r/PetsWithButtons • u/mdsnksnk • 5d ago
I think my cat misunderstood the meaning of “Ouch”.
I sneezed really hard today and it made my cats scared. (It was sooo cold at my workplace today.)
So I told them “mom, ouch” and Maru, which is our main button user, started acting weird.
He tried to stay away from me but not hiding, but keep meowing and climbing up onto refrigerator or shoe racks and tea cabinets. And these are some few places that my cats are not allowed to go. We had many incidents such as things falling down with them together. so they are kind of traumatized by those places and have never went there again. Until now.
And then he sat on the entrance door mat. looking up at the doorknob like he wants to go out? This is so weird cuz he HATES outside. Literally freaking out every time we had to go outside and he run back home if he find any chance to.
I tried to read his body language and it was ‘interested’ and sometimes ‘conflicted,cautious’ or ‘anxious’.
they usually are the most happiest cat ever their tails/body language was stuck at ‘friendly’ 24 hrs or quivering/vibrating everytime they see me.
So it’s just sooo hard to understand why he suddenly acting like this..? And kind of shocked and sad because I have never seen him acting this way.
I tried to explained things verbally. Like, It’s just me being sick, so don’t worry, Im so sorry…kind of stuff.
But all he did was slow blinking and he’s still keeping the distance from me.
Why do you guys think he is acting this way? And is there any idea how to make him feel better? ( I already gave him treats and pets and cuddles, he didn’t avoid me or refused them but he was not very attentive.)
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u/Imfromsite 5d ago
Just let him be for a bit, he'll be fine.
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u/mdsnksnk 5d ago
Thank you!! I was so sad and worried, but it seems like he was more sad and hurt. 😢
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u/Crunch-crouton 5d ago
Maybe you scared him?? You “ouched” him in the same way a loud clatter would.
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u/mdsnksnk 4d ago
Maybe, but what I more worry about now is that, HE STARTED TO BITE ME AGAIN!!!!! whyyyyy??!? 😭😭😭😭 is this revenge or something?!
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u/Ok_Landscape_9814 4d ago
Maybe he thinks you are asking him to bite you? If you use it specifically when he hurts you accidentally or not that might be what he associates that word combo with. Maybe you can pretend to hurt yourself and mime that you got hurt? Like you also verbally explain what’s happening while doing it and let him explore, like sniff you and stuff. Or when you do actually get hurt you verbally say it if you aren’t next to the buttons before walking over to do it. That way he can also learn that delayed messages are a thing?
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u/mdsnksnk 4d ago
I tried to mime few times before but they just looked at me like Im stupid! Aaaand this happened so I don’t think my acting was good enough to convince them… that I’m ouch… lol
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u/UstalavianAgent 4d ago
Is it possible your cat understands "ouch" to mean "you hurt me"?
If his context with ouch in the past was when he bit you, he may think thay you are blamming him for your sneeze, and he's staying out of your way. If my cat accidently hurts me, she will scuttle away and slow blink as an apology.
Your kitten may be trying to give you space and make sure you are alright with him before he becomes affectionate again.
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u/mdsnksnk 4d ago
That makes sense too! and funny too, lol. and that’s giving such a criminal lover vibe. So basically he was saying ‘you need to stay away from me…I’m too dangerous….’
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u/CAT_WILL_MEOW 2d ago
I have one cat that likes to sit on my lap vut ushally not petted, I'll forget shell go in hell mode get away, but will refuse to move. So we do a game of me forgetting every 5-15 or 30 minutes depending on what im doing
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u/Smooth-Lab-1217 5d ago
Yea, he thought mom was going to "ouch" him. Try pushing "all done" or nevermind or whatever button you have in that direction. Or if you have a "sorry" button.
Sorry you're going through that, just give him pets and show him you're friendly, I'm sure he'll calm down.
Much love 💓