Yesterday, I was trying to get my cat into her carrier to take her to the vet. She knows what the box means, and she freaked out, giving me a huge, deep gash in my arm.
My cat & I are close, and she's very loving. Do you think she understands that she unjured me?
2006-08-08 10:03:46 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
All she knows is that she was defending herself. It probably never even crossed her mind that she might hurt you. No matter how loving your cat is, they will react to a scarey situation.
2006-08-08 10:08:38 · answer #1 · answered by PearLover 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I am NOT an expert, but I would have to say that cats definitely have an understanding that they hurt you, how they react would be based on the cat and how much they care about you. All animals, even humans, when faced with what they believe to be danger will act irrationally not typical to their behavior even to their most beloved. For instance I have a strange cat that I am fostering for the shelter, she was very feral and sick with no interest in humans or other cats when I brought her home. She has an interesting personality habit, when she comes up and wants to be pet she bites, the first couple of times she did it she drew blood and I didn't understand why because she came up to me and wanted to be pet. I finally came to some understanding of this behavior and think that it is possibly due to her teeth, because she likes to bite my nails, or some sort of strange bonding or grooming behavior. The point is after just two times of me going ouch and growling at her (she understood this best because of her lack of socialization being a kitten) she then stopped and licked my finger where she bit me instead. She now licks me instead of biting me and is now a fully loving socialized kitten (I never give up!). She definitely understood that she hurt me and with personal experience cats make it up to you by licking you and hesitating with that type of behavior if they do it twice. In no way do I think that your cat did that maliciously and was probably just scared and does not like the box. Did she get shots last time at the vet? Would you be resistant to go again if you had shots at the doctor's? Cats understand a lot more than we think. I recommend wrapping a towel around her next time, it's calming for the cat and they can't hurt you that way. Wrapping is common procedure for animal based professions and volunteers. Hope this helps.
2006-08-08 10:38:29 · answer #2 · answered by jennifer-buck@sbcglobal.net 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She likely understands that it hurt you, however she likely also associates the kitty carrier with a not-so-delightful needle in the butt. Try tossing a few treats in the carrier a few minutes before you bring it up- works for my cat every time!
2006-08-08 14:54:10 · answer #3 · answered by Darth Vader 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She might, if you yelped or got very upset afterwards. But even then, she might not completely understand. They work out of instinct and she probably didn't mean to hurt YOU (you being her friend, owner, caretaker), but meant to do it in defense of herself.
In the future you might try to take her places with you in her carrier other than the vet. Of course, never leave her alone in a warm/hot car, but you could take her for rides every now and then, etc. This gets them used to their carriers and they begin to disassociate it with the vet.
Hope your arm heals!!! :(
2006-08-08 10:15:53 · answer #4 · answered by ChloeCat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with others who say she was reacting instinctively and doesn't know how she hurt you.
In the future if you have to put her in the carrier wrap a heavy bath towel around her. Put her in towel and all. The towel will give her a comfy place to rest on her trip.
2006-08-08 10:59:14 · answer #5 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably not. She just wanted to get away. I feel for you. It takes two of us to get my cat in the carrier!
2006-08-08 11:06:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think she does and is sorry too. Aminals act on instinct and her instinct is to fight when cornered. Just have a talk with her and let her know you still love her but that she needs to work on not hurting you physically anymore.
2006-08-08 10:10:25 · answer #7 · answered by Cat D 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
she probably can sense that something bad happened but was probably too frightened to understand.when you want to put a kitty in one of those carriers, always stand it up on its end and lower the kitty in bottom first. this way they don't get scared and scratch you first.
2006-08-08 10:47:55 · answer #8 · answered by dog lover 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it's an animal.It doesnt have common sense only instincts.
2006-08-08 10:11:24 · answer #9 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope..I think she was just pissed you were taking her to the vet.
2006-08-08 10:49:39 · answer #10 · answered by Lynn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋