Dealing with an Abused Cat
You may be wondering why your newly adopted cat does not seem to connect with you no matter how hard you try. He may seem distant, too easily afraid of things, jumpy, aggressive, or just not very friendly. If your cat is not sick or in pain, then he may be manifesting the symptoms of an abused cat.
Abused cats are products of people’s wrong handling or treatment. Some cats suffer from emotional abuse when people scream or yell at them all the time. They also get bruised emotionally when they do not receive love, attention, and affection from their owners. Other cats suffer from physical abuse, which of course also results in emotional abuse, when they are severely disciplined or punished physically.
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Abused cats do not take well to people. They are defensive. As a form of defense, they may become aggressive toward people and attack them at unexpected moments. Or they may become withdrawn from people to avoid further emotional and physical pain. They do not trust people easily, and it may take a long time for a person to get them to come near. They may display a lack of energy or enthusiasm for play and even for food.
However, you can still turn things around for your cat. You can draw it out of its defense by treating your cat in a special way. So how do you deal with an abused cat? The first step is to avoid loud noises in your home. Talk to your cat softly and let him know you care for him. Do not raise your voice at him. Hearing screams and shrieks will scare him, so inform the family members to try to keep it down when you talk to each other. The noise of children may also bother your cat, so provide him a place where he will not be in their way as much as possible. You should also advise your kids on how to behave around your cat.
Next, avoid the use of objects to punish the cat. Do not hit your cat, whether with your hand or any object. Sometimes even water pistols can trigger fear in your cat particularly if his previous owner abused him with it. Also, avoid putting him in places where he will feel cornered, as this may cause him to think you are going to hit him and end up attacking you.
Having a companion cat might help your newly adopted cat to drop his defenses. Once your new cat sees how you treat his companion cat, eventually he will loosen up and come near you for some petting. But this may take a long time, and your cat may not come to you right away. He may start by sitting a short distance from you first. Over time, he will come nearer and nearer until he sits or lies beside you, indicating that he wants to be petted. When he does this, reassure him of your affection using a soft voice, and give him gentle pats. But do not overwhelm him with too much petting just yet, or he may withdraw again.
Finally, have lots and lots of patience. Do not give up on your cat even though it may take a long time for an abused cat to be restored. Care for him consistently and handle him gently. Eventually, you will win him with your affection and care.