Do cats get mad at their owners? We reveal why kitties sulk!

If your cat darts under the bed anytime you come near, you'll know that feeling: is it something you did? Why do cats get mad? And more importantly, it there anything you can do to stop your feline friend being mad at you?

Is your cat annoyed with you? These are signs that your cat is mad at you!

It's often hard to know exactly what's gotten on your cat's nerves.
It's often hard to know exactly what's gotten on your cat's nerves.  © Is your cat offended? We reveal why kitties sulk!

At the best of times, cats are baffling creatures. It's almost impossible to tell what they're thinking at any given moment, so no wonder even experienced owners are often left scratching their heads.

All you can do is guess at the meaning behind some of their behavior, basically by process of elimination.

So what makes a cat grumpy and how do you tell if a cat ist angry?

Dog's adorable response to orphaned kitten melts hearts on TikTok: "This was his kitten"
Cats Dog's adorable response to orphaned kitten melts hearts on TikTok: "This was his kitten"

Some pretty unmistakable signs are refusing to feed or groom, suddenly scratching the furniture, or the kitty equivalent of the silent treatment: acting like you don't exist.

In these cases, try changing the food, giving your cat the space and right environment to sleep in peace, and making sure the litter box is suitable and clean.

If the entire home has become one big litter box for your pet, something is definitely bothering it.

That something can be a medical issue, which is why it's important to pay a visit to the veterinarian, who can rule out any serious causes.

Once illness is off the table, stress or simply the wrong litter box are the most likely culprits.

Why do cats get mad?

Make sure you check in with your veterinarian to rule out any health issues.
Make sure you check in with your veterinarian to rule out any health issues.  © 123rf.com/Denys Kurbatov

Attention and consistency are just as big a part of a happy cat's life as they are a human's.

Although the cliché says cats are supposed to be aloof, most are very much sensitive to being ignored.

If they feel neglected, they'll often respond in kind – vindictive, sure, but also understandable.

On the other hand, cats also need their peace and quiet, and they're not shy about making it clear when your company is no longer appreciated.

If this makes them seem like incredibly complicated animals, you're not wrong. Here's a list of big and small things done by owners that cats can experience as massive disruptions:

  • a visit to the vet
  • going on holiday
  • coming home late from work
  • the arrival of a baby or a new partner
  • the presence of another cat or animal
  • strong scents like a new perfume
  • the presence of unfamiliar people
  • anything that disturbs the sacred routine
Any and all of these events can make cats unhappy – and you can be sure they'll show it.

The cat - the sensitive animal

Kittens learn social behavior in the first seven weeks of their lives.
Kittens learn social behavior in the first seven weeks of their lives.  © 123rf.com/Anurak Ponapatimet

It shouldn't be forgotten that each cat has a unique personality.

A kitten's imprinting will take up the first seven weeks of its life, during which it learns how to be social with people, as well as other animals.

As researchers at Oregon State University showed in a 2019 study, cats get attached to humans in much the same way as dogs.

This may come as a surprise to owners who still let out a disappointed sigh every time they call out their feline's name, only to get a blank stare in return at best.

But just because our relationships to cats and dogs share some similarities, doesn't mean they're identical. Your kitty's ancestors weren't really ever domesticated and evolution just hasn't equipped them with that instinct to come running at the sound of our voices.

So don't stress, when it comes to cats, it's very much a case of don't call us, we'll call you.

A cat turning its back on you can be a sign of sore feeling.
A cat turning its back on you can be a sign of sore feeling.  © unsplash.com/Miroslava

It may be clichéd, but felines really are neurotic little things. There's a whole host of seemingly harmless things that frazzle them, some of which are not necessarily anything you did.

What matters is truly getting to know your pet, its likes and dislikes, needs and wants.

If you notice a sudden change in personality or behavior, that's when you'll know that your cat is mad at you.

Cover photo: Bildmontage:123rf.com/Konstantin Aksenov

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