Five Ways to Avoid Breaking Your Cat's Heart

As a cat owner you've probably seen your fur baby isolating or suddenly trying to avoid you after telling them off, and that's because, just like us, our felines have feelings, and they can get hurt too. Domestic cats are often compared to toddlers when it comes to how smart they are, and this can be true for their emotional intelligence too. Science says that cats can experience all six basic emotions usually seen in a 2-and-a-half-year-old child, which include surprise, fear, disgust, sadness, happiness, and anger. But what exactly is it that hurts our cats' feelings? And how can you make it up to them after breaking their little heart? To shed light on this topic, Newsweek spoke to animal behavior experts.

1. Ignoring Your Cat When They Demand Attention

Mieshelle Nagelschneider, a cat behaviorist at The Cat Behavior Clinic, told Newsweek that it's a myth that cats are a solitary species. On the contrary, they have a huge social repertoire with other cats and will also develop this with humans. Ignoring your cat or not giving it meaningful interaction each day could create anxiety and stress for the feline.

2. Picking an Adult Cat Up by the Scruff of the Neck

While it is usually fine to pick a kitten up by the scruff of the neck, this is not recommended when it comes to adult cats. Because they have a larger body mass than kittens, picking them up this way can stress them out and harm them. It can also put unnecessary strain on their neck and spine, which can lead to injuries including muscle strains or even fractures.

3. Forcing Them Into Uncomfortable Situations

According to Nagelschneider, making a cat endure excessive handling, dressing them up when they clearly dislike it, or forcing them into interactions (with other pets or people) can create stress and fear. "Unfortunately, we see a lot of this on social media and it's inhumane and goes against basic animal welfare," she said.

4. Reprimanding Them for Misbehaving

Another way you can involuntarily hurt your cat is by reprimanding them when they misbehave, which may seem like an easy way to train them, but it actually has the opposite effect on them because they do not understand it. Preston Turano, a veterinarian and spokesperson at Felix Cat Insurance, told Newsweek that yelling, screaming, and physical punishment should never be used when training or communicating with your cat. "Positive reinforcement and encouragement are the best way to accomplish healthy, happy training as well as increase the human-animal bond," he said.

5. Abandoning Them or Surrendering Them

Abandoning your cat or leaving them outside a shelter because you haven't managed to train them properly also breaks their little heart. Of the 6.3 million animals that enter U.S. shelters every year, at least 3.2 million are cats. While 100,000 of them are returned to their owners, and about 2.1 million are re-homed, at least 530,000 cats are euthanized every year across the country. Meanwhile, other things that can break your feline's heart include:

Neglecting Their Health

Neglecting their health is another way to fail your cat. Veterinarian Dr. Brad Krohn explains that ignoring clinical signs like coughing and lethargy might be the closest thing to actually breaking your cat's heart. "Cats of all ages are prone to a disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or HCM. The main clinical signs of HCM are coughing and lethargy. If you observe your cat coughing and lethargic, bring [them] to your veterinarian for a physical exam," he said.

Being Inconsistent With Feedings

Feeding them too early or too late can also have a negative impact on them. According to Turano, cats thrive on routine, so keeping consistent feeding times is one big way to avoid breaking your cat's heart.

Leaving Their Litter Box Dirty

Leaving their litter dirty also disrupts their daily routine. It can also expose them to a variety of health issues, ranging from urinary tract infections to respiratory problems. A litter box that is not cleaned regularly, is also breeding ground for bacteria and parasites, which expose your cat to the risk of contracting various illnesses.

How Can You Make It Up to Your Upset Cat?

When your cat is upset, creating a calm and inviting environment and providing them with plenty of opportunities for play can help them feel better. Cats don't have a good short-term memory, so they're not likely to remember what happened earlier in the day. Treating them with love and respect, and always making sure you meet their needs will help create a long-lasting bond that is unlikely to be broken by an occasional late feeding or litter cleaning. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.