Cats may be beloved companions, but they don’t always appreciate the way humans interact with them.
While every cat is different, certain behaviours consistently cause stress or discomfort. Understanding these dislikes helps build stronger bonds and prevents misunderstandings.
This article is for general information only. Every cat is unique, and individual preferences may vary.
1. Loud Noises
Your cat’s ears aren’t just adorable triangles, they’re incredibly sensitive sound detectors that pick up frequencies humans can’t even hear. Vacuum cleaners, blaring music, or sudden shouts can feel like an assault on their senses.
Cats typically respond by flattening their ears, puffing up their tails, or dashing under furniture. Their stress isn’t just momentary; it can linger for hours after the noise stops.
Consider warning your cat before turning on noisy appliances by establishing a gentle verbal cue they’ll recognize as a heads-up.
2. Picking Them Up Without Permission
Imagine a giant suddenly lifting you off the ground without warning, that’s how your cat feels when you scoop them up unexpectedly. Cats are ground-dwelling creatures who value having all four paws firmly planted on a stable surface.
Forced cuddles typically result in squirming, scratching, or a hasty retreat once they’re free. The betrayal of trust can make future interactions more difficult.
Try kneeling down and extending a finger for them to sniff first. If they rub against you or step closer, they’re more likely to welcome being held.
3. Ignoring Their Cues To Stop
Flicking tails and flattened ears aren’t just cute expressions, they’re your cat’s polite way of saying “enough, please.” When we continue petting despite these signals, we’re essentially ignoring their boundaries and personal space.
Cats value consent as much as humans do. Forcing interaction teaches them that their communication doesn’t matter, which can lead to more dramatic responses like biting or scratching.
Watch for subtle signs: ear position changes, skin twitching, or tail movements often precede the more obvious hissing or swatting that comes when initial cues are missed.
4. Using Overpowering Scents
A cat’s nose contains 200 million odour receptors compared to our measly 5 million, making your favourite perfume feel like an olfactory assault to them. Strong-smelling cleaners, essential oils (especially citrus), and heavy air fresheners can be genuinely distressing.
Cats often respond by avoiding scented areas entirely or showing signs of respiratory distress. Some common household scents like eucalyptus and tea tree are actually toxic to cats.
Opt for fragrance-free products when possible, and ensure rooms are well-ventilated after using cleaning products with strong smells.
5. Rearranging Their Environment Too Often
Cats are creatures of habit who map their territory down to the smallest detail. When furniture gets shuffled or their belongings relocated, it’s like waking up in a strange house: disorienting and stress-inducing.
Territory provides security, and unexpected changes can trigger anxiety or marking behaviours. Your cat isn’t being stubborn; they’re experiencing genuine confusion when their mental map no longer matches reality.
If you must rearrange, try moving just one item at a time over several days. Keep their essential resources, litter box, food station, and favourite resting spots, in consistent locations.
6. Disrupting Sleep Spots
Cats sleep 12-16 hours daily, making their chosen napping locations sacred ground. Waking a peacefully sleeping cat for cuddles or photos disrupts important rest cycles they need for physical and mental health.
That sunny windowsill or warm laptop isn’t just comfortable, it’s strategically selected for temperature, security, and vantage point. Moving them from these perfect spots feels like someone dragging you from your bed at 3 AM.
Create multiple designated sleeping areas around your home instead. If you must move them, do so gently when they’re already stirring between sleep cycles.
7. Ignoring Scratching Needs
Scratching isn’t destructive behaviour, it’s as essential to cats as breathing. Beyond maintaining claw health, scratching stretches muscles, marks territory with scent glands, and provides emotional release.
Without proper outlets, your cat experiences genuine physical discomfort and frustration. The resulting furniture damage isn’t rebellion; it’s desperation to fulfill a biological need.
Provide multiple scratching surfaces with different textures and orientations. Some cats prefer horizontal scratchers while others need tall vertical posts. Observe which surfaces your cat naturally gravitates toward and provide similar approved options.
8. Bathing Them Unnecessarily
Those rough cat tongues aren’t just for show, they’re sophisticated grooming tools that keep fur clean and properly oiled. Frequent bathing strips away natural oils that protect skin and coat, leaving cats uncomfortable and prone to dryness.
Being submerged in water triggers instinctual fear in most domestic cats. Their ancestors evolved in arid environments where swimming wasn’t necessary for survival.
Reserve baths for specific situations like flea treatments or when they’ve encountered something toxic. Otherwise, trust their self-grooming abilities and supplement with gentle brushing to remove loose fur they might otherwise ingest.
9. Rough Grooming Or Brushing
Feline skin is remarkably thin and sensitive, much more so than human skin. What feels like gentle pressure to you might feel like sandpaper to your cat, especially when brushing delicate areas like the belly or tail base.
Rushing through matted fur with harsh tugging creates negative associations with grooming. Many cats who “hate” being brushed have simply experienced painful sessions in the past.
Start with ultra-soft brushes designed specifically for cats. Keep sessions brief (2-3 minutes) and reward with treats. For matted fur, seek professional help rather than forcing the issue and damaging trust.
10. Punishing With Yelling Or Sprays
Shouting at your cat for natural behaviours like scratching or jumping on counters creates fear without understanding. Cats lack the cognitive connection between your angry voice and their action from minutes ago.
Water sprays or loud noises might stop the behaviour momentarily, but they teach cats to fear you rather than learn alternatives. Many simply learn to perform unwanted behaviours when you’re not watching.
Focus instead on environmental management and positive reinforcement. Provide climbing trees for jumpers, scratching posts near furniture, and reward desired behaviours with treats, creating lasting positive associations rather than fear-based compliance.
