Is this cat just pure evil?

Question

On June 6 2006 (06/06/06) my mom bought a black cat that is simply evil. His name is Poe which I just found out means "Dark Soul". He waits around corners and attacks people with teeth and claws, won't sit on your lap, cuddle, or let you pet him at all. Last week I was standing in the hall talking on the phone and he jumped up and grabbed me around the waist and gave me 2 big deep scratches. This cat is pure evil and he just keeps getting worse. Is it possible that he could have a serious mental disorder? I mean if it can happen in humans then why not in cats too? Are there any really good books to read about feline behavior? I am 6 months pregnant and worried this cat may make me go into early labor! Any tips you have would be much appreciated, thanks!

To everyone telling me to get rid of the cat/have it put down, this isn't my cat, as I said at the beginning it's my mother's! I won't be living here anymore once I have the baby, and won't be bringing the baby to visit either so I don't have to worry about the baby's safety as far as the cat is concerned. Also "get a new cat" is completely ridiculous, this cat is a member of my mom's family and although he is just as mean to her as he is to everyone else she "loves" him. He is almost a year old and she got him as a kitten. He was from a cat rescue though, and we have theorized that his mother may have been a stray. Do you think getting another cat (adult of course) would be advisable? Or do you think that he would end up hurting it?

We do play with him, he has tons of toys, he gets tons of attention, always has clean water and a bowl of food. He is an indoor cat, we live in a townhouse and he is not allowed outside by rules of the complex.

Answer 1

Have you had the cat checked at the vets to make sure he there isn't a medical reason for his behaviour. There are conditions such as hypothyroidism, epilepsy and some food allergies that can cause a cat to react in this way. If your vet rules out any medical problems, then at least you know it's behavioural.

Your cat isn't quite an adult yet and his behaviour, though a bit rough is normal in a young cat. It could be that he's just practising his hunting skills, particularly as he likes to wait in ambush. Does he have access to the outside at all? If he's an indoor cat with no other feline company then he has a lot of energy that needs to be burnt off. My own two year old female cat was this way with me, until I adopted a stray kitten, and now the two playfight together all the time.

Some cats are more affectionate than others it just depends upon the individual. If he was a stray kitten he may not be very well socialised and never learnt how to interact with humans in their home. Does anyone play games with him, as he could be encouraged to focus any aggressive tendencies toward his toys. Make sure you use toys attached to the end of a piece of string and that way he won't attack your hands.

There is an extremely good book called "Do Cats Need Shrinks" by animal behaviourist Peter Neville (in later editions this book was called "Cat Behaviour Explained - A Self Help Guide").
This book is compiled of many of his case histories and there are several included where people had aggressive cats. It also includes information on how to introduce an additional cat into your home if you decide to try that option. See the links below on where to buy this book and more information on the topics that it covers;

http://www.pets.f9.co.uk/shop/index.html
http://www.pets.f9.co.uk/shop/media/dcns.html

I'm glad that you don't want to give up on your cat and hope you can find a happy solution for all involved. Good luck

Answer 2

Is this cat a cat or a kitten? It's possible that there may be something wrong with Poe. It's also possible that Poe may have been abused or mistreated as a kitten and was not properly socialized by a loving family. If a kitten is not properly socialized, the poor thing could become mean as a result of neglect or abuse; I've seen this happen too many times. You could try reading a book called "Cats on the Couch" by Carole Wilbourn or Cat Behavior and Training: Veterinary Advice for Owners by Lowell Ackerman to get some answers. I would probably take a look at the latter of the two. You could always ask your vet.

Answer 3

LOL, I love that he was purchased on 6/6/06. Too funny! The cat is not evil. Chances are, he was not socialized properly as a kitten, and just doesn't know how to be a nice, sweet kitty. I have a couple cats who don't especially love to cuddle, but mine aren't clawing and biting me, either. This cat may indeed have some kind of mental disorder, but only your vet can help you figure that out for sure. Perhaps a medication like Prozac or Amitriptylline would be a good choice to help calm Poe down some, if the vet thinks it may be a disorder. OR, he needs a friend to beat up. Some cats hide and attack because they are bored and want you to play. They can get rough and nasty, but once they have a buddy, they can play together and the sneak attacks soon stop. (My cat Moot did this until we got Zoe, and then his energies focused on her and not the backs of my knees...OUCH.)

Sidenote: Whatever you do, don't declaw him...cats who are scratchers and get declawed usually become biters--I'm talking full-on limb removal here...keep his nails trimmed (take him to the vet so they can do it for you!). I would definitely consult a vet about his "evil" ways.

Answer 4

Honestly, I had a cat just like this. He isn;t evil. I believe some just are not as domesticated as most other cats. Do you keep this cat indoors? I used to call my cat the meanest cat alive! I swear he was wild! My grandmother and certain people could NOT come into my house because he would attack them. He never attacked me though and he loved some people. When I gave him away (finally, he just wasnt happy inside and we lived on a busy street so outside wasnt an option) to a lady who had a big field and lived in the country, he was a totally different cat and very nice.

Answer 5

If you think this of your cat,then what are you going to do when your new baby gets to about 2, and starts at one end of the hallway with his fists out in front of him and runs full steam ahead at your groin...lol...NO, honestly,your cat is very normal, in fact, some people would love a cat like that ,that is so active,cats have all sorts of characteristics, but I have never come across an evil one. Your astrological dates and meanings are purely coincidental, Don't let it get to you, this is just one of the woes and joys of owning a cat..Simply, if he doesn't suit you, get another one, BUT, don't rite him off as Satan's Puss, 'Poe' also means a toilet seat, he's probably just a little '****'...lol...I suggest you watch him around your new born too...

Answer 6

The cat may be expressing its dominance. As there is no other pet to assert it, he does it to his human companions.

Suggest to train your cat as they do in the wild. The dominant cat (you) sets the rules by being intolerant of every misbehavior. Be brief with the action and be consistent. For example, if the cat jumps up on the dining room table: grab the cat by the scruff (loose skin on its neck), say "No!" and drop the cat (safely) on the floor. It may look painful but it grabbing the scruff does not hurt him at all. In time, the cat will get the message.

Also suggest some playtime. The cat needs to use up its energy. A ball of string tied to the end of a stick can provide hours of fun. Something metallic can be fun too, such as a rolled up aluminum foil. The cat will bat it around for hours!

Answer 7

The cat sounds like he is aggressive, but not evil. How old is he? Is he neutered? Does anyone play with him so he can burn off some of his energy? http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/aggression.html
http://www.sspca.org/Cats/FelineSocial.html
http://home.gci.net/~divs/behavior/feline_aggr.html
or join this group:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/cats-healthandbehavior/

We recently adopted an adult female cat and she is trying to drive our male cat out of the house. She also grabs legs and hands, etc, but keeps her claws in, which is a huge difference.

I suggest that you find some good cat toys and keep Poe playing. He needs some activities to burn off energy and he needs some manners.

Answer 8

i will take the cat the the vet and Tell the vet and if u don't want 2 do that get rid of the cat cuz if the cat can hurt u it can hurt the baby has well i have a black cat 2 her name is midnight she is really nice so ur cat is the devil lol

Answer 9

yes cats can have mental disorders if you can get it to a vet to see if they can find out what is wrong ??other wise get rid of the cat. I would not trust the cat around the baby when you have it . I am not a cat hater as I have 2 my self

good luck

Answer 10

Sounds to me as though he's just playing, admittedly a bit rough. My tomcat pounces on me sometimes, and nips at me, but never out and out bites. If I raise my voice at him, or squirt him with a water bottle, he stops. Sounds like your mom's cat just needs to be taught what the boundarys of play are. He's just being a brat, and needs some guidance. Some cats don't like being held, and that's just their personality. My female cat tolerates being held, but she's happier when it's her idea to sit in my lap. Find out how he likes to play (he likes hunting games for sure!) and try to substitute a toy on a wand for him to "attack", instead of you!