Scolding can make your cat jumpy and sensitive to movement or the presence of people, as he might be constantly on edge waiting for you to say something. “Scolding may teach the cat that you are a scary person,” says Bloom.
Of course, your cat may understand that the change in your volume means something is different, but yelling may scare your cat or call too much attention to negative behaviors. Yelling may cause your cat to feel stressed and anxious, which can cause additional misbehavior.
Whenever possible, give treats, praise, and attention to your cat if it is behaving nicely. If you notice it lying next to something it used to chew, reward it. If you notice it scratching the scratching pole instead of your sofa, reward it. Your cat will quickly learn the difference between good and bad behavior.
Scaring them may yield a “funny” response, but it can cause long term damage to their psyche. It can also be a detriment to you if your cat can't trust you anymore. It's generally a good idea to observe the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Don't lose patience and, most importantly of all, never use any form of physical punishment. Vets and cat behavior experts agree that it doesn't work and may damage your relationship with your pet.
As intelligent animals, cats are capable of feeling a wide range of emotions. They can be happy and excited, but they can also feel sad and disappointed. Just like humans, cats can feel several different emotions during any given day, and they occasionally have their feelings hurt by their closest friends.
Toys that can be chased, swatted, and batted should be provided. Species appropriate punishment such as “hissing” or the use of punishment devices such as a water sprayer, can of compressed air, or hand held alarm are better than using any physical techniques since they are less likely to lead to fear and retaliation.
Cats Aren't Mind ReadersF
Scolding might make sense to you, but that doesn't mean it does for your cat. In fact, pets often have no idea what just happened or why you're yelling at them.
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.
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.
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.
Signs of Emotional Trauma in Cats and Dogs
Trauma can also manifest as “shaking, hiding, urination and/or defecation when the trigger attempts to interact, howling, pacing, excessive vocalization, and panting,” says Pia Silvani, director of behavioral rehabilitation at the ASPCA's Behavioral Rehabilitation Center.
On top of the physical discomfort, spraying your cat with water doesn't actually teach your cat better behaviors and could end up seriously confusing her. What you think is just a bad behavior, like hissing, is actually something she's doing because she's afraid or stressed.
At what age do kittens calm down? Generally, by 9 to 12 months old, the massive amount of enthusiasm has begun to settle, and a personality has become more apparent. Each cat differs individually with some being more playful and some lazier. However, these are some typical stages you'll see as your frisky feline ages.
Never Physically Reprimand a Cat
Hitting or shaking your cat can scare them, create hand-shyness or potentially cause harm. You're more likely to experience these unintended consequences than to teach a lesson. Similarly, yelling at your cat can stress them out and over-emphasize the attention to bad behavior.
"Innately, pets focus on the basic requirements for survival." Pets may not feel a sense of wrong doing because they don't understand that what they did was wrong.
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.
From Ten to Fourteen Months is the Worst
Most kittens edge into adolescence at about ten months of age. This can vary, though, depending on the kitten. My orange tabby, Kirk, was actually closer to a year when I saw the adolescent changes in his behavior. However, ten months is the most common age.
A cat may become aggressive for all kinds of reasons, including illness, overcrowding, lack of socialization, maternal protection, even simple play. To help you deal with aggression between cats: Discuss your cat's aggression with your vet.
Cat mothers teach proper conduct and rules of behavior by conveying “no” by the sounds she makes or with her body language. If the tiger cub gets too excited and bites her too hard, or does something wrong, mom will hold him down and if he still acts up, a snarl is her next way of saying a harsh “no!”
Either way, there's evidence that cats comfort humans when sad. "When pet parents are depressed, cats rub against them more often. It's likely your cat is responding to your emotional state by trying to comfort you or draw your attention," McGowan says.
“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.”
They include, Approaching you (it's a little gesture, but it means they feel safe) Head butting and rubbing. Purring.