Does scolding or hitting cats make them fear taking medicine?

Question

Sometimes we scold our pets for doing wrong things or even sometimes we hit them slightly.. just to let them know that this is wrong. Do cats understand that their hoomans are doing it for their good. My leo (male cat) always get scolded wen while taking medicines. I feel he hates for that. Will he keep grudge on me for forcing him to take medicines ☹️. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 10 months and 5 days old | 11.0231 lbs

Shaneez Wallani, DVM · Accepted Answer

Cats will not understand that you are hitting them for what you believe is “their own good”. In fact, hitting an animal can make them anxious and scared of you, and will not help them to understand what you don’t like about their behaviour. Taking medicine can be stressful for cats, and scolding or hitting them when giving medication will just make it worse for them. Please do not hit your animals, as they will learn to mistrust you and live in fear. Visit the following link for information on cat behaviour for information on how to keep your cats comfortable and happy and working on training. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=C&C=1&S=2 There are many things that you can do to help alleviate stress and help Leo feel better, which may in turn decrease the undesirable behaviour you are noticing. I would advise seeing your veterinarian to rule out any medical causes for his behaviour first, and also make sure Leo’s environmental needs are being met. Cats need at least one litterbox per cat plus one extra to help reduce stress associated with the litterbox. They should be placed in separate rooms, away from the food and water bowls, must be scooped at least daily (preferably multiple times a day)and washed out at least weekly with a mild soap, followed by thorough rinsing. Cats need a lot of space to explore, but keeping them indoors is much safer than letting them outside, due to the risk of injury from cars, wildlife, other animals, etc. The key is providing space (particularly vertical space for climbing, such as cat trees, ledges, and the like) inside the home. Visit http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=T&C=33&S=2 and https://indoorpet.osu.edu// for tips on stress reduction. Also look into Feliway, a synthetic pheromone that is available in a diffuser and spray form that promotes calm feelings in cats http://www.feliway.com.

Does scolding or hitting cats make them fear taking medicine?

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