How do cats apologize after misbehavior?
Written by
John Williams
Reviewed by
Prof. David Walsh, Ph.D.To express their feelings of regret after a conflict, cats employ unique behavioral techniques known as reconciliation behaviors. After my cat had jumped on the table and overturned a vase, instead of saying, "I'm sorry," she gave me a slow blink while lying nearby. These subtle forms of communication allow cats to repair their relationship without verbal clarification.
Slow Blinking Rituals
- Deliberate eye closures to diffuse tension
- Shows non-threatening intentions
- Requests reconnection after conflict
Affectionate Approaches
- Head-butting against your legs or hands
- Cheek rubbing to deposit familiar scents
- Presenting their side instead of direct contact
Vulnerability Displays
- Lying nearby with exposed belly
- Trilling vocalizations during approach
- Slow blinking while maintaining proximity
Vocalized apologies differ from standard meows. For example, my cat will make soft trills or almost chirping sounds immediately following scratching my furniture. Such soft noises stand in stark contrast to the typical daily meowing that occurs when I refill his bowl. Like humans do when apologizing, cats can signal an acknowledgment of an action through tone.
Physical proximity is louder than deeds. Even after knocking some things over, my cat still lies right next to me, without any expectation of attention. This demonstrates some semblance of remorse while still respecting personal space. Cats will gauge your response before trying out cheek rubs or trills.
Receive apologies from your cat with nice reassurance. Slow blink and whisper to the cat. Skip the petting. Petting may be too stimulating for your cat. This fulfills your cat's respectful request for forgiveness and cements trust in it for your reconciliation, and to prevent the breakdown in communication from happening again.
Read the full article: Understanding Cat Body Language Completely
