my heart is broken

just walking across the living room and Turtle darted out in front of me--between my legs and I stepped down hard on her little paw!!! She let out the loudest heart-wrenching cry I have ever heard!!!!!!!!!!

And there she is back up under the bed again. She isn't hurt, but I AM DEVASTATED!!

I've screwed it all up now, haven't I.

I've apologized profusely. My God, I promised her I would never hurt her or leave her and I've all ready broke one of those promises. How do you do it with more than one cat? Do I give up walking and just start to shuffle?

I just feel like HELL. I just hate myself!!!

No you won't of I've done it to both mine! And they let me know once they have forgiven me normally not long, just do what you were doing, reading outloud, sitting with her.

Don't hate yourself please it was an accident and turtle will know that

for a soon recovery of her paw....

I've stepped on both of my cats many times, most cats have this habit of getting tangled up in human feet.  She will forgive you and be fine. Since she has just came around it may take a little time but it won't be long like it was in the beginning.

Same here at some point they get stepped on and no hard feelings to you after a few days tops.  My kitten Ty, oh my,  I had just woken up and needed something from the closet and he ws sound asleep but got to the closet and got foot in the jamb and I closed it a bit.   None of my cats ever got injured being stepped on and I am not light by any means.  For most part I think it's like when you scream after hitting your toe on a corner or something. 
 

I've stepped on a few toes and tails.  It feels devastating.  The way I work through it is to go find the cat, get down on her level, but not too close, and apologize.  Then get back into routine again.  Talk to her whenever you are in the room.  Chat about the weather, the birds, etc.  Be positive and welcoming.

I have learned to shuffle in the kitchen during meal time.  Kiefer likes to sit directly behind me and been stepped on a few times.
 

It's a horrid feeling to step on a little paw or tail and hear that scream!! I know! I've done it many times!  They always forgive me   Turtle will forgive you too.  It just scared her. She'll come around.

Natalie_ca said:

It's a horrid feeling to step on a little paw or tail and hear that scream!! I know! I've done it many times!  They always forgive me   Turtle will forgive you too.  It just scared her. She'll come around.

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  I stepped on Daisy little toes just the other day.  Her tail bushed out and I apologized profusely.  It happens to all of us. 

nurseangel said:

  I stepped on Daisy little toes just the other day.  Her tail bushed out and I apologized profusely.  It happens to all of us. 

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I step on either a tail or paw at least twice a week.  Turtle will come back out of her shell.  Just give her a little time.

I too have stepped on my cats tails or paws accidentally.  Please do not be so hard on yourself.  Turtle will forgive you.  Just go back to what you were doing to get her to take baby steps being cofortable around you.  This will work itself out.

Count me among those who have stepped on paws, tails, and even bodies. One time, Boots decided to lay down right behind my feet as I was putting clothes in my closet. I stepped backwards right onto his side. Not hard, definitely not hard enough to hurt him, as I immediately jumped back and he ran off, but I felt SO bad.

But you know what? He came back around ten minutes later for pets. And this was the cat who used to hiss and spit like a Tasmanian devil whenever I walked into the room. :nod: So don't worry about it. Turtle will love you again very soon. :heart3:

Yeah, my DH and I shuffle around the house to prevent that, but accidents happen. I stepped on Oliver's tail or paw - not sure, when I took a step back from the kitchen sink. He screamed loud and I felt just awful, but I said I was sorry (over and over and over) and in a little while he forgave me.

DON'T WORRY! A cat's scream is usually more noise than pain. She was startled is all. Unless you stomped on her with heavy boots, she probably wasn't hurt at all, just startled.

No, you haven't ruined everything. Turtle is still adjusting. This is just a minor set back, I promise. If I remember correctly, Cheryl also had some incidents like this when Turtle was adjusting to living with her.

Don't fuss over her when little accidents like this happen, because that will only reinforce the memory. Let her go under the bed and "lick her wounds" (more likely her pride) and carry on as usual.

A cat can take a long long time to adjust to change. Turtle is a sweet very sensitive kitty. But she has it in her to love again. She took such good care of Cheryl , she will, in time learn to love you, too.

Same as all the above -- we've stepped on cats paws, tails many, many times.   And their scream can really be horrific --- but they forget.     Turtle may take a little longer, but she'll definitely come around and forget.      Just keep on doing what you're doing -----    keep us posted!!!

Don't beat yourself up! I've done it a number of times, by accident, with them darting in front of me. You have to remember that animals are very forgiving...they know that you don't mean it. Try giving your cat some treats to make up for it. Sometimes this works...and sometimes not, but no matter what...they do not remember things and hold grudges like humans can. So just be patient and she will come to you.

All of this guilt is just a ploy on the part of the kitty to make you feel horrible and give out more treats and lovins!!  They work you over good with guilt and sad faces.  Just know that's normal.

As for living with a cat, sometimes getting tangle up with them is bound to happen.  We've all done it, so don't let Turtle sucker you into feeling bad about it for too long.  However, you will want to watch her paw to be sure she's not limping on it and not in pain.
 

Yes, we've probably all done it.  And one of us (not mentioning any names!) closed the door on their cat's tail (accidentally, of course), which caused part of that tail to need to be amputated.  So if you think YOU feel bad, just think how that person felt .

Hopefully by now Turtle has already forgotten the whole thing

Thanks everybody!!  I was in the dog house until this morning when I finally received my pardon from Turtle. I've started to shuffle slowly through the rooms she has access to now. My gosh, she just came out of nowhere--I wish I could have clocked her speed.

You can't clock the speed of a cat.  They teleport from one place to the other and all you see is the light that trails behind them.

Whups. I've done that before to Monet when he was a kitten. i was kneeling in front of him to give him a treat, and he was meowing strangely. I couldn't figure out why until I realized my foot was on his tail (and I was wearing shoes). He had made no effort to get up and pull away, he was just simply telling me nicely to get off his tail, lol. I felt bad (And still do), but again, everyone steps on their kitty at least once!

I accidentally hit Cassie on the head the other day. I picked her up, and didn't realize how close the table was and banged her head on the way up. She just blinked, and purred. It was a loud bang and I keep checking her head and eyes, making sure there's no bumps or redness!