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Cats/My cat has a mean streak

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Expert: - 11/26/2010


Question
I got Xena when she was 7 weeks old. She was a very cuddly kitten but became distant as she got older. She did not want anyone to touch her unless they were trying to sleep(then she demanded the attention). The only person in the house she took to was my 3 year old son. She is usually nice even though she acts skiddish around my husband and myself during the day, but there are rare times when she seems to get mean for no apparent reason. She will hiss or act violently towards us. Is there a way to curb her mean streaks? I love her and do not wish to get give her up, but I have children(a son and a daughter on the way) and cannot risk their safety.  

Answer
Tasha,

Is Xena spayed? If not, this may be the problem.  If she is coming into season, she can have the behavioral changes you describe.  If there is a medical issue, and the cat is in discomfort, this kind of behavior can also occur.  It seems that in either case, a visit to the vet is warranted.

Please let me know what happens.

Seasonal regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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