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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / October 2006Predator or prey?
One of my cats seems to have absolutely no fear of any animal it encounters, but is incredibly shy and timid around people. It is an increidbly beautiful and loving cat, about three years old. He has been neutered, but I feel that somehow the 'wild' hasn't been taken out of him that much! He still does a number of things associated with Toms - fighting with his housemate, growling when food is put down and the other one is around, disappearing for long periods during mating season etc. He also musks me is I stroke him vigorously, or anywhere near his abdomen for any length of time greater than about five seconds. He's a really affectionate cat - loves to sit with me when I'm working on the computer or just lazing around watching TV (which is a pain, because he molts continuously and is pure white - meaning his hairs get everywhere and make your lap look like you've been wearing a cheap fur coat). All of this behaviour is fantastic - I love cats that behave like cats rather than ornaments but, having had ten cats altogether in my life, the lack of fear of other animals is alightly unnerving, especially coupled with his terrible shyness around other people. My friends don't believe me when I tell them how much he kills - an average week sees him bring home around eight mice, three birds (usually including at least one Wood Pigeon) one rat and today he got his first squirrel. Unlike most cats, he doesn't just kill them and bring them back - he dismembers and eats them as well, which can be a little upsetting for my wife when she comes home and finds the kitchen looking like a slaughterhouse... He constantly torments the neighbour's dog (its not a small dog either) and I have (honest to God, I'm not making this up) seen him chase a FOX the length of the garden, hissing and trying to jump on its back. I'm starting to get a little bit worried that he will bite off more than he can chew one day and corner a fox that will have no choice but to defend itself - he will obviously come off worse and I worry that he'll end up seriously injured. Does anybody have any tips on how to curb his aggression? He doesn't play much indoors - we've tried everything to get him to get some aggression out using toys & play but all he wants to do when he comes home is lunge around and be affectionate with us - which is nice, but not conducive to wearing him out before he goes out again - in fact he seems to use it as an opportunity to recharge his batteries before going out on the next hunt! On Mon, 02 Oct 2006 08:07:44 -0700, zebulebu wrote: > One of my cats seems to have absolutely no fear of any animal it > encounters, but is incredibly shy and timid around people. [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > seems to use it as an opportunity to recharge his batteries before > going out on the next hunt! Perhaps an outdoor enclosure would help. In killing all that "wildlife" he must bring some unhealthy germs into your home. Good luck. MLB > One of my cats seems to have absolutely no fear of any animal it > encounters, but is incredibly shy and timid around people. [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > seems to use it as an opportunity to recharge his batteries before > going out on the next hunt! I've seen a cat do a number on a human being on more than one occasion. Be it dog, fox, whatever the cat is equipped to take care of itself very well. But my little predator is strictly on a mouse plan. When they started gutting the other apartments we had a small infestation. That little girl Emily took care of every last mouse. The only problem is she kills them, guts them, then stashes them. We'd find little desicated mouse carcasses all over the place. > I've seen a cat do a number on a human being on more than one occasion. > Be it dog, fox, whatever the cat is equipped to take care of itself very [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > them, guts them, then stashes them. We'd find little desicated mouse > carcasses all over the place. That's true but the opposite is more true. Most dogs that are large will do a number on the cat, and the same for most people. I don't know about foxes but they are smart and their teeth are bigger than cats'. Cats are fearless until they meet the wrong predator and the big danger here is that they may not live past that first big-time mistake. Like a raccoon, will take apart a cat. There are cats that can handle smaller raccoons, but in general, a cat attacking a mature raccoon is going to meet Darwin sooner than expected. About mice. I hear you. My little girl has denuded the place of rodents and quasi-rodents. I feel bad because nothing perks her up as much as rodents and sparrows. What am I supposed to do? Buy mice for her to chase, torture, interrogate, and kill? >What am I supposed to do? Buy mice for her to > chase, torture, interrogate, and kill? Let me borrow her. My 3 year old, Rudy, who we brought home from the woods completely feral at the age of ~4 months has taken domestication to the extreme and I had to set mouse traps this year... > >What am I supposed to do? Buy mice for her to > > chase, torture, interrogate, and kill? > > Let me borrow her. My 3 year old, Rudy, who we brought home from the > woods completely feral at the age of ~4 months has taken domestication > to the extreme and I had to set mouse traps this year... Where are you? I may have to go overseas for a while. Near Pennsylvania? > > >What am I supposed to do? Buy mice for her to > > > chase, torture, interrogate, and kill? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Where are you? I may have to go overseas for a while. Near Pennsylvania? Bring her on down to Louisville, Kentucky! We'd spoil her, though. =) >> > >What am I supposed to do? Buy mice for her to >> > > chase, torture, interrogate, and kill? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Bring her on down to Louisville, Kentucky! We'd spoil her, though. =) Good old Kentucky girl How I miss my home state, the mountains, the different season all we get in Florida is palm trees. nearly dead on the road and hurricanes > > > >What am I supposed to do? Buy mice for her to > > > > chase, torture, interrogate, and kill? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Bring her on down to Louisville, Kentucky! We'd spoil her, though. =) Thanks. She's spoilable. All white with a few black spots. Has claws and teeth but pretty good inside. Does not scratch and knock things off desks and tables. Talks a bit but rarely curses. Very cute. If I have to go to Iraq, I'll let you know. > > > > >What am I supposed to do? Buy mice for her to > > > > > chase, torture, interrogate, and kill? [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > desks and tables. Talks a bit but rarely curses. Very cute. If I have > to go to Iraq, I'll let you know. Oh, Iraq... I hope you don't have to go. Even though I was kidding before, I would gladly watch your kitty for as long as you needed. I can even provide references! My cats are indoor cats, though (with claws!). I live on a busy street so I don't want to risk them getting flattened, or worse. I can promise lots of mice and bugs for her to hunt, though! > Does anybody have any tips on how to curb his aggression? He doesn't > play much indoors - we've tried everything to get him to get some [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > seems to use it as an opportunity to recharge his batteries before > going out on the next hunt! I think I'd ask the pros on this one. Clicker training? That's one method they use on all cats from pet felines to lions and tigers. Teaches behaviors and tricks but the tricks are not important as behavioral training in this case. The method is simple, a little toy clicker and rewarding the cat while shaping the behavior. Simple for the gifted. Look up Clicker Training, Karen Pryor, there is or was a group in Yahoo, Clicker Training. You'll need some guidance unless you're a natural animal trainer. It sounds simple but it's not for most adults. I don't know nearly enough to make good suggestions on aggressive cats. You could tie a bell if it could be done safely to a collar so he has to work harder for his kills. Most likely he'll learn to walk without the bell sounding. All I can think of is Clicker Training but it's a skill but something to keep the cat from lounging around and you can shape behaviors. Do look into it. I think Karen will answer a few emails. Her lectures are not that expensive if she tours in your area. They are not dirt cheap though. But the Yahoo group is free. And either she or another master as this will answer your questions. I have read of similar cases like your being helped. But you need to talk to people who are real professionals in this area. Who have been there and had success. If you can train a wild tiger, you can probably train your feisty feline. >One of my cats seems to have absolutely no fear of any animal it >encounters, but is incredibly shy and timid around people. [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] >seems to use it as an opportunity to recharge his batteries before >going out on the next hunt! I have a cat somewhat like that. Sweet and cuddly as can be inside, but when she is outside, all huntress. Ok, she will occasionally come over to sleep on my lap if I'm sleeping outside, but otherwise she is lying in wait for something to come by and be pounced on. The only real advice I can give you is to try and do something to keep the cat from roaming. You are running a risk of it taking on an animal that it can't handle. And bird loving neighbors may decide to take the matter in to their own hands if your cat is taking birds at their feeders. Rebecca > One of my cats seems to have absolutely no fear of any animal it > encounters, but is incredibly shy and timid around people. [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > seems to use it as an opportunity to recharge his batteries before > going out on the next hunt! Great cat! Loved to read about him. I have myself 7 cats, male and female, all neutered, all outdoor and indoor cats. Can do what they want. And some are hunting some are not and some are eating their mice some don`t. I frequently find mice heads on my kitchen floor and other remains. <shudder> Means the hunting urge is not necessarily to disappear after neutering. Agreed - the behaviour of your cat is outstanding, he seems to be more than a tom-cat, neutered or not. I love his attitude. I found out with my cats that after neutering some of them kept more male behaviour as others. And it seems they keep more male behaviours the older they are at neutering time. It is quite normal when they, even after neutering, still mark their territory. After all it is one of their strongest needs - to make clear who owns that area. But fortunately after the hormon change through neutering the stuff doesn`t stink anymore that much.And also - some of them do it some not. Hey -this guy really has persona, guts, self-esteem whatever you will call it. And he seems to have a lot of fun. I think he would really be unhappy if someone deprived him of his style of life. Congratulations for this wonderful cat! It is not clear that this cat would loose a fight with a fox - cats are dangerous especially if they have an attitude. O.K. - Life out there is dangerous. But some prefer to die in battle than dieing on a sofa. But I believe your cat needs the life he choose and that he is not at all stupid and would run like hell if fortune would change. Thank you for putting these pictures in my mind. I laughed a lot. P.S.He reminds me intensely of Greebo - Nanny Ogg`s cat. This is Terry Pratchett based literature.(Discworld novels) >> One of my cats seems to have absolutely no fear of any animal it >> encounters, but is incredibly shy and timid around people. [quoted text clipped - 75 lines] > P.S.He reminds me intensely of Greebo - Nanny Ogg`s cat. > This is Terry Pratchett based literature.(Discworld novels) Lol Mee too!! I looove Discworld.....hope he keeps writing 'em. And pratchett alway's has the best cats in his books. meeee schrieb: > >> One of my cats seems to have absolutely no fear of any animal it > >> encounters, but is incredibly shy and timid around people. [quoted text clipped - 78 lines] > Lol Mee too!! I looove Discworld.....hope he keeps writing 'em. > And pratchett alway's has the best cats in his books. Very nice to have found another Pratchett-addict. :-) Best writer ever ( I mean it) > meeee schrieb: > [quoted text clipped - 88 lines] > Very nice to have found another Pratchett-addict. :-) > Best writer ever ( I mean it) Absolutely...I only have a few (there are so many) but I have taken to prowling the local library with a hungry expression, and pouncing on any pratchetts I discover then hoarding them for weeks until they send me nasty letters. It's such a feeling of triumph when they get a new one.... |
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