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Do Cats Know When They Hurt You? (Or No Clue?)

If your cat has hurt you it is natural to feel annoyed, or even angry. But, does your cat even know what it has done?

Do cats know when they hurt you?

Your cat is not likely to know that he has hurt you until you teach him that he has. Unless you can find a way to let your cat know he has hurt you, he probably won’t realize that he has. You may be playing with your cat and he scratches you with his claws, and to him, its business as usual.

So, now you know that cats may need some help to understand. But, what can you do to make them learn? Are cats loyal, like dogs? Once a cat understands what is wrong, can they apologize? Keep reading for these answers, and so much more.

 

Teach your cat your pain threshold

Cats are a lot cleverer than people most initially think. A cat will likely learn quickly enough if you teach him that his claws hurt you. Even a kitten may learn to be gentle with their claws so as not to hurt you. However, despite that they may learn to avoid scratching you, they will never lose their natural instinct.

Cats may feel guilty for hurting you

While playing with your cat, he may end up scratching you with his claws. Some people believe that it helps to teach your cat that they have hurt you by showing the wound they made.

Many people even believe that cats can feel guilt when they hurt you, and they will often learn to avoid scratching you in the future if they know they have hurt you.

The importance of reacting to your pain

Make sure to obviously react when your cat causes you pain. Cats are known to have vivid memories and they have strong emotions. Your cat will likely begin to learn that you will respond negatively when they scratch you and will avoid doing so in the future.

Why do some cats play rough?

Some cats are calm and peaceful while others may be rougher and more aggressive when they play. There is a range of reasons why your cats may not get on well or play peacefully with one another. One of the reasons may be that your cat did not experience enough socialization as a kitten.

Lack of contact with other cats

If your cat grew up alone, with no other kittens to play with, he likely did not learn how to play and properly contact other cats.

He may be fearful or aggressive now that you have introduced another cat into your household. Cats usually do not like change and prefer a routine, so another cat may cause them to act aggressively.

How can you calm down a cat that hurt you?

You may have found a stray (Click here to see what it means if you see one at your door) cat on the road or in your garden (Click here if cats are fouling your garden), it is likely that this cat is extremely scared and perhaps aggressive. It can be hard to know how to calm a cat, especially if he has hurt you.

This is how you keep your cat calm and relaxed:

01. Keep the cat calm

The first thing you need to do is create a relaxing environment and give the cat time and space to calm down.

02. Relocate to a quiet spot

Then, once the cat has calmed down, take him to a relaxing and quiet place where he can be completely alone.

A good place may be a bathroom where you can securely shut the door and know that the cat will be safe. Continue to follow a simple routine of feeding and cleaning, until the cat becomes used to your presence.

Can cats sense pain in humans?

Many people think that cats are cold and lack emotions. However, your cat is likely more emotional than you may have initially thought. It is not completely clear how cats feel about us, but it is apparent that cats pay more attention to us than we may think.

Studies have shown that cats are emotionally sensitive to humans and can even sense our pain. One study showed that a cat responded differently to its owner when he smiled compared to when he frowned. When the owner smiled the cat behaved more positively and purred or sat on the owner’s lap.

According to studies, cats can read gestures and expressions and they learn this over time. Thus, it is likely that your cat can tell when you are unhappy or in pain.

How can you show your cat you are not happy?

To show your displeasure, avoid confusing your cat, be consistent with your feedback, regardless if it’s negative, or positive. If you are playing with your cat, his claws are out and he hurts you, clearly react that you are not happy.

If your cat bites or scratched you make a loud, angry noise as they are doing it, not afterward. They will begin to learn that a negative reaction is related to that behavior.

This goes for good behavior too, respond positively as soon as your cat is behaving well.

Are cats loyal?

Cats are loyal and form a strong attachment to us. Many people may believe that cats are distant and not loyal to their owners, but, many cat lovers believe otherwise.

People often think dogs to be more loyal than cats. However, cats form strong bonds with their owners and can be extremely loyal to them.

Why are cats more like humans?

With love, cats are more like people than dogs. Cats often do what they want and only show affection to people when they choose to. Thus, many people think cats to be unemotional and distant.

However, when it comes to love, cats are more like humans. Cats have their boundaries in the same way that people do. If a child has had enough affection for the moment, they will walk away, just like a cat will, right?

How do you know if your cat’s feelings are hurt?

If you want to know whether your cat’s feelings are hurt, there are a few behavioral gestures to look for. Cats are highly emotional and intelligent and they can feel hurt. Their reaction will depend on the individual cat but you will likely be able to tell by their body language.

If your cat has her back turned to you or has her back arched, she may be frightened or upset with you. You will also be able to tell by the movement of her tail. If she flicks or swishes it she may be expressing feelings of irritation.

Can cats apologize?

If your cat has done something to upset you, you may think that they will never apologize and, indeed, they will not apologize in the same way that a human would. However, they will try to say sorry (Do cats understand when you say sorry? Click here) in their own way.

If they have done something wrong, they may try to approach you, purr, and rub against you. These are all signs that your cat is trying to apologize to you for what they did and for making you angry.

Why you need to challenge your cat sometimes

While it is important to give your cat time to relax, they can also benefit from some challenges. Don’t always let your cat win at games, try to interact with her a few times a day even if she appears scared, groom the cat gently with your hand, and speak to her in a calm, soft voice.

If you challenge your cat slowly and gently, she will begin to get used to you. She will eventually warm to you and begin to relax. Do not allow a new cat to spend all of their time alone in a room as they will never get used to being around you.