Sometimes, without realising it, we upset our beloved kitty companions by doing things cats dislike. You may think that your feline friend adores being dressed up in that cute little lion costume or loves being cradled in your arms like a baby, but believe it or not, there are lots of things we do that our cats just can't stand. Ooops!
While we are all trying hard to be the best cat owner to land us in our cat's good books, we may be clueless about the fact that moving the furniture around or washing all their bedding at once is going to stress them out.
Cats are unique creatures, and just like us, they all have their own likes and dislikes. Some cats may love meeting new people while others may find it incredibly anxiety-inducing. Some may find embarking on an adventurous road trip a real thrill, while others may feel queasy at the very thought of getting in a moving car!
However, while there are always outliers, most cats fall in the middle, which means they tend to all wish their owners would stop doing certain things. To find out if you're guilty of committing a crime against your feline friend, here's a list of all the things cats dislike...
20 things cats dislike
1. Washing all their bedding at once
When it comes to cleaning your cat's bedding, it makes sense to wash it all at once, right? After all, it's a lot more efficient to do a big load of laundry than to wash things separately. But while that's a great idea where we humans are concerned, it's likely to upset your feline friend.
There are lots of funny things cats do, and kneading their bedding is one of them. It's one of those behaviors that's both super cute and also serves several purposes, one of which is to transfer their scent that's held in their paw glands onto objects that are important to them. Washing your cat's bedding all at once removes their familiar scent and can stress them out. The best way to avoid this? Make sure you only wash one item at a time.
2. Forgetting to empty their litter box
You may have invested in the best cat litter box, but do you remember to empty it every day? If it slips your mind from time to time, rest assured, you're not alone! Most of us have busy lives, and some days it's hard to stay on top of all the household tasks that need to be done.
But when it comes to things your cat hates, a dirty litter box is definitely near the top of the list. Most cats are fastidious about cleanliness, and they have a strong sense of smell, so regular cleaning (including scooping and putting in fresh litter) will help prevent unwanted behaviors like inappropriate elimination around the house.
If you're worried that you might keep forgetting, an automatic cat litter box is a great option, as this will do the job for you – problem solved!
3. Exposing them to certain smells
They may smell good to us, but there are certain scents that cats can't stand. In fact, some of the smells our kitty companions hate the most are the ones we tend to be the most drawn to – things like the fresh and clean scent of citrus, which can be overwhelming for cats and cause irritation to their system.
Other scents they tend to dislike are perfumes and colognes, household cleaning products, essential oils (which can be very toxic for cats), menthol, and scented litter. While it's impossible to eradicate every smell your feline friend hates, using natural cleaning products, minimizing how often you wear fragrances, and avoiding burning scented candles can all help to make life easier for your cat.
4. Picking them up for a cuddle
When it comes to ways to be the best cat owner, avoiding picking your kitty up and cuddling them will likely earn you some serious brownie points. Yes, there are some cats that might enjoy being picked up, but the majority of cats don't enjoy feeling trapped and prefer to give and receive affection in their own way.
While some cats will tolerate a hug and wait for it to be over, others may try to paw at you or meow in an attempt to get you to put them down. With cats, it's always best to let them come to you – many will enjoy hopping up on your lap for a snuggle when they choose it, and others cats will show their love in different ways.
5. Taking them to the vet
There are few places that evoke terror in a cat more than a vet clinic, and yet taking your kitty for regular check-ups is essential for their health and wellbeing. Each cat will have their own tolerance level when it comes to these trips – some do fairly well at the vet and manage to stay relatively chilled out, while others find the whole experience highly stressful.
Thankfully, there are lots of ways to keep a cat calm at the clinic, including using treats to help make the experience a positive one and making sure their carrier is a safe and comfortable space. If your cat struggles with high anxiety, speak with your vet, who may be able to prescribe medication for your kitty to make those trips a little easier on you both.
6. Giving them medicine
There are some things you only know if you're a cat owner – like how painful it is to try to get your feline friend to take their medication! Trying to get tablets down their throat is the worst, but even liquid medication in their food will often be rejected if your kitty is particularly picky.
It's important to remember your cat doesn't understand what's happening or that being given medication is for their own good. All they see is us humans trying to force them to ingest something that doesn't taste very nice.
When it comes to tablets, gently hold your cat's mouth shut to encourage them to swallow and reward them with one of the best cat treats afterwards. For liquid medications, try mixing it with a wet food that has a strong smell (like fish) as this will help mask the taste of the medication.
7. Insisting they join you on the family vacation
Traveling with pets sounds like a lot of fun – after all, what could be better than hitting the road with your beloved feline friend and having an adventure together? Well, while it may sound exciting in theory, the reality is that most cats aren't fond of being uprooted from their familiar surroundings, and they're even less keen on being bundled into a carrier and placed in a moving car!
Although there are a few outgoing cat breeds that are known for being relaxed travellers and keen explorers (we're looking at you, Bengals), most prefer to stick close to home.
New places can be stressful for cats, and many find car travel to be anxiety-inducing, so if your kitty falls into these camps, it's better to leave them behind with a trusted sitter while you enjoy your vacation.
8. Putting them in the cattery
If your cat hates long car rides, then you might think the best thing to do when you're away is to book them into a cattery. Doing this has a lot of benefits, the most obvious one being that you know they're safe and being well looked after.
However, just like taking them away with you on vacation, leaving them behind in a cattery also has the same major drawback – they likely won't be very happy about it. Granted, some laid-back and relaxed cat breeds will be completely unaffected by the temporary change in living situation, but other cats may find it very stressful to be moved out of their familiar surroundings.
The best way to deal with this is to ensure you pack some of their favorite belongings, such as a much-loved cat toy, a comforting blanket, and an item of your clothing that smells strongly of you. All of these things can help your feline friend feel more at home.
9. Applying their flea treatment
Regularly applying one of the best flea treatments for cats is vital for ensuring your kitty is protected against pesky parasites. But boy oh boy, can we all come to dread those monthly treatments! The mere sound of a pipette being released from its foil packaging is enough to send some cats scarpering for cover. We can't say we blame them, having a wet blob applied to the back of your neck is no fun at all.
Some cats are better than others at tolerating topical flea treatments, so if you find you're spending hours chasing your kitty around the house, you might want to consider one of the best cat flea collars instead.
These are easy to apply and most offer protection for at least six months – just be sure to get one that has a quick release mechanism, as this will allow the collar to slip off your cat if they get it stuck on something when they're outdoors.
10. Feeding them at unpredictable times
Being the creatures of habit that they are, one thing almost all cats hate is not being fed on time. You can buy them the best cat food in the world, but if you don't serve it up at the same time each day, your feline friend will be less than pleased.
If you observe your kitty, you'll likely notice that they have a fairly set routine each day. They'll eat at particular times, want to play or be groomed at a certain time, and tend to stick to a predictable sleep schedule. If these things get thrown off, it can cause them to feel stressed. Try to feed your cat at roughly the same time each day, or invest in an automatic pet feeder that will take care of it for you.
11. Exposing them to loud noises
Does your cat run and hide every time you get the vacuum cleaner out? Do they head indoors the minute you start mowing the lawn? If there's one thing cats can't stand, it's loud noise. That's partly due to the fact that they have very sensitive hearing and partly because they associate loud noises with danger.
One way to help your cat with sounds they find particularly scary is to desensitize them slowly. If the vacuum cleaner freaks them out, try finding a clip on YouTube and playing it very softly to begin with. You can reward your cat with treats and then gradually increase the volume until they feel less anxious. They may still leave the room when you vacuum, but the sound itself hopefully won't induce the same heightened reaction as before.
12. Bathing them
While there are some cat breeds that like water, most cats prefer playing with it to being given a bath. If you have a cat that's almost hairless (like the Sphynx), then regular bathing is essential to keep their skin in good condition. However, aside from that, cats are fastidious cleaners and only require a bath if they've got themselves excessively dirty or they've got something stinky or toxic on their fur.
13. Making changes around the house
Cats value predictability, stability, and routine, so when you make changes around the house, it can cause them to feel stressed and anxious. While things like moving your cat's litter tray, bed, or food and water bowls may seem like something minor, to your kitty, these changes can be very disconcerting.
It's understandable that there are going to be times when you need to rearrange the furniture, renovate areas of your home, or change the brand of food or litter you use. However, introducing your cat to changes slowly can help make those adjustments more comfortable for them.
14. Direct eye contact
Direct eye contact is something that most cats find very threatening. That's because in the kitty kingdom, cats only stare at each other when they're about to engage in a fight. However, that doesn't mean you can't look at your feline friend!
One of the signs cats love you is what's known as the slow blink, where they briefly close their eyes before opening them again. This type of eye contact is welcomed by cats, so next time they give you a slow blink, why not try doing one back? This is a wonderful way to communicate to your kitty just how much you love them.
15. Introducing them to strangers
Friendly cat breeds with big personalities, like the Burmese and Maine Coon are often excited to meet new people, but many quieter and more reserved breeds, like the Russian Blue and Korat, can find being introduced to new people intimidating.
Many cats are shy and wary around those they don't know, preferring to stick close to their owners. Being forced to say hello to strangers or interact with them is something a lot of cats hate, so it's worth paying attention to your cat's body language and behavior next time someone new enters the house, as this will give you an idea of how they're feeling.
16. Neglecting play time
Are you guilty of forgetting to play with your cat? While having a few of the best interactive cat toys lying around is brilliant for those moments where you just don't have time to stop and engage with your feline friend, it's important not to forget about spending quality time together as cat play is really important.
Cats hate it when we forget about play, as it's something that offers them a lot of mental and physical stimulation. And it's not just your cat that benefits from playing together – those sessions are great for giving your own wellbeing a boost and for deepening the bond you share with your kitty companion.
17. Getting them a feline 'friend'
While some cats can be quite social, most are happy in their own company or spending time with their favorite humans. Introducing another cat into the home can cause a lot of upset, and needs to be done with a great deal of thought and care.
If you plan on having a multi-pet household, make sure you provide plenty of resources to prevent fighting. A good rule of thumb is one resource per cat plus one extra, so if you have two cats, you'll want three litter boxes, three beds or hammocks, and three scratching posts.
18. Not giving them enough attention
Do you know what cats hate even more than constant attention? Not enough attention! Think of your feline friend as being straight out of Goldilocks and the Three Bears – except instead of searching for the perfect bowl of porridge, they're wanting to find the affection sweet spot. Not too much. Not too little. Just right.
It's not always easy to gauge your cat's mood, but if they're rubbing up against your legs, following you around the house, or trying to jump onto your lap, chances are they're wanting you to show them some love.
19. Dressing them up
You may think your kitty looks absolutely adorable in that little knitted sweater, but chances are they're not enjoying the experience one bit. While some hairless breeds will absolutely benefit from a jacket in the winter to help keep them warm, cats with fur don't require clothing.
If you do decide to put a costume on your cat, make sure you pay attention to their body language. If it's clear they're not comfortable wearing an outfit or if the outfit is restrictive and doesn't allow for a normal range of movement, remove it immediately.
20. Treating them like a baby
We know that your feline friend is your baby, but if there's one thing cats hate, it's being treated like one. Being picked up and cradled in your arms in the same way you'd hold a newborn is not something cats generally enjoy. This position feels very restrictive to them, and it may cause your kitty to behave in ways they wouldn't normally – such as scratching or biting you as a way to let you know they want to be put down.
Try to avoid cradling your cat, speaking to them in a baby voice, and putting your face too close to theirs – trust us, your feline friend will thank you for it, and you'll likely notice that backing off just a bit and respecting their boundaries actually brings the two of you closer together.
Read next: 32 ways to build more fun into your cat’s routine
Edited by Georgia Guerin and Alexis de Leaver.
This feature was last updated in May 2025.
