[Rakkasan1]

this means home schooled kitties are more likely to attack?/sarcasm

(if you don't want to register-try bugmenot.)

[Incorrigible]

Oh. I thought cats attacked when they spotted a troll!

[manic4organic]

I think there's a guy in Michigan that'll take care of those troublesome cats.

[BenLurkin]

The author hasn't known enough cats.

Mrs. Lurkin's cat is as devoted as a puppy. In fact he rolls over on her command and follows her around the house.

[darkwing104]

Kitty Ping...not a zot

[Enterprise]

"Why cats attack "

It's because we CAN. Youse got a problem wid dat?

[Delphinium]

I wanted to read the rest of the article.

I have never been seriously attacked by a cat unless it is wild. The ones I have gotten too early beccome too dependant.

[repinwi]

[A. Goodwin]

I thought it was because their brains are about the size of a peanut. I love my big guy, but I don't think there are a lot of deep psychological processes going on inside...

[SubMareener]

Taking the kittens away too early can also have unexpected consequences. We gave our cat's kittens away before she had time to teach them to hunt. It was only after I had demonstrated that I could catch a live mouse she brought in the house for me, that she stopped bringing them in the house. All the times I caught then when she wasn't looking didn't count. She actually had to watch me do it, before she considered me trained.

[Maceman]

Thank you for posting this. Last week we had to put down our beloved 18-year-old cat, who was my buddy and whose loss left me crying (me, a big 55-year-old guy) for four days. I miss her terribly.

Anyway, we got her when she was a year old, and I knew her so well that I could playfully promote her little attacks and have it be all fun and games.

At some point, we will be getting a new cat (as soon as my wife feels she is ready to love a cat again), and I appreciate the insight in this article, since I have had no experience with kittens at all.

In the meantime, we are celebrating the arrival (and first successful feeding) of our yearling Ball python, who arrived via Fed Ex this past Wednesday and who seems to be adjusting well to his new environment.

Thanks, by the way to all my fellow snake loving Freepers who gave me such good advice about what kind of snake to get.

[MarkL]

My family used to have this little white cat, deaf as a post, and dumber than a box of rocks. But she was a really sweet cat.

Being deaf, she couldn't tell how loud she was "meowing." Sometimes she'd just "mouth" the meow, and no sound would come out. Other times, you'd be able to hear her outside the apartment, down the hall! She had a habit of sitting and just staring at the wall... Nothing there, just looking at the wall.

Getting back to the title of this thread, sometimes she'd walk up to you, sit down at your feet and "meow." Of course, being an adorble white, long hair domestic, you'd look down at her and say, "What do you want, Sara." All of a sudden, a confused look would come over her face, and it was like she forgot why she was there.... So she'd just start sharpening her nails in your shin!

Mark

[martin_fierro]

[Dallas59]

EVIL CAT DRUM ROLL!(Flash)

[Slings and Arrows]

They are adorable, furry demons. Next question?
---
Kitty Ping List alert!

[Freepmail me to get on or off the Kitty Ping List.]

[Saundra Duffy]

This cat adopted us. He's HUGE and mean. He attacks me when I stop petting him. Ha! We named him Rock. Can't let him in the house because he hates our 3 indoor cats and he'd rip them to shreds. He has the run of the yard and we have no problem with other critters coming on our property, including dogs.

Our neighbor witnessed Rock running up on the FRONT PORCH of another neighbor and chasing their two dogs right off their own front porch.

Rock attacks because he can and because he likes to.

[MeekOneGOP]

Just for grins, Kitties. :)

[hershey]

I have a cat who, when younger, deliberately knocked over glass objects so he could enjoy them smashing on the floor. I had to hide everything glass. He'd leap up on a table or shelf and go hunting. Maybe he was bored, but he stopped when there was nothing left to smash to bits. Now he contents himself with sitting on whatever you're reading or trying to write. Also smacks my mini dachshunds around from time to time. Nothing serious, no blood spilled on either side.

[SolidRedState]

Social skills?

[HungarianGypsy]

My Abigail loves to play tag at night. It's something my children really don't like, since around bedtime I will hear yowls of, "Abby bit me." More of a small nip. I told them to give her a small kick when she does that.
Btw, she's a homeschooled kitty. ;-P

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"A kitten acquired at six weeks of age may be fully capable of eating from a dish and using a litter box but still needs to master social skills such as learning how to fight and play together."

My two current (adopted) cats are total "social retards." They're sisters who were always fostered out and have never had a permanent home before our house. They've been with us nearly three years now, but I don't trust them around visiting kids because they will do the old "Please pet me, I wuv you! / I WILL KILL YOU!" bait and switch.

I can tell when they're getting over-stimulated, so I just walk away from them when they're getting "weird" that way. No scratches so far; a hiss once in a while.

The things we do for love...