Despite that tough feline facade, cats can be big softies when it comes to their personal feelings. As intelligent animals, cats are capable of feeling a wide range of emotions. They can be happy and excited, but they can also feel sad and disappointed. Just like humans, cats can feel several different emotions during any given day, and they occasionally have their feelings hurt by their closest friends.

Obviously, we never want to hurt our cats’ feelings. We can’t control every part of life, but we can control our own actions. Sometimes we end up hurting our cats’ feelings without even realizing what we’re doing. Check out these potentially insulting behaviors that are hurting your cat’s feelings.

1. Making Loud Noises

Cats have a good reason for jumping and hiding whenever they hear a loud or startling sound. According to Vetstreet, our feline family members can hear sounds around 1.6 octaves higher than humans. They’re even more sensitive to high-pitched sounds than dogs. Feline ears are extra sensitive to loud and especially high-pitched noises. A cat who hears shouting will flatten her ears, lower her head, and look for a place to hide, away from the sound and fury. Shouting at the TV when your cat is curled in your lap is a guaranteed way to hurt your cat’s feelings. Don’t be surprised when they get up and leave. Making loud noises shows you don’t always respect your cat’s sensitivities, and it could cause your cat to avoid spending time with you.

2. Leaving Them Alone

It’s true that cats aren’t as needy as other pets, but that doesn’t mean they enjoy always being on their own. They’re social creatures, and they thrive with regular attention and companionship. Cats benefit from affection and interaction from people. Some cats are naturally affectionate, while other cats are more skittish about being held and petted. If you have a skittish cat, leave yourself open to receiving affection from your cat and return it in kind. Your gentle attention and small gestures of affection will feed your cat’s soul and inspire her devotion to you.

3. Pushing Them Away

As curious creatures, cats have a habit of inserting themselves where they don’t belong. They love to “help” with household chores, and they always need to know what you’re doing. That nosey behavior can be cute, but it often gets them into trouble. As a result, we humans have developed a habit of gently pushing our cats out of the way. When your cat is pawing at your scissors while you’re trying to use them, pushing them out of the way seems like the obvious thing to do. Not only is it irritating, it’s also dangerous. But pushing your cat away, regardless of the circumstance, is a good way to hurt their feelings. Cats can’t help their curious nature. They want to know exactly what you’re doing, and they love being involved. But the next time your cat puts their face somewhere it doesn’t belong, take a second before you push them away. Instead, offer a quick pet and redirect them somewhere else. A blatant shove will hurt their feelings, and it’ll probably make them even more determined to see what you’re doing.

4. Not Cleaning the Litter Box

Leaving the box filled with kitty’s waste because some new cat litter promises freshness for multiple days. So you wait until the weekend for that dreaded chore of cleaning the cat litter box. Imagine leaving your own toilet unflushed all week long, and you’ll know how your cat feels. Dirty litter boxes also make it much more likely for cats to use another part of the house as their toilet. How often does a litter box need to be cleaned? Ideally, it should be done daily. The bonus is that it is not nearly as gross when done frequently.

5. Punishing

Yelling “bad cat,” throwing things, swatting, and scolding your cat when she misses the litter box or claws the sofa does tell your cat that you are unhappy, but she’ll have no idea why. Grabbing her and shoving her face in a mess will leave her petrified, and fear will often make a cat’s behavior worse rather than better. Anger does not teach your cat to “behave,” it simply teaches her to be afraid of you.

When you accidently hurt your cats’ feelings, you need to remember to apologize to them. Give your cat some time to calm down, then apologize softly while blinking slowly at them. Remember to praise your cat and reward them with treats or catnip. Spending some quality time together, with lots of petting and games, should ease your cat.

Traumatic events form part of a cat's long-term memory and stay with the cat forever. The cat will never forget its ordeal but may be prepared to forgive abuse if given enough time. Cats don't assume that humans are friendly, so the onus is on the individual to prove that they're kind and friendly.