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A drop of cold sweat runs down your forehead and you say it out loud: “my kitty doesn’t love me.” Here it is, you’ve done it.

Welcome to Mean Cat Owners Anonymous, the Twitter thread where owners share their emotional journeys about raising a cat demon. One user Meredith Hankins spills it out “my cat has a note in all caps red letters in his vet file” which warns the doctors to put a muzzle on him before handling him.

The cat world is a tough nut to crack, but whatever happens to your parental dignity, remember that it can always be worse, much worse. And now, prepare some napkins to wipe off your tears and step into the limbo where mean cats set us straight. Also, read Bored Panda’s interview with Dr. David Sands, a scientific adviser and animal practitioner at The Animal Behavior Clinic, about what’s happening inside the mind of your seemingly devilish cat.

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MagicalUnicorn
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my uncle had cat like that, me and all my cousins grew up cathandled since she didn't like kids, but was very much loved by all extended family till passing at ripe old age of 21

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Bored Panda contacted scientific adviser David Sands and asked why some cats tend to exhibit more aggressive behavior than the others. “There are, of course, many influences for feline antisocial behavior in the home. Especially relevant would be a lack of early socialization and if the cat was the product of a feral mating,” Sands explained. Sometimes the neighbor cats might be to blame: “it is also known that the introduction of other feral or dominant cats into a neighborhood can cause an emotional upheaval.” Many other factors might also play a significant role in your cat’s sharp claws. “House moves, intrusive surgery, hormonal changes and variations in the social situation of owners including partner loss, illness, family, or partners moving in or out, and the introduction of babies can also have a significant effect on feline behavior.”

It turns out that petting cats might be beneficial to humans but not to our feline friends. David told us that in his clinical case notes “it is not unusual to find a comment that owners are finding it difficult to reduce physical contact with their cats. This is despite an explanation provided that controlling physical and emotional interaction will help to prevent issues.” You heard it right⁠—sometimes taking a step back might be much more helpful in reducing your cat’s aggression than trying to make friends with him or her all over again.

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In the end, it’s important to realize that “love is a human emotion” according to Sands because “litter mothers care for kittens.” It’s true that “adult cats may groom each other but they don't stroke each other.” It seems that we were speaking in entirely different languages all along!

The hardest part of being an exemplary feline owner is realizing that cats don’t always like the things we expect them to. For example, a 2013 study showed that domestic cats which allowed themselves to be pet more often showed higher levels of stress. Another study suggested that cats don’t care when you call them. In fact, when 20 domestic cats were played three separate voice messages (one from their owners, two from total strangers), they didn’t exhibit any interest whatsoever. Every one of them could perfectly hear their names being called, but none of them decided to approach the speaker. Think it's a coincidence? Well, think again.

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When you enter the room, your kitty rubs up against your leg. ‘What a bond we have!’ you think and chuckle from happiness. ‘That belongs to me,’ thinks your cat. Many researchers believe that this behavior is not a sign of affection, but a cat's attempt to spread their scent. Scent marking is a feline way to mark territorial boundaries and claim their power over your household idyll.

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troufaki13
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My otherwise lovely cat goes into full puma mode whenever we go to the vet. Same thing happens when I try to cut her nails. No drugs can sedate her either, she just needs to fight like her life depends on it. Still love her though ♥♥

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Louplou
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is hysterical! If I end up in a nursing home, I want that in my care plan!

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Tabitha L
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow. The picture captures this cat's soul. And it is twisted.

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Iggy
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The cat was acting out because she was upset you were gone.

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Not Important
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My cat packed his little bags and moved down the driveway to my Grandparents just after I moved out. I was and still am so grateful for the move, my boy knew my grandparents needed him

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Magpie
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She was very sad. And had no other way to express it.

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Misty Suarez-Forehand
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My older cat age 13 moved two houses down after my son got a kitten. She still visit.

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Lynn Morello
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sounds like she was trying to let you know that you were her favourite person and you let her down.

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Heather Hayllar
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My sister had a Siamese, totally spoilt etc, But after 3 or 4 years she moved into a house behind and never comes back to visit lol He is happier so leave him there

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Mireia Dos
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4 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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Adam Guillemette
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To all those wondering about the 1000 burning suns comment, it's a joke out of the cartoon The Fairly OddParents. For context, Timmy Turner was agonizing about how to write a love letter and the consensus was that it needed to be sweet but threatening. Somehow the line, or something akin to "my love burns for you with the passion of a thousand burning suns" got put in. I use it for everything now XD

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Dorothy Parker
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You lookin' at me? Are you lookin' at me? She glares at the camera.

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Angela Allen Simms
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ok, my dad's name is beadie! never, ever have any by that name but my dad! too, too funny and the cat too.

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Katie and Jared Coates
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg. I'm laughing, but I don't think it's ideal. Of course, I had to move one of mine in a box. We carefully cut a hole just big enough for his head to stick out cause he was a chonker. Then he went in the car in his box.

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Evil Little Thing
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4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You clip a cat's claws for the same reason you clip a toddler's fingernails- so they don't scratch the s**t out of you and everything you own. Some cats do enough tree climbing to wear their own claws down, but not many cats that are indoor-only, aging, unable to fully retract their claws, or just lazy. My cat is lazy and can't retract his back claws, and I have literally never seen him put all 4 feet on a tree. If I don't trim his claws can't walk across the room without getting stuck on the carpet.

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Becca Gizmo the Squirrel
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't mean this in a bad way but that pretty kitty has a face of a demon. Check out that close up. Looks like he could stand up on two legs and possess you.

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Martha Meyer
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never had a cat but I've read that this kind of behavior often occurs due to illness.

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ben nelson
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my cat nicodemus was forced to stay with some friends for a few weeks due to some stuff that happened. he was, needless to say, not too happy about it. one day, according to my friend jake, he walked into the hallway and there was nic. jake later told me, "he looked me dead in the eye and began sh**ing on the hardwood floor. i yelled and went to pick him up and he p***ed all over me." moments later, i received a text from jake "come pick up your damned cat!" nicodemus-...6237e4.jpg nicodemus-5e4dc296237e4.jpg

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Jo Johannsen
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My cat Cupcake didn't like wearing a collar, so she unbuckled it. When i put it back on her, i turned inside out to prevent her doing it again. Yeah, nope.

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Magpie
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This might help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqdnhtMYJ7Q

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