Physically harming your cat can actually make the situation worse and cause her to lash out or become withdrawn. Also, cats have a hard time associating the physical punishment with the bad behavior, so you're not actually training her to stop doing it.
Yes, they can! If you think your cat is upset with you, give them some space to calm down and give it some time. The best thing you can do is back off and show them that you recognize that you've hurt them and that you're going to stop doing what you were doing.
Spanking or hitting
It's never a good idea to spank, hit, kick, or even scruff your cat. It doesn't tell him to stop bad behavior, but only teaches him to fear and not trust you. Keep your home a safe environment for your pet cat.
Changes in facial expressions.
Cats who are painful may develop a facial expression that could be described as a grimace. They may seem to have a vacant stare off into space. Some painful cats actually have a wide-eyed look. These cats may also squint their eyes or appear to be half asleep.
Head trauma is a serious injury, and your cat's condition can rapidly change from one moment to the next. You will most likely need to leave your cat with the veterinarian for at least 24 hours so he can monitor him until the swelling has gone down.
“Cats don't forgive, and once they realize a person is causing them anxiety or hurt, they keep away.” So says John Bradshaw, an anthrozoologist at Bristol University and author of “Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet.”
You can apologize to your cat by spending time with it. This could be as simple as reading a book or listening to music next to your cat, or giving him a nice, long petting session. It could also mean that you have to set aside some time to play with your cat.
Inappropriately applied punishment can cause fear, anxiety and owner avoidance, making punishment the least desirable tool for changing behavior. Keep in mind that you are punishing the behavior, not the cat. Punishment should never be considered unless the pet has the means to satisfy its nature and its needs.
One of the first subtle signs that your cat is mad at you is when you see her tail placed low, swishing quickly back and forth from side to side. Whenever you see the tail twitch, stop whatever it is you're doing that is upsetting her, give her some space, and back off for a while until she calms down.
Signs of Emotional Trauma in Cats and Dogs
Like humans, traumatized cats and dogs can develop fear and anxiety disorders, says Dr. Kelly Ballantyne, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois, Chicago.
What is animal cruelty? Animal cruelty involves gratuitously inflicting harm, injuring, or killing an animal. The cruelty can be intentional, such as kicking, burning, stabbing, beating, or shooting; or it can involve neglect, such as depriving an animal of water, shelter, food, and necessary medical treatment.
The cat may have seizures, some evidence of trauma to the head or other part of the body, bleeding into the eyes, or bleeding from the nose or ears. A cat with brain trauma may have difficulty regulating her body temperature, causing either too low a body temperature or fever. The heart may beat very slowly.
Reprimand your cat gently.
Avoid screaming, as this can upset your cat. Simply say, "No" when it engages in a negative behavior. If your cat stops the behavior when you ask, reward it with treats, a toy, or praise. If your cat does not listen when you say "No," try adding a small clap as well.
Generally, cats do not forgive abuse. However, it depends on the severity. If you've unintentionally caused your cat harm, then you may find forgiveness after you've made repeated attempts to make amends.
If you only have one interaction with a cat, she's likely to remember you up to 16 hours later. However, a cat's long term memory is quite strong (about 200 times better than that of a dog). This means that a cat can remember someone they are familiar with for years.
Some reasons they may be angry include fear, pain, conflict with another cat, or territorial aggression. Once you pinpoint where the aggressive behavior is coming from, you can then try to help your cat.
An angry cat will be rigid, with tail held out stiff and straight or curled around and under their body. They will act very differently from usual – they could be silent, hissing, spitting or growling.
As for why your cat is angry, chances are it's afraid, feeling territorial, having a conflict with another cat or a dog, or in pain.
A young child may inadvertently cause serious harm to a kitten. A kitten's tiny body can be easily broken or crushed. A common injury in kittens is broken bones from rough play and death from being squeezed too hard.
Cats don't feel guilt. They do feel connected to us. And there are certain behaviours that show us they still think of us as part of their social group. And now that you've read this far to find out “how do cats apologise,” it might be time to ask yourself why you expected them to in the first place.
The answer is that cats probably don't hold grudges, at least the way that we consider them.
Eventually, your cat will forgive you if you hurt it accidentally. You can always pat your cat, talk to it in a soft voice, the way you talk to a baby, and offer it a treat. Find time to spend with your cat to let it know it's loved and cherished.
Overhead movements or certain noises may frighten an abused cat, triggering a long-term memory of prior trauma. It's possible your cat will carry that unpleasant memory for the rest of his life.