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• Part 1 of 2: Identifying signs of abuse
• Part 2 of 2: Understanding abuse

When you think of abuse, you probably think mainly of physical violence. However, abuse can come in many forms, not all of which have obvious physical signs. In order to recognize cat abuse, you need to make sure you can spot the signs of cat abuse and understand the different types of abuse that are possible.

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Part 1 of 2: Identifying signs of abuse

1. Look for signs of a cat collection. Cat collectors are like unintentional abusers because they have too many cats together in unsanitary living conditions. If too many cats are forced to live together in an area where they normally would not live, it causes stress for the cats. This leads to bullying and extreme competition for available resources, even when there is always enough food. This happens because some cats are more dominant than others and will guard the food.
   • The collector's environment is also usually dirty, which means that the cats do not have a clean place to sleep, eat and relieve themselves.
   • Collectors are also usually reluctant to visit and act secretly, but the cats are usually easy to see through a window.
2. Watch out for cats who don't have access to basic needs. Every house cat is entitled to shelter from the wind, rain, sun and cold, as well as sufficient food, fresh water and a toilet. If these basic needs are not present, it is already considered abuse. You can recognize it by the following signs:
   • A very thin cat may not have enough to eat.
   • A cat that is passing out or very thirsty may not have enough water or shade.
   • An antisocial or aggressive cat may have been taken from its mother too early.
   • A cat confined in a small space with no ability to play or move.
   • A cat that has no company or is forced to live in an environment with loud music or constant screaming.
   • A cat that does not have a litter box and cannot go outside when the owner is away.
3. Watch for poor skin, coat and paws. The cat may have hair loss, open sores, or a red rash. The cat's coat can be full of tangles, fleas and ticks. This can cause the cat to scratch itself open or the coat to be full of coal-like dust (flea droppings).
   • Dab on the coal-like fabric with a damp kitchen paper. An orange-red spot indicates blood, which indicates a flea infestation.
   • A cat with a tick infection has a lot of gray spheres on his skin, these are ticks that suck.
   • The may have too long nails that push into the pads, causing the pads to bleed or secrete pus due to infection.
4. Watch for untreated wounds that could be the target of flies. An untreated open wound on a neglected cat is at risk of being targeted by flies. Flies can then lay eggs in the skin, which then hatch as maggots. If not already done, you may see cream worms moving in the wound or a foul sweet odor coming from the infected wound.
   • Depending on how much the maggots have eaten, they can vary in size from as wide as a hair and half a millimeter long to fat worms.
5. Watch for a neighborhood cat that is pregnant regularly. Regular pregnancy is also a form of neglect, as throwing nest after nest puts enormous stress on the mother's body.
   • Breeding is especially irresponsible if the kittens mysteriously disappear afterwards or the neighborhood becomes populated with unwanted cats.
6. Watch for cats that are particularly thin or bony. Young and middle-aged cats should be plump or slim, with well-covered bones.
   • If you pet a cat and its hip bone touches your fingers, or if you can easily count the ribs, the cat is underweight.
7. Watch for suspected injuries to identify willful assault. Watch for cats that are regularly injured, cut, or lame. A cat that seems to lean on different legs on different days is particularly suspicious. This is likely caused by repeated injury rather than a chronic medical condition.
   • If you see the cat's owner physically injuring him, make a note of the time and details and contact the police.
8. Watch for strange behavior. Most animals that are abused indicate this in their behavior.
   • Typically such cats are described as intimidated. They then squat down with large pupils and look around for an escape route.
   • Some cats become very aggressive and lash out at the slightest provocation, seeing an attack as the best defense.
9. Report abuse to authorities to end it. Never confront the suspected perpetrator, but report your suspicions to the authorities. A detailed description or evidence goes beyond a conjecture, so be specific.
   • The authorities could be the local police, an animal welfare organization, the animal ambulance or a local animal shelter.
   • Gather information, such as dates and times when you think abuse occurred. If possible, document the evidence with photos or videos.

Part 2 of 2: Understanding abuse

1. Realize that certain conditions can sometimes be mistakenly seen as signs of abuse. Make sure to review the entire situation before making a judgment. Sometimes it is easy to confuse an animal that is sick but is receiving medical care with an animal then being abused.
   • For example, an animal that is very thin may have a medical condition that is being treated, and thus will not be starved.
2. Record how the animal behaves with its owner. The cat's behavior around its owner can be a good indication of its feelings about the owner.
   • If the cat runs to greet its owner and rubs its legs purring, that's a good sign.
   • If the cat is startled and intimidated, it is possible that it is being abused.
   • Even this is inconclusive, especially if you see the cat struggling when given medication or washed.
3. Start a non-confrontational conversation with the cat's owner. To determine if there is a possible explanation for a cat in need, approach the owner and ask carefully. Ask the owner if the cat is okay and listen carefully for the answer.
   • Try to keep your tone conversational.
   • If the owner says the cat is receiving medical treatment, you can try asking which vet is providing the treatment.
   • If you're not satisfied with the answer, don't confront the owner, but consider putting the problem in the hands of the authorities.
4. Understand what is meant by accidental abuse. Accidental abuse is exactly what it sounds like, abuse from improper care, but not malicious. Unfortunately, people who call themselves animal lovers can be guilty of accidental abuse.
   • This type of abuse usually consists of failure to meet the basic needs of the animal. So plenty of food, clean water, a clean resting place and shelter from the elements.
   • Accidental abuse often occurs when people take in more animals than they can take care of, or when cats are neglected by not providing enough food while the owner is on vacation.
5. Be aware of deliberate abuse. Deliberate abuse is when the owner knows that the animal is being harmed or injured, but does nothing about it. In the worst case, this could be deliberate neglect with malicious intent, deliberately inflicting pain and distress on the cat.
   • In addition to physical injury, deliberate abuse also includes failure to medically treat a sick cat and not treating a cat with a flea infestation.