How to Tell if a Cat Has Been Abused?

It is a very sad fact that the life of many cats goes through some kind of abuse during their lifetime. Abuse can be in punishment or physical assault form. Bringing home, a rescue cat comes with a lot of benefits. You are giving new life to the soul that suffers a lot in the past.  Especially if the cat has gone through abuse during development, the profound impact changes them for the rest of their lives. Even if you remove the cat from that abusive environment, they still get nightmares and flashbacks. If you have recently adopted a rescue cat and worrying about its past, How to tell if a cat has been abused: 

Watch for Head shy

Head shy is a term used by a vet to describe one of the most common signs of a cat that has suffered abuse. Like dogs, cats always keep their head down, flinch when someone touches it, and avoid eye contact. 

Gets afraid of louder sounds

If your cat has been through physical abuse in the past, it gets frightened by louder sounds, especially when it comes suddenly. It runs away from the crowd and tries to stay alone in quieter areas. 

Flea Infestation

Flea infestation is one of the most common signs of cat abuse. People who like to abuse cats tend to ignore cats’ health conditions, never give it frequent baths, and do not give the attention they deserve. It leads to the formation of infections, flea infestation like ear mites, skin mites, and many other skin conditions. Check carefully for all these symptoms, and take your cat to the vet. 

Runs and hides away from other animals and people

A cat with a previous abusive history tends to fear the elements that hurt her in the past. For example, if your cat refuses to go out in children’s presence, you need to understand that kids in the past have done the abuse. If your cat is afraid of dogs or other cats, you need to know that other animals have been abused.

Scars

One of the most common signs of violence is scars and wounds on the cat’s body. Beating and torturing the cats is a final form of abuse, and it is the worst thing anyone could do to a helpless cat. If you find any type of scar or burned marks underneath the fur, it might have a history of abuse. 

Aggression

Cat comes with an instinct of survival, hunting, and fighting. Aggression is an ultimate sign of animal abuse and changes the behavior of any cat. If you find that your cat is aggressive, just note that it is a part of its survival behavior and take care of it with love. 

Conclusion

Here are the steps about How to tell if a cat has been abused. If you are planning to adopt a rescue cat, you must know all these things to protect your cat. Rescue cats do take some time to heal the wounds and rebounce to the previous state. But treating them with love, care, and support builds trust in you and falls in love with you all over again!