Are cats grumpy?

Bitchy, prickly, deceitful and unpredictable – cats are said to be quite a few things. The prejudice “bitchy” often falls on female cats.
What people judge so deprecatingly is often a misunderstanding and has as cause a small knowledge of the body language of the house tigers. Also deficits in the attitude can be responsible for alleged mood swings.
If your cat seems to be in a bad mood or seems to turn aggressively against you in a split second while petting you, you should urgently get to the bottom of the matter.

In this article, you’ll learn why cats can seem bitchy and what’s really behind apparent mood swings. We’ll also show you why it’s worth learning cat body language and how you can succeed.

Can cats be bitchy?

That depends on how you define “bitchy.” For many, it means the animal is headstrong, difficult and moody.
In fact, cats often have a strong will of their own and, unlike dogs, little will to please. So they prefer to pursue their own goals rather than please you.
But whether you find a cat difficult and moody depends on one factor above all: how well you understand and respond to them.

If you respect their boundaries, can read their body language and react accordingly, the cat has no reason to be “bitchy”.

Why are cats considered bitchy?

Maybe you know the following situations:
Situation 1: You are sitting on the couch. Your cat lies down next to you. You understand this as an invitation to stroke and indeed your sofa lion purrs at first.

Seemingly completely abruptly, the purr turns into a growl. Possibly a hissing follows or your cat strikes after your hand.
Situation 2: One cat sits apparently uninvolved and calm on the floor. Cat two walks by and strikes – without any provocation.

For many people, this is incomprehensible and speaks to the fact that cats are bitchy and unpredictable.

But what really happened and from the cat’s point of view?

In the initial situation, the cat definitely sought closeness and warmth. She also liked the initial petting.

However, she had enough of it after a while. So she communicates that she now just wants to lie quietly next to you without being touched.

But instead of reacting to this and respecting her boundary, you continued to touch her and thus annoyed her.

If you put yourself in her position, you will understand the behavior for sure.

Imagine that you are being hugged by a loved one. You enjoy the closeness at this moment, but afterwards you want to sleep in peace.

However, this is not possible because the person does not stop hugging and cuddling you. At some point, you would be annoyed by this as well and become more obvious.

In the second situation, you very likely missed something as well. If necessary, the first cat tends to attack the second velvet paw from behind, to run after it or to jump over it.
Perhaps it has already betrayed by a look and body tension that it immediately goes over to the playful attack.

To avoid this, the supposedly “bitchy” cat clarified the fronts before it could come to that.

This is similar to going up to someone and saying: “Don’t you dare scare me again right now!” and therefore understandable, isn’t it?

Can cats have mood swings?
Of course, a cat’s mood can change due to external and internal influences. Just as with humans, this sometimes happens more quickly and appears to be a mood swing.

Among other things, the supposed mood swings depend on the following factors:

Character
Some cats are gentle and patient. They are not easily ruffled. Others react quickly in an irritable manner and therefore appear more moody.

Occupation
Is your cat sufficiently occupied every day, has variety, demands and can also let off steam physically, before it snoozes or sleeps completely relaxed, safe and undisturbed?
Or is she frequently bored and therefore has both pent-up energy and potentially a bad mood?

Is she constantly disturbed while sleeping and has no opportunity to rest physically or mentally?

The impact this has on mood should be obvious to everyone.
Well-being and health
If your cat suddenly has abrupt mood swings and its behavior changes noticeably, you should first check the housing conditions.

Has something changed in everyday life that stresses or upsets your cat?

If you don’t find anything here or if other abnormalities occur, you should consult a veterinarian.

Stimuli and human behavior
If your cat often reacts in a seemingly bitchy way, you should take a closer look.

In what situations does the behavior occur? What have you, animal or other human roommates been doing? What external stimuli and influences were present?

When is a cat pissed off?
This is always the case when her needs and boundaries are not respected.

Is she kept awake although she is tired? Has she already distanced herself and yet she keeps getting teased?

Does another animal or child run after her again and again and thus chases her downright?

However, this is also not a bitchy or moody behavior, but only a logical consequence of the disrespectful and encroaching treatment.

Learn your cat’s body language
If you study your pets and cat body language in depth, you will learn to recognize subtle nuances over time.
Responding promptly will greatly improve the bond between you and your sofa lions.

You’ll also find that your cats no longer seem bitchy to you. Instead, you’ll be able to understand their reactions, which will make it easier for them to live together.

Are cats or males bitchier?
How bitchy a cat appears is independent of gender. On the other hand, the individual character, attitude and handling play decisive roles.
Some animals are generally a little more quickly irritated and therefore react accordingly. Others, on the other hand, are very relaxed and gentler in their communication.

Bitchy cats do not exist – but bad-tempered ones do
If your cat seems bitchy and moody to you again and again, you should check your behavior and attitude.

Respecting your cat’s individual limits and creating a good balance between exercise and relaxation can significantly improve your cat’s quality of life and make him more relaxed.

Therefore, on the one hand, deal with the body language of animals and, on the other hand, learn to respond individually to your cat.

With a little patience and practice, you will soon become more sensitive in dealing and the coexistence will be more harmonious.