I accidentally stepped on my cat's tail

[bif]

this morning and she freaked out. She's been hissing and growling at me for the last half hour. It's like she's possessed. Is there anything I can do to calm her down?
She has this look in her eyes like she's going to attack me.

[Walleye]

1. Tuna? She'll get over it I've done it before. It's alarming though

[Best_man23]

2. Some tuna and/or treats, then grace and space

Put out the tuna or treats and give her some space. Approach once she has appeared to have calmed down.

[Emile]

3. Give her a warm shower. Cats always calm down

after a good shower.

[Rorey]

5. LOL

[Rorey]

4. Hopefully she'll get over it soon

I stepped on the tail of one of my breakfast guests awhile back. He had attitude for a little bit, but he got over it.

[marble falls]

6. Mine has gotten used to it. I appolgize and now all I have to do is brush his tail and he lets ...

... a gentle protest. We have a shoes off policy, so there's that.

The first time I did it, he was puffed and angry. He's finally realized I'm an old bumbling but well meaning fool and he's allowed for it.

Just stay solicitous and keep telling her it's all right and reassure her, maybe a treat? She'll get used to human feet and it will get better.

[magicarpet]

7. Give the cat a treat every time it walks by or enters the room.

Enroll the cat in a yoga class,... obesity might be on the cats horizon.

[bif]

8. She's kind of freaking me out.

It's been a half hour and she's following me around and still growling and hissing at me. She's an Abyssinian. I don't know if that makes any difference.

[Sanity Claws]

9. Try telling her you are sorry

That you will be more careful in the future, and that you love her. They really understand more language than we give me them credit for.

[multigraincracker]

10. My cat forgets everything when

I pull out the laser light toy.

[bif]

12. I tried that.

And she wanted nothing to do with it.

[Marthe48]

11. Do you think you did any damage to her tail?

If she is holding it funny or there's a bend or swelling, it might be more than hurt feelings.

I have a Manx. No worries about stepping on her tail, but feet and bod, yep. I hate when it happens, but she forgives me if I give her a treat.

Hope your kitty gets over it.

[raging moderate]

13. Yes. You are right.

Maybe a trip to the vet is needed.

[bif]

14. It doesn't appear to be damaged.

I'm sitting on the sofa in our studio and she's creeping around the door. She sat on her usual spot on the sofa while I did my rowing workout for a few minutes.

[raging moderate]

15. Oh, good.

When I had cats, I would mimic an apology in cat language that I had seen somewhere. You get on all fours, shrink down, and put your head almost on the floor, and mew a few times like a kitten. This says, I am so sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you, I got clumsy like a kitten, please forgive me as you would forgive a kitten." Then offer treats.

[bif]

16. I immediately sat on the floor and held out my hand.

She was briefly okay, but then went into Cujo mode. It gave me goosebumps.

[Marthe48]

19. Just hurt feelings

I'm pretty heavy, so i worry about doing damage and try to be careful. When I had cats with tails, I stepped on the boy's tail. He ran to the basement, and it was the next day before he had anything to do with me. I felt so bad.

[bif]

20. I feel terrible!

I love this little gal. I was practically in tears.

[Marthe48]

21. It sounds like you hurt yourself more than you hurt the kitty

It'll all settle down

[justaprogressive]

17. Need to pick her up and

reassure her post-haste!

Basically drop what you're doing and pay attention to her, lots of pets, hugs & apologies...

plus her favorite treats!

[bif]

18. No way!

She wouldn't let me get anywhere near her. I'm talking demonic howling and hissing and those possessed eyes. I had goosebumps.

[LastDemocratInSC]

22. Those are automatic behaviors, not intentional.

The cat probably feels some pain and feels vulnerable as a result.

[cayugafalls]

23. Your fear is palpable. I can feel it even over the wire. Your baby is 'feeling' your emotions

and responding.

You absolutely must get over your fear. If you have to leave and come back, do so. The emotion of fear needs to be removed for a while.

I raised Siamese for 20 years. After something like an unintentional harm, there has to be reconciliation. If the emotional connection is still connected to the event, it has to be broken.

Removing yourself for a short time and calming down your own fear at being attacked will greatly reduce the anxiety of your fur baby.

Reach out if you need anything.

[bif]

25. I'm gong to be out of the house for most of the afternoon

Hopefully she'll chill by then.

[cayugafalls]

24. Calm yourself first.

Our babies feed off our energy.

[Rebl2]

26. Maybe put

out catnip if you have some or a toy that has catnip in it?

[multigraincracker]

27. Any better today?

Hope so.