Accidents are stressful, period. However, they can be made even more stressful when our feline friends have been involved and we’re the reason the accident has occurred. Kicking your cat is never a nice feeling.
If you accidentally kick your cat, you should immediately apologize to your cat in a calm manner and with a friendly, high-pitched voice. This will help your cat to understand that it was an accident. After that, check your cat for behavior changes like limping, bleeding, lack of appetite, etc.
Cats are pretty resilient and in most cases will be back to normal in minutes, no harm done. However, if you find yourself constantly thinking it over and worrying about the fact you kicked your cat, then take a look at our article.
We’ll tell you exactly what to do if you accidentally kicked your cat, the signs to look out for, and how to apologize to them so you can be back in their good books. You’ll also be safe in the knowledge that you’ve done everything possible to make sure they are seriously hurt.
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What To Do If You Accidentally Kicked Your Cat?
When you accidentally kick your cat, the first thing to do is remain calm. Take a deep breath and don’t be too hard on yourself. These things happen and you’ve probably had several close calls in the past, plus it was an accident.
After kicking your cat, it’s highly likely that they will be annoyed at you, so approach with caution. If they hiss or go to scratch you, step back and give them some space. They’ll start to calm down after a few minutes.
While it’s very unlikely that any injury will have been caused, it's a good idea to give your feline friend a once-over and check for any obvious visible injuries. Do this by petting them and checking the area where you accidentally kicked them.
If you don’t find anything, that's a good sign. However, it’s important that you pay close attention to any changes in behavior and how they move. Internal injuries aren’t obvious and may not show up straight away.
If you’re concerned or notice anything unusual, take them straight to your local vet.
Will My Cat Be Okay?
While I’d love to give you a clear-cut answer as to whether your feline will be okay, it will all depend on where and how hard you kicked them as well as your cat's overall health.
In most cases, your cat is going to be absolutely fine, albeit a little surprised. But it’s worth noting that worst-case scenarios can still occur.
These scenarios are more prominent if you’ve accidentally kicked or stepped on their head or torso. Keeping an eye on your cat for a while after the accident will show you whether any serious implications have happened.
What Signs Should I Look Out For After I Have Accidently Kicked My Cat?
You’ve accidentally kicked your cat, you’ve checked for any visible injuries and found nothing. So what should you do next?
Well, first of all, no visible injuries can be a good sign that no real damage was done. Only that your cat now trusts you a little less. Which might take a little while to rebuild.
However, the one thing you won’t know just by petting your cat is if they have any internal injuries. They may present themselves in many different ways and it’s these that you need to watch out for.
Here is a list of signs to look out for after you have accidentally kicked your cat:
- Change in their normal behavior
- Pale or discolored gums
- Confusion or disorientation
- Rapid or slow breathing
- Seizures (signs of head injury)
- Bleeding from the ears or nose (signs of head injury)
- Pain or tenderness in affected area
- Lack of appetite
- Inability to move joint
- Limping or lameness
- Bruising under the skin
- Vocalization
- Refusal to bear weight
- Excessive licking of affected area
How Can I Apologize To My Cat?
It’s safe to say that the majority of us have accidentally stepped on or kicked our cat. There may even be times where we’ve hurt their feelings without even realizing it until we’re given the cold shoulder.
So you’re right in wondering how you, as a cat parent, can apologize to your feline and get yourself back into their good books.
Here are some tips to help you start the process:
1. Understand exactly what you did wrong
Researchers believe that cats have very sensitive hearing, even more so than dogs. They also believe that our cats can understand our tone and know if we aren’t genuine with our apology.
2. Approach your cat with caution
Seeing your cat in distress and knowing you are the reason they are like that can be tough. However, it’s really important that you stay calm. Running after your cat screaming ‘I’m sorry’ is just going to scare them even more.
You’ll want to carefully watch their reaction and approach cautiously and slowly. If your cat backs away from you, give them some space and come back when you’ve noticed they’ve relaxed a little.
3. Timing is very important
Timing is key when it comes to apologizing. Watch out for signs that your cat is angry, annoyed, or even fearful. It may be a good idea to give them some space before you approach them.
It’s also important not to let too much time pass before you apologize to them, as they may interpret this as you ignoring them. If you’ve noticed your cat is looking more relaxed, now would be the time to approach them.
Remember to use a soft tone when speaking to them, especially if they are hiding from you and shying away from you. They need to know they can trust you again. So keep praising them when they come close to make them feel safer.
4. Speaking to your cat
Researchers in Japan, are investigating whether cats have the ability to understand certain words, such as their names or different foods. We already know that cats are pretty responsive to their own names, so you can definitely start by calmly calling them over to you.
As we already know that cats have sensitive hearing, it’s important that we use a calm high-frequency tone to call them over to us. Positive reinforcement also works really well when trying to win their hearts over.
According to Professor Bjarne O. Braastad of the Norwegian university of life sciences, cats are more receptive to the voices we use when speaking to babies. So repeating the words ‘I’m Sorry’ in our baby-talk voices may help them understand our apologies quicker in the future.
5. Petting and playing with your cat
Once you have apologized, it’s a good idea to test the waters by showing your feline your hand. If they smell your hand and then show they want a scratch or to be stroked, you better comply.
On the contrary though, if they hiss or scratch, they need a little more time and space.
Once given some space, most cats will come round and want more attention than ever before. You can also strengthen your bond and trust by playing with them. Use some of their favorite toys to play games with them to show them that you really are sorry.
Giving them the occasional treat – if they still seem annoyed at you – is a good way to apologize. Treats won’t work on their own, so taking the above steps first and ending with treats, usually does the job.
