In this article you’re going to learn if cats remember abuse
You’ll learn what is considered cat abuse and how to tell if your cat is traumatized
Most importantly you’ll learn how you can help your cat that has been abused
So if you want to help your cat become a cuddle bug and a happy cat then you’re going to love this article
Sound good?
Let’s get started!
It’s a cruel world when you hear about stories of cats being abused
As a cat parent and a cat lover it can make our blood boil knowing this happens in this day and age!
When a cat gets abused it can cause a lot of problems
One question cat parents tend to ask is
Do cats remember abuse?
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Do Cats Remember Their Past Of Being Abused?
According to Sam Westreich, PhD cats don’t have the emotional depth to hold a grudge
But if they have had a hard past in where they have been abused then this trauma can have a long lasting memory
And because of that – it leads to cats being scared and not wanting to be touched which can be interpreted as emotional resentment
Cats do have long memories
So if you have adopted a cat or a kitten from a rescue centre then it is possible that your cat may have had a bad past
You know what the good news is though?
You’ve saved your furbaby and now you have the opportunity to give your kitty the best life possible!
But first let’s look at how you can tell if your cat has been traumatized
How Do I Know If My Cat Is Traumatized?
It can be difficult to spot if your cat is traumatized or just scared
But according to Dr. Kelly Ballantyne, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois, Chicago.
She says a cat that has been traumatized can develop fear and anxiety disorders
So your cat may flee a situation when they are frightened
If your cat does run away from you then have a read of my article – Why does my cat run away from me for some great tips on how to get your cat to stay with you
Your cat may become aggressive when interacted or if you try to remove him/her from their hiding spot
Your cat may just freeze and not move by becoming still
Your cat just wants to hide and not come out
Trauma can also be shown in your cat by
Shaking, hiding, urinating or defecation when they are being interacted with
Howling, pacing, panting and excessive vocalization
These are all emotional signs
Some of the physical signs you may see in a cat that has been abused are
- Untreated injuries
- Parasites such as fleas, ticks, worms
- Skinny
- Skin conditions
- Unkept coat
As you can see how bad a cat can suffer after they have been abused
It’s not fair at all
But you can change this and bring your cat back to being a cat
A cat that can trust you and love you
Let’s look at ways how you can help your cat that has been abused
How Do You Help a Cat That Has Been Abused?
Let me tell you about my cat quickly before we move on so you get an idea on how rewarding this stuff is
My cat was not abused
But did suffer a very bad accident with the previous owner and that did leave him traumatized
So when I first got him
He was very scared and would always hide
He just did not want come near us
But with time and patience he now loves to sit on my lap and just snooze away
So the first thing you need to remember when helping out a cat that has been traumatized is you need to have patience
Patience
Yes you’re going to need to have a lot of patience
Don’t expect your cat to become a cuddle bug overnight
It doesn’t work like that unfortunately
It will take time
But trust me
Once you get to that point where your cat just wants to cuddle with you
It’s going to be worth it
Shower Your Cat With Love And Affection
Your cat needs your love and affection the most
If your cat has been abused then they’ve probably never felt love
You’re going to have to show your cat unconditional love
Even if that means your cat never lets you pet him/her
Or you can’t pick him/her up
It will come with time
But during that period you still gotta show love
Yes, you so want to give your baby a hug
That will come with time
But in the meantime carry on telling your cat you love him/her
Speak in a soft voice and show him/her that you love him/her
You can actually read my article where I talk about this
Click the link below
How do you tell your cat you love them
Take Care Of Your Cats Physical Well-Being
If your cat shows any signs of injury then you should get it treated
If your cat is skinny then make sure to feed him/her with the highest quality of food that has plenty of nutrients
Don’t Be Too Pushy
Try not to rush your cat to coming out of hiding
Or force your cat to let you pet him/her
This will take time as I mentioned earlier – patience is very important
If you rush these things – chances are your cat will get more scared of you and this whole process of making your cat a cuddle bug will just take longer
Don’t do any sudden movements near your cat
Be gentle and quiet when you move around your cat
Spend Time With Your Furbaby
Stay with your cat as much as you can so he/she gets used to your presence
Don’t just stand around
It’s best to stay grounded at the same level as this will show you’re not any danger to your cat
Speak to your cat softly
You could even read a childrens book as this will get your cat used to your voice
The more time you spend with your cat the more used to your cat will be being around you
Treats!
My word, cats love treats
My cat would do anything for treats and he’s so clever because he knows exactly how to get one
He’ll meow and purr at the same time
And then he’ll squint his eyes at me
I mean, how can I say no to that!
First offer your cat food and water
Make sure it’s always available
Most likely, your cat will not take the treats as he/she is scared so the treats will be ignored
As time goes on and your cat starts to recognize you as the hooman giving food
He/she will start to take the treats and when this happens it’s a big step because treats will definitely make you popular!
Give Your Cat Space
What do I mean by this
Once your little kitty gets used to being around you
You can start to let your cat move around the house
Ideally you should try to set up one room that’s just for your cat
And make sure to have everything there
Catify the room
Get a cat tree (cats love cat trees!)
Scratching posts
A variety of toys
And let your cat feel home
This is once your cat is used to you
Check out my article to find some awesome cat trees that are really affordable
Here’s some awesome fun things to do with your cat once they’ve settled
Fun things to do with your cat
Emotional Connection
I think the most important thing when it comes to building a relationship with your cat is the emotional connection
It’s just overlooked
Yes, we can spend time with our cats
Play with them and give them the best of toys
Provide high quality foods
These are all important – but the emotional connection you build with your cat is truly amazing
To do this you need to understand your cat
Their body language
Their vocals and meowing and what it means
The more you understand your cat the better you can build that emotional connection and be the best cat parent
Did you know that you can actually have a conversation with your cat
I mean in a way they can understand
Have a read of my article
Do cats understand words You’ll be surprised at how clever cats are!
Wrapping Up
Cats do remember abuse and it can have a long term affect on them
Especially when it comes to being a new home and environment and socially interacting with human beings
But that doesn’t mean it’s the end all
Why?
Because you’ve decided to adopt a cat from a rescue center
And that’s where you can help your cat that may have been abused become a fun loving pet
Will it take time?
Of course
Will you need patience?
Most definitely
Can it be difficult?
It sure can
But you know what?
It’s definitely worth it
When after a long time and all your hard work on your cat pays off and he/she wants to cuddle with you
You’ll forget about the long road that it took to get your cat to sit on your lap and be a cuddle bug
It’s so rewarding and will be so worth it