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

Life is always hectic. So, when pet owners aren't feeling their best, they might inadvertently reveal negative emotions in front of their beloved cats, or say things they didn't intend to.

I've had many such bitter experiences, and there are days when I regret, "Why did I say that...?"

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

Precisely because we don't speak the same language, it's easy to vent our weaknesses to our cats. But depending on the type of weakness we express, I think we can make our cats feel anxious.

This is because for many cats, their owners are like parents. Just like human children, if their guardian owner says overly negative things, cats can also become anxious. In fact, I've experienced this myself.

When I was at my wit's end mentally, I once murmured "I just want to disappear" in front of my cat. My cats then came up to me, as I was leaning against the wall, drained, and stared intently at my face.

Kotaro, a brown tabby, usually jumps over me to avoid stepping on my body, but this time he deliberately stepped firmly on my stomach.

After that, my cats continued to watch me intently as I leaned against the wall. Seeing them approach and then retreat, observing my state, I regretted, "Ah, I'm making them worried."

[NG Word to My Cat #2] "You might not get any treats today!"

For cats, treat time is a happy time. Even though I knew that, when my favorite merchandise was destroyed by Leon, my ginger tabby, I was so shocked that I angrily said, "You might not get any treats today!"

My husband tried to soothe me by saying, "It's kind of you that you didn't state it definitively, just 'might not'," but I myself deeply regretted it. Seeing Leon looking a bit down, I had a solo self-reflection session, wondering, "Why did I say it in such a harsh tone...?"

Afterward, I gave him treats and apologized, saying, "Sorry about earlier. Let's make up," but my heart remained heavy.

[NG Word to My Cat #3] "Be a good boy/girl!"

When I'm watching subscription videos on my tablet, it's also a battle with my cats. My cats rub against the tablet as if to say, "Look at us, not the video." Their force makes the tablet fall over, so I always feel like, "Stop it..."

One day, exhausted from work and with no patience, the moment I saw my cat rubbing against the tablet as usual, I sharply scolded them, "Oh, come on! Be a good boy/girl!" From my cat's perspective, they just wanted attention.

I'm someone who knows the pain of having to constantly be a "good child" in front of my parents. That's why, while I'm drawn to the nature of cats, who aren't "model students" engaging in mischief or seeking attention, I also felt envious of their freedom to act as they please.

When I realized these unknown feelings within myself, I again felt a deep sense of apology towards my cats, and I also realized that I needed to take care of my own emotional well-being.

[NG Word to My Cat #4] "Be quiet for a bit!"

The sounds of cats making un-cat-like noises like "nipaa" or "waoon" are cute. But when my mind was agitated, or I wanted to concentrate on studying and they kept meowing, I sharply scolded my cats with a "Be quiet for a bit!"

I don't know if cats understand human language. But even if they don't understand words, emotions are reflected in actions and seep into the atmosphere.

After scolding them, my cats suddenly changed and started watching me from a distance, so I deeply regretted, "Oh... I must have hurt them."

I usually say, "Thank you for chatting with me," but to suddenly change my attitude when I'm not feeling patient is terrible...

Since then, I've stopped using harsh words like "Be quiet for a bit!" Instead, I tap on the floor cushion next to where I'm sitting and signal, "Come here, I want to concentrate now, so come over here."

[NG Word to My Cat #5] "Don't bother me."

When I play games, a battle ensues with my cats. I often play games on my Steam Deck, and while I'm playing, my cats walk between me and the console. Usually, they don't even get on my body much.

And in the case of Leon, the ginger tabby, when he walks between me and the console, he extends just one paw and slowly, slowly passes through. Sometimes, he even sits quietly between me and the console and doesn't move. Without me realizing it, he's sometimes struggling to get into the console's case.

Not wanting to get a game over, it's my daily routine to gently push Leon's bottom and urge him to move forward, continuing the game while saying, "Don't bother me."

But when I calmly reflected on that action, I thought: Couldn't I just pause the game and give him attention?

On second thought, Leon, who doesn't usually seek much attention, his plea for attention is precious. Perhaps by treating such opportunities carelessly, Leon finds it even harder to show affection...

I'm finally realizing my mistakes and reflecting deeply these days.

Humans are emotional beings. So, it's natural for the words we say to our cats and how we interact with them to change depending on our mental state. However, repeatedly using "NG" words can hurt our cats' feelings and potentially create a rift in our relationship.

Just like humans, cats' mental states must change depending on the words spoken to them. I, too, want to take this opportunity to reflect on my words and actions, stabilize my own mind, and earnestly engage with my beloved cats.

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