Mean Cats and What to Do with Them

I've been owned by cats since I was a child. I used to breed and show cats and I still rescue feral cats. The experience has taught me that most "mean kitties" are misunderstood, not mean. Every one of the many times I have been scratched or bitten by a cat, the cat had a good reason for it. It's not all about you ... learn why a cat does what it does, stop provoking the "mean" behavior, and you won't be applying bandages and whining about your mean, nasty cat.

Normal Cat Behavior Misinterpreted As "Mean"

Cats are predators. They want to pounce and kill. They are also small, so they have strong defensive behaviors. Normal predator or defensive cat behavior is often interpreted as "mean" because it isn't what the human wants or expects.

Respect the cat's boundaries. Cats can't say, "Back off, this is my spot" so they hiss and growl, then either retreat or follow up with a paw-full of claws if the human ignores the hiss. They can't say "Please stop touching me there." so they kick, bite or scratch the hand that's bothering them. That is not being mean, it's being feline. If you get hurt, it's your fault.

Hissing and growling at a new household pet is 100% normal, natural cat behavior. The resident cats are not being mean to the newcomer, they are negotiating a new social structure. Make a gradual introduction, do not scold or punish the resident cats, give them plenty of attention and ignore the newcomer. They may never become best buddies, but unless it deteriorates into a growling, snarling, rolling on the floor, cartoon-style catfight, ignore the drama. They'll work out the appropriate boundaries themselves.

Refusing to share resources is also normal cat behavior, not jealousy or selfishness. Increase the resources to minimize the squabbling. Instead of stressing over why a cat won't let another cat use a litter box, put another litter box in a different room. If food triggers fights, feed them separately.

Cats with kittens may become insanely protective and try to eliminate all threats, including children, other cats, and you. One of my cats even tried to kill the paperboy's Great Dane.The solution was a cage until her kittens were grown and her hormones back to normal.

Preventing "Mean Kitty" Behavior

Cute kitten behaviors carried over into adulthood are often described as "mean". Humans with a kitten say "Awwwww" when a kitten sinks fangs and claws into their wrists, and "Bad kitty, mean kitty!" a few months later. You are not a chew-toy. Don't encourage or tolerate behavior from a kitten you don't want to experience from a 18-pound tomcat. If a kitten starts chewing and biting you, give it a stuffed toy to maul. If it persists, hiss at it and tap its ears or head with your fingertips. This imitates the way a mother cat disciplines her kittens.

Don't reward aggression. When my tomcat attacked another cat, I picked him up and petted him to calm him down. Bad idea! Petting is a reward and the behavior got worse. As soon as I started silently putting him in the bathroom for an hour or more, he stopped picking fights.

Is the cat bored or frustrated? A cat with plenty of interesting toys won't use your ankles as a scratching post when you come home from work.

Un-neutered adult cats often bite and grab when they feel affectionate. This is 100% natural, normal cat behavior because for cats, both fighting and sex involve yowling, growling, biting, and scratching. Neutering the cat usually makes it less likely to bite when it is petted.

And remember, it's always the human's fault.