Cats can be the snuggliest, cuddliest, most personable of pets…and then there’s the rare deranged feline. No, I’m not referring to feral animals with a biological rationale for appropriately aggressive behavior. Rather, I’m talking about the felid indoor fauna capable of launching a devastating surgical strike at the exposed bit of ankle peeking just ‘twixt your jeans and your sneaks.
Before you know it, you’re bloodied again—just because you forgot to tread carefully while rounding the corner that marks her favorite ambush spot. But don’t confuse this behavior for exuberant play or prey-game confusion. The cats I’m talking about in this post are serious about keeping everyone and everything in line—humans are no exception.
I just spent the latter half of the weekend with this kind of cat. After a blissful two days surrounded by happy-go-lucky dogs in the East Village, we migrated to the Upper West side to hang out with a slightly different crew. The friends were great. Their cat was a nightmare. Within five minutes of our arrival, both vets (myself and my boyfriend) were bleeding from cuts on our legs (luckily she’s all claws and seldom gets a chance to use her teeth).
Me: Ummm….is she always like this?
Them: No way! You should see her at the vet’s place. They make us tranquilize her at home before sedating her again when she arrives. We try never to go there anymore.
Houston, I think we have a problem…
I mean, if you have a cat that’s so out of control that everyone who comes over has to wear protective gear, remain vigilant of her movements and skirt her favorite attack sites, this is a major issue—not to mention a serious liability.
Me: How do your friends feel about her?
Them: Oh, no one ever comes over here. But since you guys are vets we figured it would be OK.
Gee, thanks.
Me: And does she ever relax…with you, I mean?
Them: Sure she does, but we have to be very quiet, like when we’re watching a movie. Then she comes and lays on us. But we have to be very still or she’ll start to hiss.
Hmmm…sounds like a romantic night of Wild Kingdom Russian roulette.
So you know, this degree of aggression is rare in cats—at least when it comes to humans. We call it dominance aggression. In other words, this cat is convinced of her dominance over everything in her territory—and beyond. She has no qualms about keeping everyone in line so that her world works just as she likes it. Meanwhile, her humans are kept as her slaves, reacting obsequiously to her every whim and caving to her demands on every score.
So was she born like that or did they train it into her? It’s always a bit of both, but this cat was clearly born with an inclination towards having things her own way. Definitely an alpha female, if felines can be categorized by pack standards.
I can think of better ways to have your cat evaluated for severe aggression than to subject two vets to her dangerous tactics. I suggested they seek out the services of a behaviorist—ASAP—before their first baby is born this coming New Years. In the interim, Prozac’s not a bad place to start.
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Maybe this explains why my sons cat just hates me.I even adopted this cat for him. I never did a thing to him. He has attacked me twice very badly, leaving holes in my knee, and bite me in the butt. Oh and when my son goes away, guess who feeds this monster and cleans the litter box, oh yea, me. I go in ready for a war,with a large water gun. When I go in I need to check where he is. When he see's me, he puffs up his face and stares at me. This may seem funny and I never thought I would actually be afraid of a cat. I am. His name is Lucky Fingers. I'v been around cats for over 40 years,I'v have never met one like this. So we have an understanding, don't attack me and I won't soak you with water.So far this is working. After all, I'm the krazykattwoman!!!!!!!!!
Sylvia October 28th, 2007 05:34:00 PM
P.S. Both my sons think this is very funny.
Sylvia October 28th, 2007 05:41:00 PM
My brother used to have a cat just like that. She mellowed when she got up in years, although not much. I have a cat that the animal shelter warned me tends to be a little aggressive, enough that they wouldn't put her in a home with small children. I haven't seen much aggression in her though--she tried to push my other cat around and got put in her place fairly quickly, so now they're actually buddies.
Incidentally, my brother's cat was a calico and so are both of mine. One of the shelter volunteers told me calicos and torties "tend to have attitude problems". Do you think there's anything to that?
Diane October 28th, 2007 07:17:00 PM
Diane,
Its funny you mentioned that. The rescue agency I foster for has warned me that cats with orange colouring have attitude problems, especially with other cats. I didn't really put much faith in it. Afterall, how could fur colouring be reflective of personality. But now I'm interested. Dr. Patty does this make any sense to you?
Shannon October 28th, 2007 09:40:00 PM
I've heard that calicos tend to be more temperamental. We have three torties in the shelter right now. One's a real diva, but then, she's been for several months, so you can't blame her. The other two don't seem out of the ordinary. The last calico here <i>hated</i> other cats, but liked people just fine. Our cat is an orange tabby, and although he didn't like the other cats in the shelter, he's very peaceable with the neighbor cats.
Mr. Scruffy October 28th, 2007 10:03:00 PM
My calico was great around my orange tabby, but he was the first cat by almost a year, and full grown when she was brought home as a kitten (both housecats with no outside visits at that time).
Since then, the orange tabby passed away, and she's been allowed outside (she loved it at first, but now only likes it about 30 minutes if the weather is good). And now we've added outside cats that are allowed inside only for a few minutes at a time, unless the weather gets really cold (not too often here). One outside cat gets to stay inside more often because he wormed his way into my hubby's heart LOL.
The calico hates all of them, and also the neighbor's cat. She hisses, growls, swats, and they all fear her. The only time I've seen her behave was on a very cold night when I allowed all the outside cats in, and they all slept together on the couch by the fireplace. She also gets mad at us when we love on the other cats. When they're not around her, she's as sweet as can be.
Sherri October 28th, 2007 10:46:00 PM
Psycho Kitty is a double wammy: A torti with green eyes, oh my. She has attitude, yes, but controllable, especially with consistent routine and yummy training times. We joke that she' s part dog, partially because of her highly food oriented approach to life.
After living with her for two years, we've figured out most of the things that over-stimulate her and send her into psycho kitty/attack mode and we're training her to help combat those tendencies. It's amazing how effective petting around her head and shoulders, combined with treats, can be. Also, simple commands to come for her name, "up" to jump onto specified areas, and daily walks with a treat to end them have helped greatly. There's a ways to go before I'll trust her around the mobile baby I expect to have by summer (I'm due over the winter holidays) but we've got plenty of time and she has plenty of incentive as long as we keep the treats coming. :-)
MeriGray October 28th, 2007 11:36:00 PM
I've heard of cats having insane aggression problems paired with manias, also. Cats who would eat and eat, even destroying cabinetry to get to food. Cats who would attack but could be distracted with fetching games until they were falling down with exhaustion. Although the scenario you write about doesn't seem like it, I wonder if there are cases of extreme cat aggression caused by problems in the brain, similar to rage syndrome in dogs.
Agnes October 29th, 2007 01:39:00 AM
The meanest temprament I have seen on a cat was a long haired white cat named Buffy. He was declawed and defanged, but he could still seriously injure you. He was kept by an elderly lady and he loved her. Then she died and he was dumped in the shelter, and he hated the world since then.
Rags was our polydactyl calico who hated strangers. When she wanted affection, it was on her terms. When she was done, she swatted, but otherwise, she was very sweet.
BJ is my sister-in-law's cat. He hates all cats and anyone not her. They have three children, age 1, 4, 9. He does swat them if they come near him. He attacks their dog (who seems not to mind). He attacked their other cats, and they eventually got rid of them. They did last month bring home a kitten, and I want to throttle my brother for that! He whined, "but it's so my kids won't grow up with a fear of cats" like that'll work. Sigh. BJ is solid black.
And I have a friend with a cat that must be sedated to be taken to the vet's office. But they are happy to do the sedation and any other requirements the vet may give them. At home, he's apparently a lovable cat- he just goes nuts at the vet's. Their vet puts the cat, carrier and all, into a box for sedation gas. Then they'll examine the cat. With gloves on. I believe this cat is grey.
I don't buy the calicos are crazy myth any more than I believe black cats are bad luck.
Georg October 29th, 2007 05:18:00 AM
In the northeast, I definitely noticed a correlation between aggression and calicos. Here in Miami. I have not noticed the same. Perhaps it's a genetic trait that predominates within some lines. Orange cats? Never heard of any issues. And yes, I do believe there's something like a rage syndrome in cats. There's no reason animals can't be susceptible to mental illness. We see a wide variety of psychological issues in pets.
Dr. Patty Khuly October 29th, 2007 07:32:00 AM
My green-eyes tortie is the sweetest cat ever! She's a little timid if she doesn't know you, but once you do, watch out. My elderly parents were over yesterday and it was a constent "rub my tummy grandma , scratch my rump grandpa" festival.
My male tabby with white is a very friendly cat, but he gets nippty when he's excited. At the vet - he's not nippy, just terrified. He thinks he's the alpha cat, but the little girl corrects him if he's too out of hand.
I think its like people - you just never can tell.
2CatMom October 29th, 2007 08:50:00 AM
I don't believe the torti+wacky belief. I happen to have a tortie who is wacky, wackier than any other cat I've had, but I think that's just her and not related to her coat color. I think some of the psycho-tortie correlations are cases of self-fulfilling prophecies. If you expect problems, they will manifest in some form or another.
Jeannie October 29th, 2007 12:40:00 PM
Oh my lord- My sister's cat...........where oh where do I begin? First of all her name is Sharkey. Second of all, at best, this is a "tame" feral cat from a land far away. She lives in Chicago and it was found out in the burbs under a porch. It looks like a feral cat in every way. It's close to 20 pounds. Plus, she's PSYCHO. I love animals - all animals. But this cat......dare I say it. Its just awful. There is not a domesticated bone in its body. Thank god it was declawed when they got it: This thing will make the most bone chilling sounds and then go after you like a wild puma. She especially goes after our poor mother. Me and the cat have an understanding, it steers clear of me and I steer clear of it. My little nephews steer clear of her because they are afraid she will bite them (which she has). She is 12 now, and they've started to let her outside at their new big house with a big yard. I think the letting her outside part has mellowed her incredibly.....
My BIL and sister LOVE THIS CAT. Their standard phrase when she attacks someone: "She's not mean, she's just misunderstood". I kid you not, they say that with a straight face. My other favorite is "she has a complex personality". Uh huh.....sure.
AmyinSomerville October 29th, 2007 01:06:00 PM
Just a note, but if there is any correlation between calicos and aggression, color is probably acting as a mask for another genetic trait. Calicos, absent rare genetic freaks, are all female. In my experience, it's always the female cats which are unreasonably aggressive.
Becky October 30th, 2007 12:04:00 PM
interesting to hear this idea echoed here. the Heaven Can Wait cat sanctuary that adopts out cats at my work did a study and now they have a policy that is extremely careful when placing 1. Siamese/pointed cats and 2. calico/torties. why? because the siamese is the most commonly returned pet, followed closely by the tortie.
my mom has a gorgeous Siamese/Balinese female. she's pure white with blue-silver points. her name is Barbie. she is the pissiest feline I've ever met. if you stare at her or point at her, she'll attack you. if you talk to my mom while she's laying in bed, Barbie will attack you. she's beautiful but she's such a mean little spit!
charity October 30th, 2007 02:00:00 PM
My tortie, Kahlua, was absolutely the sweetest little love that ever was. Affectionate, easy-going, good with other cats...I've never seen this alleged tortie/calico aggression in friends' cats either, over the years. I just don't believe it. I think it's an excuse people come up with when they haven't socialized their pet properly. Or when they've adopted a feral whom they love and whose faults they don't want to admit, quite.
And yes, I'm in New England.
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