In the coexistence of humans and cats, some of the cats’ behaviors occasionally cause trouble to their owners, such as scratching furniture, urinating and defecating everywhere, etc. In the face of these behaviors, some owners may adopt the extreme punishment method of "abandoning the cat", hoping to make the cat more obedient by letting them experience the fear of abandonment.

But in fact, this method not only does not help solve the problem, but will cause profound psychological damage to the cat and destroy the trust relationship between the cat and its owner.

Myths about the “Abandoned Cat Effect”

The “Abandoned Cat Effect” stems from a misunderstanding, which is that simulating the experience of a cat being abandoned can make cats appreciate their current life more environment and owner's care, thereby becoming more compliant. But in fact, this approach ignores the psychological characteristics and feelings of cats, and mistakenly imposes human emotional reactions on cats. There are fundamental differences between cats and humans in the way they express and deal with emotions. It is unscientific and inhumane to simply use analogies to human psychological reactions to deal with cats' behavioral problems.

Damage to cats

Damage of trust: Cats have a deep dependence on their environment and owners. Through the extreme punishment method of "cat abandonment effect", cats will feel a strong sense of insecurity and betrayal, thereby destroying their trust in their owners. If things go on like this, cats may become more and more distrustful of people. , and even produce aggressive behavior.

Triggering stress reactions: Being frequently placed in unfamiliar or unsafe environments will put cats in a long-term state of stress, which will not only affect their mental health, but may also cause various Behavioral problems such as excessive cleaning of oneself, increased aggression, etc.

Emotional withdrawal: Long-term insecurity and fear will cause cats to learn to use withdrawal and indifference to protect themselves. They may become more and more silent and passive, losing the liveliness and indifference that cats should have. curiosity.

The correct way to respond

Patient education: When facing inappropriate behavior of cats, patient education and positive guidance should be adopted. You can reward good behavior and correct wrong behavior appropriately instead of punishing or abandoning them.

Provide appropriate toys and activities: Many times, inappropriate cat behavior is caused by a lack of adequate activities and stimulation. Providing cats with appropriate toys and arranging enough play time can effectively reduce their anxiety and boredom, thereby reducing the occurrence of bad behaviors.

Understand your cat’s needs: Every cat’s personality and needs are unique. Owners should take the time to observe and understand their cats, and adjust their interaction methods and environmental layout according to their personalities and preferences to meet their needs.

"Abandoning cats" not only fails to solve the cats' behavioral problems, but will cause serious harm to their mental health and destroy the trust relationship between them and their owners.

The correct approach is to guide the cat to form good behavioral habits and establish a harmonious human-pet relationship through patient education, providing appropriate activities and an in-depth understanding of the cat’s needs.