Cat Grudge Behavior After Being Hit and How to Relieve Stress

When cats hold a grudge after being hit, they often exhibit behaviors like avoiding touch from their owner, intentionally causing damage, scratching their owner, urinating or defecating outside the litter box, and even running away.

1. Avoiding Owner Contact: While cats typically allow their owners to touch them after bonding, when they're holding a grudge, they'll strongly resist being touched. They might even bare their teeth as a warning. If your cat shows these signs, it indicates they're harboring significant resentment.

2. Intentionally Causing Damage: If a cat wants to retaliate after being punished, they'll often deliberately knock things over or break household items like vases, glasses, or phones. They might even tear up clothes or chew on shoes.

3. Scratching the Owner: When cats feel wronged or angry, they might directly retaliate by scratching their owner. This is less common since cats generally have affection for their owners.

4. Inappropriate Elimination: Cats are usually very clean and use their litter boxes. However, if a cat is seeking revenge, they might deliberately urinate or defecate outside the litter box, sometimes even on the owner's bed.

5. Running Away: Cats are territorial and if they feel unsafe at home after being hit, they might run away. Therefore, it is generally not recommended to hit a cat as a form of discipline. Using verbal reprimands or withholding treats is better to teach them right from wrong to avoid them holding a grudge.

How to Alleviate Stress in Cats

For mild stress, move the cat to a familiar, enclosed space. Provide catnip, pheromone diffusers, and their favorite toys. Let the cat be alone without any further stimulation. If the stress symptoms become worse, wait until the cat is calm before soothing them with gentle petting. If the cat is vomiting or having diarrhea, give probiotics to aid digestion. However, if the cat shows signs of severe stress like depression or loss of appetite, seek veterinary care immediately to avoid complications such as FIP, urinary obstruction, or liver failure.

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