Understandably we tend to humanize (anthropomorphize) our cat companions as they are often firmly members of the family and little humans. Sometimes naughty kids. But cats don’t understand the concept of human naughtiness as what we see as naughty behavior is natural behaviour for domestic cats. It is instinctively reactive to the environment created for them by their caregiver.
Sulking is a human concept. Of course, a cat’s behaviour can look very much like sulking when if and when they turn away and appear to be in a huffy, haughty mood after a scolding. But they are acting in a subordinate way, avoiding their owner’s stare which reduces the temporary, hostile tension and returns the relationship to an even keel.
Ultimately, the caregiver – the owner – is the dominant entity in the cat-to-human relationship simply out of sheer size and the fact that caregivers do just that, provide entirely for their cat in acting as a surrogate mom. The cat is always in a submissive state which is heightened when they are told off because they have behaved badly in the eyes of their owner who is judging them by human standards which is entirely natural and understandable.
Note: these are my views and the views of some other cat experts. You may disagree which is fine. If you do, please comment and enter into a discussion on the topic.
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