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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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
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.
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.
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.
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 ♥♥
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
So what did they do for the cat after the vet was muzzled?
You lookin' at me? Are you lookin' at me? She glares at the camera.
ok, my dad's name is beadie! never, ever have any by that name but my dad! too, too funny and the cat too.
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.
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.
Our fat f**k loves to play with us and knead, so I clip his claws. As his "primary human" I am pretty tolerant of being scratched up, but do not enjoy needles in my flesh at 3 am. Also, he's big and has big claws. He doesn't get the quality play he craves when he gets stuck on furniture and I'm the only one not afraid of getting scratched (he's blind-ish, so he's just as likely to get you by accident as he is the toy).
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Clip a cats claws? Are you kidding me? If you clipped my cats nails in the morning, they would be razor sharp again by afternoon! She is the only cat I have ever seen that sharpens her rear claws - by lying on her side and kicking the sharpening post.
The vets should pay you, for specialist exercise improving their techs' skills.
My cat is a sweetheart when we clip his nails because he knows that if he isn’t a little jerk while clipping his nails he gets showered with treats
You start getting the cat used to having his nails clipped when he's a kitten. If you adopt an adult cat, it's a bit rougher but still can be done. Get him used to touching his feet and moving his toes around. Give him treats so he associates something pleasant with you touching his feet. Then introduce the nail clipper. Two people if necessary. One holding and offering treats and lots of soothing 'you're a good boy', 'its ok', etc. and if he doesn't struggle, clip a nail or maybe two and end the session with a prized treat. Also dose with Bach's Rescue Remedy for pets 30 minutes before trying. Keep at it and keep it positive and stop before the cat gets really agitated. Let the cat know that you will stop if he gets panicky.
Clipping nails is really quit normal, especially for indoor cats or cats that just don't sharpen them a lot. You clip your own nails too, right? Now declawing, that is barbaric and animal abuse.
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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.
I've never had a cat but I've read that this kind of behavior often occurs due to illness.
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 
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.
Zorro had to get surgery a few months ago and had to stay at the vet for at least week. I'd go visit every day. I'd open his cage and we would cuddle for a while and he'd be all happy. Third day I came, the assistent said he escaped when they opened his cage to move him and clean it and they couldn't handle him to get him back in. I found him behind the trashcan, picked him up, moved him in his new cage and all was fine. Next day, they asked if I could move him because he'd be a furious ball of hell claws when they opened the cage. So I did, no problem. Next day they called early if I was coming in that day... they couldn't give him his shots because he was furious. I held him on the floor, petted him, they gave him his shots and all was well. When I got to take him home, he went nuts, because the vet was in the room (he clawed me too). I told them to leave and got him in his carrier without a problem. Turns out he only loves me and is hell for everyone else ;)
His name is Sigma, but we mostly call him The Hooligan Cat - will attack if he does not get what he wants. Do not be fooled by the photo, he'd just been fed. Usual tactics involve teeth and dragon stance. Mayhem ensues. Rugby tackling ankles is also a favourite when sideways running through the house. IMG_4020-5...eea63c.jpg 
My cat washes herself extremely loud. It is crazy how loud she can be. It is like slurping through a megaphone. And she starts to do that right when we are about to fall asleep. But this is one of her quirks and we love her.
Does she have long hair? Asking because my long haired cat is also very loud when she washes herself. My short hair baby boy is very quiet when he does it.
Load More Replies... 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-...e9453a.jpg 
My kitty is the sweetest lil thing, but she can be pretty mischievous. One time, she rode on the back of my doggo up the stairs because she was too lazy to do it herself. She used to yowl like she was in pain, only for me to find out that she's fine. Her newest thing now is whacking the back of my head from behind my bed frame whenever I fall asleep. Love her a ton more than she knows, though!
I had a cat that was sooooo nice....but then....we took him to get fixed....the vet came out with socks in a towel..and i asked what the towel was for....all of a sudden this demon growl came out. After that he still loved me and my ex-husband but would terrorize our mother in-laws cats and dog lol
I have 7 cats now. But my first cat Thunder was evil. Took her to vet once for an abscess. She was growling like thunder in the waiting room. Had to dismantle carrier to get her out of it. When I left her for treatment I could hear the techs screaming "augh she's got me!" I didn't stay to ask. Went to pick her up an they led me to the back room where they had a towel over her cage and were on the other side of the room behind a steel table. They said they couldn't get her into her carrier. I opened the carrier and then the cage and she went right in. But they were deff bloodletted by her judging from the bandages on them.
We have a little cat named Mumpitz, found her in our shed when she was a baby & raised her. She is not grateful in the slightest and hates everything. Finding someone willing to watch her when we go somewhere is near impossible because so far, nobody has been willing to watch her a second time. Sometimes an old friend of us visits and brings his giant black German Shepheard Lucy. Lucy growled at our cat once... never again. Nowadays she knows that the cat is better left alone.
Our first rescue was a 3 yo male cat named Milo. He had been returned 3 times from different homes because he kept chasing and terrorizing the dogs. We were told that if we couldn't "make it work" he'd be put down. He came into our home as an only pet. He loved to run outside when we opened the door but he was a sucker for sliced turkey. I could have led him to the moon and back with a plate of turkey. He was neurotic as all get out but shared 13 years with us and knew that he was safe and loved.
Cats seem to be the ideal pet for people that like being mistreated by someone cute.
Gosh, it seems I'm lucky to have calm cats that allow me to trim their nails, brush fur and are super easy going in the vet :x
My first cat as an adult was a very sweet tuxedo cat with a huge personality. He played fetch and loved car rides. He also thought he was all the pet I should ever need because when I got a puppy, he jumped up on my bed in the middle of the night and s**t on me. In his defense, it was his only d**k moment. Plus he was right, I did not consult him before getting a puppy so my bad.
Our late great Brody had to be euthanized (his cancer had progressed too far too fast). The vet was preparing the shot and said, and I quote, "He's been such a sweetie through all this." At which point Brody whipped around, bit the vet in that soft web between the vet's thumb and first finger, and looked at us all as if to say, "EFF YOU!" for one last time.... Another cat was so infamous that the vet didn't even try to give him meds unless it could be a shot. And one cat tore up a vet so bad that the cat was banned from that vet's office. And then we had one cat who, WITHOUT meds, calmly dozed off on my lap at the vet. As long a the cat had my lap, all good. Hubby took him in once without me... and the VET called and asked me to come. Yep. That bad. Yikes.
My husband says when he was married to his ex she had a cat that would pee on my husband's crotch while he slept. Almost every night.
My sister had a calico named Punkin'. She only liked my sister and couldn't tolerate the other cats in our family. We got a mini Schnauzer one year and he, in his innocence, tried to go up and befriend Punkin'. The cat gave him one good smack across the nose and the dog quietly whimpered away..like he was saying "WTF just happened?!?" He had a gash across his nose and we patched him up and gave him treats. Anytime he encountered that cat again, he'd go on the other side of the room and squeeze his way out the door to avoid her. She'd just glare at him....rotten cat..lol
I had a cat named Timothy Hutton who came with a house that I rented. The previous owners just left him there. When he'd get pissed at me, he'd poop on the rug, then cover it up with the TV Guide and my record album covers. I loved him though - he was still a good boy.
I understand that many of these cats don't act like violent a******s all the time, or they wouldn't have a home. But sorry, some of these stories are unbelievable. You really wonder if some of them, at least, had some medical problem. Personally I would not own a cat with that behavior. I've seen too many infections, really BAD ones, from cat bites, and scratches. Even sepsis. And I love cats- just can't convince my husband to let me have one...
We have found that to clip our cats nails, the best way is for me to hold the cat (Toby, Jeri, Annoying Cat, Tommy, and Snowball) on my lap with them sitting on my lap but leaning against me. Then the wife clips the nails. Toby will walk away complaining and Jeri will scream Bloody Murder. But all know it is going to get done.
My aunt had a cat that she adored and the cat adored her. Would sit on her lap for hours, purring. Everyone else? She was a demon cat straight from Hell. Hissing, spitting, growling, clawing, you name it. And I grew up with cats--never had one like this beast. None of us would go near her.
wow, so many mean cats, i only know one mean cat, i assume she is somewhat in pain and scared of all humans, my own catsw have all been massive cuddlers/snuggle, and we can fall asleept together with me having a hand on her supersoft belly cuddling. but then again, i would never cripple her by taking away her defense/escape system (claws), i really hope, there is severely good reasons for doing that in rare cases.
Notice how a lot of these cats are female? Girl cats give zero f#!?€. God I love b!tchy girl cats.
Zorro had to get surgery a few months ago and had to stay at the vet for at least week. I'd go visit every day. I'd open his cage and we would cuddle for a while and he'd be all happy. Third day I came, the assistent said he escaped when they opened his cage to move him and clean it and they couldn't handle him to get him back in. I found him behind the trashcan, picked him up, moved him in his new cage and all was fine. Next day, they asked if I could move him because he'd be a furious ball of hell claws when they opened the cage. So I did, no problem. Next day they called early if I was coming in that day... they couldn't give him his shots because he was furious. I held him on the floor, petted him, they gave him his shots and all was well. When I got to take him home, he went nuts, because the vet was in the room (he clawed me too). I told them to leave and got him in his carrier without a problem. Turns out he only loves me and is hell for everyone else ;)
His name is Sigma, but we mostly call him The Hooligan Cat - will attack if he does not get what he wants. Do not be fooled by the photo, he'd just been fed. Usual tactics involve teeth and dragon stance. Mayhem ensues. Rugby tackling ankles is also a favourite when sideways running through the house. IMG_4020-5...eea63c.jpg
My cat washes herself extremely loud. It is crazy how loud she can be. It is like slurping through a megaphone. And she starts to do that right when we are about to fall asleep. But this is one of her quirks and we love her.
Does she have long hair? Asking because my long haired cat is also very loud when she washes herself. My short hair baby boy is very quiet when he does it.
Load More Replies... 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-...e9453a.jpg
My kitty is the sweetest lil thing, but she can be pretty mischievous. One time, she rode on the back of my doggo up the stairs because she was too lazy to do it herself. She used to yowl like she was in pain, only for me to find out that she's fine. Her newest thing now is whacking the back of my head from behind my bed frame whenever I fall asleep. Love her a ton more than she knows, though!
I had a cat that was sooooo nice....but then....we took him to get fixed....the vet came out with socks in a towel..and i asked what the towel was for....all of a sudden this demon growl came out. After that he still loved me and my ex-husband but would terrorize our mother in-laws cats and dog lol
I have 7 cats now. But my first cat Thunder was evil. Took her to vet once for an abscess. She was growling like thunder in the waiting room. Had to dismantle carrier to get her out of it. When I left her for treatment I could hear the techs screaming "augh she's got me!" I didn't stay to ask. Went to pick her up an they led me to the back room where they had a towel over her cage and were on the other side of the room behind a steel table. They said they couldn't get her into her carrier. I opened the carrier and then the cage and she went right in. But they were deff bloodletted by her judging from the bandages on them.
We have a little cat named Mumpitz, found her in our shed when she was a baby & raised her. She is not grateful in the slightest and hates everything. Finding someone willing to watch her when we go somewhere is near impossible because so far, nobody has been willing to watch her a second time. Sometimes an old friend of us visits and brings his giant black German Shepheard Lucy. Lucy growled at our cat once... never again. Nowadays she knows that the cat is better left alone.
Our first rescue was a 3 yo male cat named Milo. He had been returned 3 times from different homes because he kept chasing and terrorizing the dogs. We were told that if we couldn't "make it work" he'd be put down. He came into our home as an only pet. He loved to run outside when we opened the door but he was a sucker for sliced turkey. I could have led him to the moon and back with a plate of turkey. He was neurotic as all get out but shared 13 years with us and knew that he was safe and loved.
Cats seem to be the ideal pet for people that like being mistreated by someone cute.
Gosh, it seems I'm lucky to have calm cats that allow me to trim their nails, brush fur and are super easy going in the vet :x
My first cat as an adult was a very sweet tuxedo cat with a huge personality. He played fetch and loved car rides. He also thought he was all the pet I should ever need because when I got a puppy, he jumped up on my bed in the middle of the night and s**t on me. In his defense, it was his only d**k moment. Plus he was right, I did not consult him before getting a puppy so my bad.
Our late great Brody had to be euthanized (his cancer had progressed too far too fast). The vet was preparing the shot and said, and I quote, "He's been such a sweetie through all this." At which point Brody whipped around, bit the vet in that soft web between the vet's thumb and first finger, and looked at us all as if to say, "EFF YOU!" for one last time.... Another cat was so infamous that the vet didn't even try to give him meds unless it could be a shot. And one cat tore up a vet so bad that the cat was banned from that vet's office. And then we had one cat who, WITHOUT meds, calmly dozed off on my lap at the vet. As long a the cat had my lap, all good. Hubby took him in once without me... and the VET called and asked me to come. Yep. That bad. Yikes.
My husband says when he was married to his ex she had a cat that would pee on my husband's crotch while he slept. Almost every night.
My sister had a calico named Punkin'. She only liked my sister and couldn't tolerate the other cats in our family. We got a mini Schnauzer one year and he, in his innocence, tried to go up and befriend Punkin'. The cat gave him one good smack across the nose and the dog quietly whimpered away..like he was saying "WTF just happened?!?" He had a gash across his nose and we patched him up and gave him treats. Anytime he encountered that cat again, he'd go on the other side of the room and squeeze his way out the door to avoid her. She'd just glare at him....rotten cat..lol
I had a cat named Timothy Hutton who came with a house that I rented. The previous owners just left him there. When he'd get pissed at me, he'd poop on the rug, then cover it up with the TV Guide and my record album covers. I loved him though - he was still a good boy.
I understand that many of these cats don't act like violent a******s all the time, or they wouldn't have a home. But sorry, some of these stories are unbelievable. You really wonder if some of them, at least, had some medical problem. Personally I would not own a cat with that behavior. I've seen too many infections, really BAD ones, from cat bites, and scratches. Even sepsis. And I love cats- just can't convince my husband to let me have one...
We have found that to clip our cats nails, the best way is for me to hold the cat (Toby, Jeri, Annoying Cat, Tommy, and Snowball) on my lap with them sitting on my lap but leaning against me. Then the wife clips the nails. Toby will walk away complaining and Jeri will scream Bloody Murder. But all know it is going to get done.
My aunt had a cat that she adored and the cat adored her. Would sit on her lap for hours, purring. Everyone else? She was a demon cat straight from Hell. Hissing, spitting, growling, clawing, you name it. And I grew up with cats--never had one like this beast. None of us would go near her.
wow, so many mean cats, i only know one mean cat, i assume she is somewhat in pain and scared of all humans, my own catsw have all been massive cuddlers/snuggle, and we can fall asleept together with me having a hand on her supersoft belly cuddling. but then again, i would never cripple her by taking away her defense/escape system (claws), i really hope, there is severely good reasons for doing that in rare cases.
Notice how a lot of these cats are female? Girl cats give zero f#!?€. God I love b!tchy girl cats.
