Cats are one of the most mysterious pets. Every day you discover new things about this little furry fellow. And it’s fun, right?
I recently got a mail from one of my old penpals (what do you call the people following and commenting about your blog posts regularly?). His cat has recently started to show moods, sulking in mid of hall over petty stuff.
The way I see it, many of my readers do not know about this behavior. And sometimes they overreact or get too worried over this. So, let’s discuss that in detail here.
Table of Contents
Do Cats Sulk?
Yes, cats show a surprising sulking behavior, much more than a teenager hitting puberty
They show their emotions by ignoring you, getting angry, or sometimes aggressive. Sulking in cats persists for a specific duration of age.
Cats sulk in hilarious ways. Lately, I have been facing these mood swings and brooding with my cat. I don’t mind, though.
Yesterday, Twinkle (my three y/o Persian cats) got angry just because I picked up my little newborn sister first. As soon as I did that, she showed her back to me and gave all cold sholders whenever I called her name. This behavior went hilarious when I called her name for the third time, and she gave me a gaze and went to sit in the lap of my mother, who was watching all this drama 😀
The point of telling the whole story was to say to you that this cat sulking is a real thing. They are moody, and every cat shows its own behaviors. However, there is nothing to worry about in this.
Reasons For Sulking In Cats?
Following are the significant reasons why cats sulk:
Attention Seeking!
The reasons for cats sulking are diverse. Most of the cats sulk due to boredom. If the cat is spending too much time alone without any lively activities, it might start showing new behaviors like sulking to gain its owner’s attention.
ILL/Injured:
Cats may also sulk if they are feeling ill or injured. If a normally active cat suddenly becomes lethargic and spends most of its time hiding under the bed, it could be suffering from an infection or a more serious health condition. If a cat is injured, it may also start to act differently to avoid pain. Or they sulk when they don’t get enough attention from their owner. If a cat feels like it’s being ignored, it may start to act out to get the owner’s attention. Cats may sulk because they are angry. This is usually the result of a perceived slight or insult and can sometimes be challenging to resolve.
Feeling Of Guilt:
Another reason cats may sulk is if they have been punished and are feeling guilty. This usually happens when a cat has done something wrong, and its owner reacts by yelling or hitting him. If a cat starts to act differently after its owner has scolded the cat, it’s likely because the cat’s feeling guilty about what it did. If a new pet or baby is in the house, the cat may start to sulk.
A Change Of Habitat:
Cats are creatures of habit, and they don’t always take well to change. Even if the house and location of the cat are changed, it may sulk. Lack of activity also leads them to sulk. When a cat is giving a cold shoulder, it can be hard to figure out what is happening inside its head. But by taking a look at some of the most common reasons cats sulk, you may get a better idea of what might be causing them to act this way
Different Expressions In Sulking
Different breeds of cats show other expressions of sulking. Following are some most common expressions of sulking:
- Siamese cats usually hide from their owner
- Persian cats pout to exhibit their sulking behavior
- British shorthair flattens their ears against their heads with half eyes closed during sulking.
- Some cats also start posing indifferently and avoid eye contact with their owner.
Generally, during sulking, cats do not attack, hiss, growl, or harm their owner, like when they are mad or irritated. Instead, cats express sulking by avoiding eye contact, turning their back on their owner, rejecting their favorite food, sleeping more than usual, tucking their tails under their body, or flattening its ear against its head. These are some common symptoms a sulking cat shows that are mentioned above. However, the expressions can vary from one cat to another a lot.
What To Do When Your Cat Sulks?
Okay, you are now coming to the solution. First thing first, do not overreact and make a big deal of it. The more you do, the more it will become a bigger problem for you and your cat. These behaviors usually subside with time; however, if they are getting out of hand, here are a few things you can try:
No Threatening/Punishing Your Cat:
Never threaten your cat in any way. Some of you might find punishing/threatening your pet the best way to teach it anything. It does work sometimes but will disturb your relationship with your pet.
Your cat will start seeing you more like an enemy or someone with whom it is not safe. It also makes it try to escape or find other ways to avoid this dominance.
Therefore, positive reinforcement to help your furry fellow avoid destructive behaviors is the best thing you can do. Moreover, according to research, in pet training, especially in cats and dogs, positive reinforcement is understood much better than negative reinforcement.
Ignoring:
Sometimes the worst we can do is pay attention to our pet. In this, we worry over things that are entirely natural. Once you learn to ignore, everything will resolve automatically.
Treating:
What to do when your cats sulk? Ignore it for a moment, and treat it when it returns to normal behavior. This develops the learning among them that their owner is happy when they avoid such behaviors.
Cat Toys And Play Area:
Your cat should have plenty of toys and activities to keep herself occupied. A scratching post, a set of toy balls, and some tunnels can all help to keep the cat entertained. You should try to play with your furry fellow; many cats love being chased around. If there is a chance that the cat might be hurt, it’s essential to take it to the vet right away for a check-up.
Release The Stress:
Make sure the cat has a quiet place to retreat when it wants some alone time, and try not to change its routine too much. If the cat is stressed too much, consult a vet about ways to help the cat relax. You should make sure to spend plenty of time with your cat every day. Play with them, pet them, and give them lots of love and affection. The best way to deal with an angry cat is to figure out what it is mad about. Once it is clear what set the cat off, you can start working on fixing the problem. Also, give your cat some time to calm down. Once the cat had a chance to cool off, try to talk to it gently and explain why it was being punished.
Be Gentle:
Sometimes cats start sulking when a new family member is added. They think their position is gone and you will love it more, or they don’t like their presence in any way.
Therefore, you should avoid putting too much pressure on your pet and let the cat approach the new member independently. With time and patience, most cats will adjust to changes in their environment.
Do Cats Know When We Are Angry With Them?
Sometimes you see your cat showing a mood swing when you get angry with them. This makes you question, do your cats know if you are not happy?
Yes, cats can judge your emotions, either happy or angry.
Cats are very intelligent specie. Pet cats especially learn to live among humans. They take their human owner as their ultimate care provider. So, they have learned to work well according to their preferences. You just need to put a little effort into training.
Even cats start sulking as their expression of love when you get angry with them. The best way to deal is to pick them up, pet them, and treat them when they behave all lovey-dovey. It is the best way to strengthen your relationship with your pet.
Can Sulking Be Dangerous To Its Health?
This behavior of cats can harm their health, as continuous sulking might lead to depression and anxiety. Also, the expression of sulking can sometimes hurt your pet. Therefore, it is necessary to address the route cause and put effort into training them.
Is Cat Hissing Related To Sulking Behavior?
Cats usually spit and hiss at those they want to avoid. These can be animals or humans. Some kittens also hiss even with their eyes closed. So, it is pretty much their natural behavior and can be a manifestation of their anxiety.
So, some cats also hiss when they sulk.
Why Do Cats Suddenly Make Mad Dashes Around The House?
Running madly in the house and ripping things apart is not related to sulking. Sulking behavior is usually less aggressive. Any sign of extreme aggression comes under anxiety and something that is causing unrest in your pet.
Patience Is The Key!
It may rightly be said that cats are complicated to understand due to their diverse behavior in various situations, particularly when they are sulking. As hard as it may be to identify the actual cause behind their sulking, it may get even more challenging (at times) to get them back to normal. However, with the right amount of time, patience, understanding, and care, every cat can be lovingly guided to find its way back to its owner.
I hope this article helped you answer your query. In case of any other questions, you may comment below. I would be happy to help.
Hey, I work as a manager of a pet store in Texas. Dealing with a variety of pets is not only part of my job but also my passion. These adorable, loving creatures are so excited when they find their new home. However, many new pet owners struggle in taking care of their pets and come up with a lot of queries every day. So, based on my knowledge and experience, I am using this platform to address major issues faced by pets, their food options, grooming techniques and so on. The major issue I addressed is that most of the part-owners prefer to surf through the Internet instead of going directly to the vet. And the worst part, they are rattled with multiple types of information available there. So, my target is to provide authentic information with my experience. Walkthrough my blogs and ask any of your queries. I would love to help!
