

10. Skipping the small stuff

Never grooming your cat ignoring frequent hairballs which can signal a digestive issue. Allowing their nails to grow too long that they snag them around the house, and not checking their ears for mites or infections even when they shake their head repeatedly. These are things that can harm your cat’s well-being. Remember your cat is much more than just a cute fuzzy pet to play with they’re a living being that has basic needs to stay happy and healthy.

 

9. Disturbing them while eating

It’s natural for cats to be on high alert if there is a lot of noise and activity around them during dinner time. A loud and busy location may cause stress and keeps cats from eating or forces them to eat too quickly. If you’re playing loud music,  if your kids are playing their new video game at full blast or if you’re yelling from room to room it will disturb your cat as they eat. A calm and quiet space allows cats to chow down in peace.

 

8. Not providing mental stimulation

 A bored cat means a sad cat. Humans can do a lot of different things with their lives but your cat is limited to the environment you provide them with. This means that it’s up to you to offer your cat things to do.  Cats need plenty of mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy. Try playing with them more often or providing some toys that will keep them entertained while you are away at work. If you live in a small apartment, consider getting a second cat.  Having a buddy to play and interact with can go a long way in keeping indoor cats stimulated and happy. The two cats will grow together and feel less lonely.

 

7. Shouting

Raised voices will terrify your cat. Feline ears are extra sensitive to loud and high-pitched noises, they can perceive the person making these noises as a threat and will begin to avoid them. Remember shouting at your cat will hurt your bond with your pet and make them associate you with negative emotions.

 

6. Ignoring their fears

Cats have a good reason for jumping and hiding whenever they hear a loud or startling sound. Our feline friends can hear sounds around 1.6 octaves higher than humans. Common sounds such as the vacuum cleaner, video games,  fireworks,  balloons or loud TV can cause stress and anxiety in cats. Flattened ears,  lowered tail,  arched back and looking for a place to hide are all signs that your cat is not comfortable in a particular situation. Keep in mind that it is part of a cat’s survival instinct to be afraid of loud noises. Make sure you are providing your cat with a calm, relaxed environment that helps them feel safe and secure in your home. 

 

5. Forcing new friendships

Most cats are reserved around strangers. They’re not especially trusting and they want to take introductions at their own speed.  When you force your cat to interact with new people you’re essentially disrespecting its feelings. It’s always best to let your cat make new friends on their own. Don’t force them to interact and tell others to respect their space and their feelings. 

 

4. A dirty litter box

Using a dirty bathroom is never a pleasant experience and it should come as no surprise that your cat feels the same way about their litter box. Cats are very clean animals and they devote a large portion of their day towards self-grooming. If their litter box is not clean enough cats may decide to do their business outside of their litter box. Cleaning your cat’s litter box every day will make a happy cat and will show it that you understand and respect its needs. 

 

3. Ignoring their pain

Cats don’t speak the human language so it’s often up to pet owners to decipher clues about their cat’s condition based on physical and behavioural changes. Whether an infected tooth makes eating difficult or a urinary tract infection makes litter box visits painful, it is up to us to recognize the subtle signs and give them the help they need. Monitoring your pet’s well-being means being a pain detective so that you know something is hurting your cat.

 

2. Not cleaning the water or food dishes

Cats require fresh food and clean water on a daily basis. Forcing your cat to drink from a dirty bowl will make them feel upset, anxious and stressed.  It can also lead to health problems due to the harmful bacteria that can grow in their bowl. The same goes for their food bowl.

1. Declawing them 

Declawing is torturous to cats. It would be akin to cutting off our fingers at the last knuckle leading to pain and mobility issues. It can even breed a sense of feeling vulnerable or defenceless in your pet. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, because scratching is an innate cat behaviour declawed cats can suffer from emotional stress when they cannot scratch.  It’s unrealistic and unkind to try to prevent your feline from their own nature.