5 things you said to your cat that you regret! What were the "forbidden words" that owners apologized for that day?

Daily life is always hectic. Because of this, when pet owners don't have enough emotional capacity, they may end up revealing negative emotions in front of their beloved cats or saying words they didn't intend to.

I, too, have had many such bitter experiences, and there are days when I regret it, thinking, "Why did I say something like that…?"

[NG Word to Your Cat #1] "I just want to disappear"

Precisely because we can't speak the same language, it's easy to vent our weaknesses to our beloved cats. But I think that depending on the kind of weakness you vent, it can make your cat feel anxious.

This is because, for a cat, the owner often becomes like a parent. Just like a human child, if their parent-substitute owner is saying overly negative things, the cat's anxiety will grow. Actually, I have had the experience of feeling that this was the case.

When I was at my mental limit, I once muttered, "I just want to disappear" in front of my cats. At that, they came up to me as I was slumped against the wall and stared intently at my face.

Usually, Kotaro, the brown tabby, would jump over me so as not to step on my body, but this time he purposefully stepped firmly on my stomach.

After that, the cats continued to observe us intently as we slumped against the wall. Watching them gauge the situation by moving closer and then further away, I regretted it, thinking, "Oh, I've made them worry."

[NG Word to Your Cat #2] "There might not be any treats!"

For cats, treat time is a happy time. I know that, yet when Leon, the orange tabby, destroyed my favorite character merchandise, I was so shocked that I angrily snapped, "There might not be any treats today!"

My husband followed up by saying, "It's kind of you not to be able to say for sure," but I personally felt deep regret. Seeing Leon looking a bit dejected, I had a one-person reflection session, thinking, "Why did I say that in such a harsh tone…?"

After that, I gave him a treat, saying, "I'm sorry for earlier. Let's make up," but my own heart didn't feel clear for a long time.

[NG Word to Your Cat #3] "Be a good boy"

When I'm watching streaming videos on my tablet, it's a battle with my cats. As if to say, "Look at me instead of the video," the cats rub against the tablet. Because the force of that makes the tablet fall over, I have felt, "Stop it..." on a daily basis.

Then one day, exhausted from work and lacking emotional capacity, the moment I saw my cat rubbing against the tablet as usual, I scolded it firmly: "Come on! Be a good boy!" From the cat's perspective, it just wanted some attention.

I am someone who knows the pain of having to keep being a "good child" in front of parents. That is precisely why, while I am attracted to the personality of cats—creatures who are not "honor students" and who engage in mischief or beg for attention—I also felt a sense of envy toward them for being able to act freely...

When I realized those feelings of mine that I hadn't known were there, my sense of guilt toward my cats grew even more, and I was able to learn that I need to take care of my own heart.

[NG Word to Your Cat #4] "Be quiet for a second!"

The voices of cats making noise with sounds like "meow-per" or "wa-oon," which aren't typical cat sounds, are cute. But when they kept meowing while my heart was restless or I wanted to concentrate on things like studying, I scolded my cats in a harsh tone: "Be quiet for a second!"

I don't know if human language is conveyed to cats. But even if the words aren't understood, emotions are reflected in behavior and seep into the atmosphere.

After I scolded them, my cats started watching me from afar, completely changing their behavior, so I felt deeply ashamed, thinking, "Oh… I've hurt them."

To think that I'm the worst for changing my attitude all of a sudden when I'm not in a good place, even though I usually tell them, "Thank you for chatting with me"...

Since I started thinking that way, I've stopped using the strong phrase "Be quiet for a second!" and instead say, "I want to concentrate now, so come here," while patting the floor chair next to me to give them the signal to "come here."

[NG Word to Your Cat #5] "Don't get in my way"

When I play video games, a battle with my cats breaks out. I often play games on my Steam Deck, but while I'm playing, my cats pass between me and the gaming device. They don't usually climb on my body that much.

Moreover, in the case of Leon, the orange tabby cat, when he passes between me and the game device, he stretches out just one paw and passes by very, very slowly. Sometimes, he just sits between me and the game device and doesn't move. There are also times when he struggles to get inside the game device case without me noticing.

Not wanting a "Game Over," it is my daily routine to say, "Don't get in my way," and gently push Leon's bottom to urge him to walk ahead so I can continue the game.

But when I calmly looked back on that behavior, I thought: Couldn't I just pause the game and pay attention to him?

If anything, Leon's way of asking for attention is rare, considering he doesn't usually act spoiled. Perhaps because I've been treating such opportunities carelessly, it may have become even harder for Leon to be affectionate…

These days, I am finally realizing my mistakes and reflecting deeply on them.

Humans are creatures with emotions. Therefore, it is natural for the words we say to our cats and how we treat them to change depending on our mental state. However, if you continue to use negative words repeatedly, there is a possibility that your cat's heart will be hurt and a rift will be created in your relationship.

Just like humans, cats' mental states surely change depending on what kind of words are spoken to them. Taking this as an opportunity, I want to look back on my words and actions, stabilize my own heart, and face my cats sincerely.

Article list by this author >>