Likes and dislikes in the feline world
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A bad beginning may or may not end happy
OF ALL the cats in my cat-herd, I feel sorriest for soi cat Thep. He does his best, but he’s having trouble just getting along with the rest of the animals in the household.
The very first time he entered the house, he felt his job in life was to attack everyone - the other cats and the dog.
Wan-Wan, my little poodle, ran over to him, hoping for a little playtime, but Thep hissed and swung a paw full of extended claws at her. Luckily, she had the good sense to back away.
He then jumped on one-eyed Angel, bit her tail, then turned his attention to Mekhala, our white lady suffering from feline Aids.
He rolled around with her, while I tried to pull him off. Of course, I wanted to protect Mekhala, but I was also worried about Thep. A transfer of blood from the lady to him, and he himself would be infected by the disease.
A friend of mine tells me that she just faced an even more aggressive cat that invaded her kitchen. An unneutered soi cat, he had broken in, hoping, perhaps, for shelter, food, ladies and territory.
When she tried to remove him, he attacked her. Anyone would be terrified of a hissing, yowling animal ready to strike out.
I wasn’t there, but I’d guess because my friend stood in the doorway, she was blocking the only exit from the kitchen. The cat was forced to fight to protect himself.
It seems to me that the first rule of removing an unwanted animal from your house is to ensure that it has somewhere to run, a doorway or an open window. Then, if it’s a cat, you try to move around it towards its back, so that it can leave easily.
To point it in the right direction, it’s not necessary to scream and shout. Just clap your hands loudly. The cat will understand your point.
With a dog, I think I’d use some protection for myself too, the cover of a rubbish bin or even a large piece of cardboard.
Some people warn against looking the animal directly in the eyes, a sure sign of aggression, but if you’re caught up in the fear of the moment, you wouldn’t think of eyes in particular, would you?
I had no problem with Thep, though. To my surprise (and perhaps Mekhala’s too), the minute I pulled him off her, he relaxed. He also began purring, as in “I’m only a little kitten. Please take care of me.”
When I put him down, he ran out the door.
This beginning was very bad, but since then, the other cats have made friends with him. He and Wan regularly romp with each other ecstatically.
Alas, not everyone loves him. My boy Yoyo hates any male cat. Neutering has not made any difference. If I didn’t keep Yoyo and Thep separated, they would immediately attack each other, with fighting beginning with some serious eye contact.
Mekhala also continues as an enemy. Thep has done his best to show her that he’s peaceful. He gazes lovingly at her with slow blinks - cat language for “I like you”. He even rolls on his back and shows her his belly, as in “You’re much more important than I am”.
She refuses his offers of friendship. She hits him, knocks him down, yells at him. He never fights back.
Every day, he tries to tell her he likes her, to no avail.
Does she remember that first day, I wonder, or does she just not like him?
