BehavioRx Case of the Month
for November 2003

A Gory Cat Halloween
A Sad Case

Joan, a single lady in her 40s, was comfortably settled before her television for the evening when Toby, her intact, male ‘tabby,’ jumped onto her lap, which was his usual habit. He lay there as she began absent-mindedly stroking him. Toby began purring graciously, which wasn't unusual. After a few minutes Toby began kneading with his forepaws on Joan's bathrobe. She stopped stroking and said, “No, Toby. Be a good boy.” Toby withdrew his claws, whereupon Joan turned her attention back to the TV and started stroking him again.

She didn't realize that Toby had started, then had been forced to stop, the onset of a feline pre-copulatory aggressive display. Most cats cope with these situations
quite well. However, when they don't, trouble explodes like a hand grenade.

As Joan continued softly petting Toby, he resumed purring, but began salivating as well. After a few more minutes Toby was extending his claws more vigorously, right through Joan's rather thick bathrobe. When he scratched her skin, the response was as had happened many times before: She stopped stroking Toby and said, “Ouch! You hurt me. You're a bad boy and now you have to get down.” She grabbed the aroused pet to put him off her lap, only to be horrified by a scream of outraged feline fury. Before she could react, Toby turned and fastened his claws into her forearm! She tried in vain to shake him off, then grabbed him by the scruff of the neck with her other hand to pull him away and drop him onto the couch beside her. Toby was not intimidated. He turned, leaped, and grabbed onto her leg! Summoning all her strength, Joan again tore the cat off and threw the snarling animal across the room. As soon as he hit the floor, Toby reeled, snarled, and raced back toward Mrs. X, who ran for the front door of the apartment. Her now bloody hand slipped on the knob as she felt Toby attacking her calf again. It took both hands to turn the knob. She struggled through the door, closing it on her leg above Toby’s head. Using the door jamb as leverage, she pulled outward, the snarling cat finally released her. Joan slammed the door and sank to the floor in tears.

Fortunately, her neighbors arrived and insisted she go with them to the emergency hospital. Other neighbors said Toby’s yowling continued for fifteen minutes.

When Joan returned to the apartment, her landlord was along, armed with a large, thick blanket, ready to wrap up Toby. To their amazement, the cat was lying on the couch, serenely grooming himself!

Joan telephoned her veterinarian and was referred to us. After our consultation and applying the following avice, Joan and Toby re-established a peaceful and mutually warm relationship.

Sexual Basis
Joan's dramatic story illustrates the primitive nature of our feline friends in response to prolonged stroking. Once his behavior was explained, Joan asked a
reasonable question: “Do I have to give up petting Toby or be attacked every time by him?” The answer is “No,” but with extremely important qualifications.

Neutering Can Help
In intact male cats, neutering can invaluable. Sexually stimulated aggression can be lowered substantially, sometimes totally. Unless the male is valuable breeding stock, it is the kindest step, since an intact tom suffers when he cannot fulfill his sexual aims. Cat fights and urination around the house when a nearby female cat is in heat are two of the most common side effects of this kind of frustration.

Behavioral Corrections
Here are simple corrective procedures that have been highly successful with many a Toby and Joan, in both mild and severe cases. A common element in most aggressive cats is a lack of proper play between the owner and the pet. Start having short, intensive five to fifteen minute morning and evening play sessions: Toss a toy on a string; jerk it around so the cat chases and pounces. This provides exercise, as he expresses playful or serious aggression with non-people articles.

Control Petting
In addition to daily play sessions and neutering, the third step involves ‘controlled’ petting. Most of us are extremely sensitive to the moods of our pets.
Therefore, when you feel that the cat is in one of “those” moods, make the petting brisk and quick; no more than five to ten seconds. At other times, longer stroking is all right, except when the cat starts getting aroused. If so, shift activities to play with one of those favorite toys we discussed earlier.

Cats and Kittens Who Stalk and Attack
Many cats, young and old, enjoy behaving like predators, which can be troublesome when the owners are the prey. People are not amused when, leaping suddenly out from a hiding place their cat tries to ‘kill’ an ankle. If the usual shout or screech from the terrified owner doesn't also terrify the cat and curtail the attacks, a collar with a small bell on the ‘predator’ can works wonders. “Belling the cat” helps you to keep track of him and avoid attacks by distracting him to some other activity, such as chasing a toy.

Feed Twice a Day for a More Calm Cat
Just like big cats at the zoo, pet cats relax and are calm with a full stomach. So, feed twice a day. To find out how much to put in each meal, measure the food you now put down once a day, then measure how much remains 24 hours later. Then, feed one-half that amount morning and evening.

Some cats are put off when one of the commercial cat repellents has been sprayed or daubed onto the owner's feet and legs. “Pure Citrus,” an air freshener sold in most supermarkets keeps animals away very effectively. Extra dry, unscented deodorant spray or roll-on has also been successful because it dries the biting cat's tongue and mouth, as happens to our underarms. Apply all the relevant corrections to your situation and you should soon enjoy an affectionate cat that is no longer a menace to your well-being.

Kitten History
Many kittens, taken from their queens (mothers) before she weans them, become aggressive to their human owners when they mature. This may be due to a lack of any early parental discipline, which is normally exercised when the queen denies nursing sessions to the kittens. Kittens who lack natural weaning often indulge themselves by nursing on blankets, clothing and other pliable materials. The rhythmic ‘kneading’ of the paws on clothing, again part of the nipple nursing ritual, is sometimes seen in these cats, as well. When the owners physically try to stop the behavior, aggression erupts.

Mis-directed Basic Mating Drive
When some cats are allowed to knead for several minutes, purring and kneading increases in intensity and speed. The next symptom is salivation, but not always. If
this ritual is allowed to continue, male cats very often become aggressive, digging in their nails, which is part of feline pre-copulatory behavior. Then, when the owner tries to put the cat down physically, an attack can result.

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