Regret

The cat decided it would be tolerant. It came out from under the table to allow itself to be patted. Admittedly, the boy was not trying to hurt, taunt, or in any way upset the cat. He just wanted to play. Now the cat was obliged to play. The boy carried it around, put it on chairs. He moved it to another locale where he stopped and stroked it. Bit by bit he upped the ante. More physical and more boisterous. Eventually literally swinging the cat. All the while, the cat had an expression on, indicating it knew it could finish all the torment with one strike of the claw, yet resisting the urge for the well meaning but misguided child.