How to restore Trust

[MrsBertMacklin]

Long story short, I accidentally batted away my cat 2 days ago (cleaning at height, didn't think to put cat out of the way, she jumped on me and I did it as a reflex).

She has stopped coming anywhere near me and hides when I come into the room.

Please don't flame, it was an accident and I already feel like a shit person over this.

I have been completely leaving her be. Still being vocal with her, but not making any attempts to pick her up. Is this the best thing, patience and let her come when she's ready?

Ah bless you Cozie. I love that you've developed a special cat language. Our own Cat Whisperer!

I just miaow at mine, or in Little Monsieur's case: "Errr, ungya, errrr, ah."

I do 'all gone' with the hands for the end of treats as well! Never thought of using it to mean 'I've stopped vacuuming now', but perhaps I'll start.

I'd give it a try, shaska.

I don't think they understand words as such but they certainly learn to associate certain words or phrases with actions or consequences - and remember them well. It doesn't take that long - about two or three repetitions for a Siamese - but it is critical that you're consistent as I mentioned above. Once you've establlished a phrase, you can't misuse it.

Let us know how you get on?

Will do! I agree it's more about sounds, or just associations - eg the lamb knows that when the bedside lamp goes on, we'll be in bed shortly, so she'll wait on the bed for us when she sees it. She also knows 'bedtime' as a phrase (though I don't know if it would work as a command, eg if I tried it at midday), and will go into the bedroom, but if we don't follow her in and the lamp's not on she won't stick around.

I suspect my two will take more than a few repetitions though!

I think you might be surprised - although I suspect that the effect would be faster and more noticeable where the consequence was pleasurable and tangible. (eg types of nosh.) It might be a little longer with the more abstract stuff like 'Normality Returns'.

(We use some more general sleeping terms - Seniorboy knows 3 in total - to cover also snoozes in the afternoon of which he's passionately fond.)

'Up-up!' = 'get off me voluntarily before I get out of bed / off the sofa, or you'll end up sliding off and looking like a prat'

'Din-dins' = 'Please stop miaowing before you send me insane, I have finished going to the toilet and will now serve food to you'

'Cupboard Time' = 'Run under the bed, for I am about to open the door to the dimension in which the Dyson of Death and the Plastic Bags of the Bad Noise live'