do cats know when you’re ignoring them

Cats are sensitive to communication signals and can perceive our emotions. Therefore, they will likely notice when you are not paying them attention.

Do Cats Get Mad When You Ignore Them?

Contrary to popular belief, cats are capable of experiencing a wide range of complex emotions, including happiness, anger, and sadness. When cats form strong bonds with their owners, they may experience fear, anxiety, and confusion when they are ignored, particularly if they don’t know why.

If you choose to ignore your cat’s misbehavior, you may be encouraging it. Some cats become more destructive to get your attention.

Comparably, some cats experience separation anxiety in addition to getting agitated when you ignore them. Even though you and your cat are not physically together, you are not emotionally linked. This can upset sensitive cats or felines that crave attention.

The likelihood of experiencing separation anxiety increases if you ignore your cat and go to a different room. The cat will consequently experience stress and exhibit the following symptoms:

  • Excessive vocalizations, including continuous meowing
  • Crying and moaning
  • Eating too fast or not at all
  • Obsessive grooming
  • Accidents away from the litter tray
  • Destructive behavior, such as clawing at furniture
  • Vomiting

The issue with separation anxiety is that your cat may become more and more dependent on you for attention if you ignore it, which can lead to an uncontrollable cycle of negative behavior.

Should I Ignore My Cat Meowing?

While some cats meow to attract attention, others are more talkative than others. Regretfully, giving in to your cat’s every whim and desire will only make it more likely that it will ask for your attention. That’s because it knows you’ll give it what it wants. This behavior may eventually lead to your cat becoming very misbehaving.

Because of this, some cat owners have to ignore their cats so they won’t meow for attention. This is difficult to accomplish and could make your cat behave worse before it gets better.

However, there’s probably a reason if your cat starts meowing more frequently than normal. Until you find the cause, you should take any changes in vocalization seriously. Ignoring your pet could put it at risk. Cats will constantly meow because they:

  • want to go hunting, so they want to go outside in the evening.
  • In heat. This typically occurs in 5 to 6 month old unspayed cats.
  • Can’t see or hear. As soon as the lights go out, your cat might feel lost.
  • Getting old. Senile cats tend to meow more.
  • Bored and lonely. In this case, ignoring them will make them feel worse.
  • In pain. This is a result of an injury or health condition.

One of the most common indicators that your cat is ill is persistent meowing. Unwell cats display the following symptoms:

  • Poor fur quality
  • Dull, greasy coat
  • Wheezing or gasping
  • Rapid breathing
  • Vomiting
  • Weight loss
  • Diarrhea
  • Increased or loss of appetite
  • Dehydration
  • Increased thirst
  • Changes in urination
  • Lethargy
  • Discharge from eyes or nose
  • Overgrooming
  • Personality changes

When your cat meows, you should not ignore it if you find out that it is ill because it is trying to tell you that something is wrong. Instead, take it to a vet for an examination. Once the issue is resolved and your pet is more at ease, your cat should stop meowing as much.

Likewise, if your feline is meowing due to boredom or loneliness, disregarding it will intensify these unpleasant emotions. Instead, give your cat lots of love and attention while you play with its favorite toys.

What Happens If You Ignore Your Cat?

Cats react differently to being ignored depending on their personality. While some people won’t give a damn, others will do anything to gain your attention.

To judge if it’s appropriate to ignore your cat, you must observe how your pet responds. Stop ignoring it if it appears uncomfortable or depressing because you are upsetting your pet. When you ignore your cat, it’ll:

  • Ignore you back.
  • Keep doing what it was doing prior to you beginning to ignore it.
  • Try to get your attention by misbehaving.
  • Come up to you and be loving in an attempt to receive the same in return.
  • Become aggressive and destructive to show it’s unhappy.

If you ignore your cat often, it may become depressed. You’ll be able to identify sad cats because they exhibit the following symptoms:

  • Ears held back or against the head
  • Hairs standing on end
  • Vocalizations
  • Become clingy or standoffish
  • Lose interest in activities
  • Sleep more often
  • Stop grooming itself
  • Urinate in inappropriate places

But while some cats find it upsetting to be ignored, others may play with you because they find it to be a fun game.

FAQ

Will my cat notice if I ignore her?

Cats can definitely notice if you ignore them. They are known for their independence, but they also seek attention and affection from their human companions. If a cat feels ignored, it may exhibit behaviors such as meowing, rubbing against you, or even knocking items over to get your attention.

Will my cat calm down if I ignore him?

If you ignore your cat, it will be depressed and withdraw from you. Your cat needs and wants affection from you. You need to continue to give your cat proper care. Feed him and clean his box.

Will my cat stop meowing if I ignore him?

You could definitely try to ignore them while they’re being particularly chatty, but they probably won’t stop immediately. That can obviously be very frustrating and makes it hard not to pay attention to them, so you’ll likely end up giving in to whatever it seems they want, thus continuing a behavior cycle.

Do cats understand when you say no?

Do cats understand the word no? While cats might not understand “no” as humans do, they can recognize its tone and associate it with a negative or stopping response, especially if used consistently.