Do you fight with your pets?

[RoJoHen]

Do you ever get angry with your pets? If you do, are they aware of it? Do they feel bad if they've done something wrong?

My cat just attacked some random piece of nothing on the floor and in the process dug one of her back claws into my foot. It drew blood. I stomped my foot and yelled, and she ran away. A few seconds later I could hear her whimpering from the other room.

Of course, I don't know if she was whimpering because she knows she upset me, but I do have to wonder. Do pets have a concept of right and wrong? Good and bad? Perhaps not enough for them make an informed decision, but maybe enough to feel guilt about something after the fact.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

I'm sure pets feel guilt and what have you. I am certain that they feel sadness. When one of my cats died, my other cat just sat at the grave site for several days. That really amazed me.

 

[trekkerguy]

I'm constantly in epic battles with my Hamster over who gets to use The Wheel.

 

[Kryton]

I just get right in kittyboy's face and gently (but firmly) tap him on the bridge of his nose and speak disapprovingly to him. By now, he's pretty accustomed to understanding I only do that when he's done something wrong.

He's a good cat...I don't do it very often at all. It's a firm, yet gentle reminder that even though he's Top Cat, I'm still Top Dog around the house. (He almost always comes slinking back a few minutes later wanting to crawl up on me and be hugged...and he usually gets that too. I just hope HE'S not conditioning ME for affection by being occasionally naughty! )

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

Cats are like Cylons. They have a plan.

 

[RoJoHen]

He's a good cat...I don't do it very often at all. It's a firm, yet gentle reminder that even though he's Top Cat, I'm still Top Dog around the house. (He almost always comes slinking back a few minutes later wanting to crawl up on me and be hugged...and he usually gets that too. I just hope HE'S not conditioning ME for affection by being occasionally naughty! )

This is one of the things that I'm especially curious about, because only a minute or two after the incident tonight, she came running back to rub up against me and get petted.

I just wonder if she forgot that she was bad, or if she still remembers but thinks she's out of the doghouse, so to speak. I really wish we could IQ test kitties.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

I'm sure she's just begging for forgiveness.

 

[Goji]

I get mad at my fish when they kill each other. That's about it. I've never been mad at my cat or dog. They haven't done anything to warrant it, and I'm not sure I could get that mad at them even if they did.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

In terms of right or wrong, certainly pets like cats and dogs have the potential to learn things along the punishment / reward paradigms, avoiding behaviour that could land them in trouble, and promoting good behaviour that leads to rewards (e.g. a biscuit [You're doing it wrong! - everyone]).

Personally, I could never get mad at any of the dogs we've had over the years.

 

[sbk1234]

Actually, pets like dogs and cats can only associate feedback with an event for a few seconds, so getting mad at them will only serve to confuse, and scare them, and break down the trust you're trying to build.
Although we all get angry with our pets - you should have seen how pissed we were when our dog ,uh, well , pissed on our expensive bed comforter - to take it out or yell at the pet hours, or even minutes later will do no good whatsoever.
The best thing is to try and switch the negative behavior with something positive immediately, and then praise the pet for doing the thing you want him to do.
No hitting!
And no, I'm not a trainer, but this is advice I've gotten from my trainer. (I mean for my dogs.)

 

[Crusher Disciple]

I have two cats. They're from Houston. We fight and argue all the time.

But I'm the only one who knows how to open the food can and where to buy chicken breasts, so they give in eventually.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

I have two cats. They're from Houston. We fight and argue all the time.

But I'm the only one who knows how to open the food can and where to buy chicken breasts, so they give in eventually.

So they've trained you?

 

[Crusher Disciple]

**Scoff**

 

[Spot's Meow]

We don't really yell at the cat, but we do have a disapproving voice we use with him. When he scratches the couch we will say "no" in this voice and he instantly looks guilty and runs away. We got him when he was 2 years old and he's only been here a couple of months, so he is still showing some behaviors that were allowed over at his other residence. Otherwise he is a great cat.

 

[arch101]

Well, I've been asking Bud The Cat to get a job for several years now. He seems to scowl whenever I bring this subject up. He also gets an irritated look on his face when I mention his weight. However, since I've never found any poop in my shoe, I figure he still hasn't learned English yet. (another point of consternation I have with my feline roommate)

 

[Temis the Vorta]

One of my cats is getting very old and arthritic and grouchy and will snarl at me until I get out of bed in the morning and bring her her food. One time she just up and bit me on the nose and drew blood. That was fun explaining to people. I'm beginning to wonder whether there's a group that will help pet owners who are victims of domestic abuse by their pets!

Do pets have a concept of right and wrong? Good and bad?

For cats:

"I am right, anyone who annoys me is wrong. I am good, anyone who annoys me is bad." The world is very simple from the feline perspective.

Your dog cringed because you are the alpha dog of the pack and were angry, not because the dog understands why you did that. So no, animals have no concept of morality but dogs certainly have an instinct to fit into the pack. Cats have no such instinct and will just do whatever they feel like or what works for them.

 

[Kryton]

Actually, certain cats (all three I've owned) can be conditioned to know what is and what is NOT acceptable behavior.

But it takes a LOT of time and patience. I learned it the hard way.

 

[freak]

Yes. I do occasionally get mad at one or both of our cats. They both drive us crazy! One of them is obsessed with food and so if you leave any food out, he'll eat it! The other night Dad got pissed at him cause he had gotten into his candy cause he left it out(big mistake!). Dad literally threw a remote control at him and started swearing at him, wishing he would choke on the stuff and die. I thought: oh that's just nice..be mean to the cat! He shouldn't have left his food out!!! So now he doesn't even want to SEE our cat Buttercup. This cat used to weigh around 27 lbs. Now he weighs more like 10 or 12 lbs. And I sometimes get mad at him cause when I eat breakfast in my room, he jumps on the bed and starts getting in my face.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Charliecat and I fight over the remote control all the time. For some reason she's obsessed with fishing shows. They bore me to tears.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Now she's mad because I killed the thread.