Why Cats Appear to Sulk

Feline Desire to Avoid Conflict Is Often Mistaken for Haughtiness

May 20, 2009

The common misconception that cats are sulking when they engage in certain behaviours results from a lack of understanding of feline social signals.

Many owners think that their cats are giving them the cold shoulder when they turn their backs and avoid eye contact or interaction after being scolded. However, contrary to popular belief, this behaviour does not result from wounded pride or a desire to get revenge by giving an owner the silent treatment.

Staring Among Cats Indicates a Desire to Challenge

When a cat stares at another cat, she is behaving in a dominant manner and challenging her rival. When two cats are locked in a battle for dominance, both may stare, as neither wishes to show weakness. Eventually, the subordinate cat will look away, conceding victory to the dominant cat. If neither cat looks away, a fight may break out.

A Staring Owner is Treated in the Same Way as a Dominant Cat

Given the size of the owner in comparison to the cat (not to mention the fact that the owner provides the cat with food), the cat is likely to view the owner as more powerful, and therefore dominant. When his human companion is behaving in what the cat perceives to be a hostile or aggressive manner (i.e., raising his voice) while staring directly at the cat, the cat feels threatened. He will turn away and avert his eyes in order to signal submission and avoid provoking further hostility.

This is why scolding or punishing cats tends to be relatively ineffective. In such cases, the cat perceives the behaviour as threatening and retreats. The resultant anxiety is actually more likely to provoke another round of undesirable behaviour than to prevent it. Because of this, cats respond far better to positive reinforcement for good behaviour than punishment for bad behaviour.

Cats Approach the One Person in the Room Who Dislikes or Fears Them

A side effect of the cat’s stare-avoidant behaviour is her tendency to seek out the only person in the room who doesn’t want her company. Because cats perceive staring as a challenge or even a threat, when entering a room full of people, many cats will avoid the cat lovers who are staring at them and instead make a beeline for the person who dislikes or fears cats because she is averting her eyes in the hopes that the cat won’t come near her. Thus, she is not presenting any sort of challenge to the cat and so the cat feels safe in approaching her. Those who don’t want cats to come near them should stare intensely at any cat that enters the room, as this is the behaviour most likely to repel the cat.