Interesting behavior

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peek

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Last night I was wrestling with my daughter when our cat (a 5 year old neutered male) decided that he should intervene. He wasn't being playful, nor aggressive, but took hold of my arm in a warning sort of way. I would expect this protective behavior from our loyal dog, but it strikes me as odd coming from a cat. I suppose it could be that he was confused or irritated by my daughter's high pitched squealing, but I've never seen a cat join in rowdy human behavior. I've only ever seen them leave the premises by the most direct means available, usually looking very offended.

Tell me what you think. Has anyone seen this type of thing? I've been around cats most of my life, and seeing this has motivated me to come on this site. Very peculiar.
 
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othie

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Originally Posted by Peek

Last night I was wrestling with my daughter when our cat (a 5 year old neutered male) decided that he should intervene. He wasn't being playful, nor aggressive, but took hold of my arm in a warning sort of way. I would expect this protective behavior from our loyal dog, but it strikes me as odd coming from a cat. I suppose it could be that he was confused or irritated by my daughter's high pitched squealing, but I've never seen a cat join in rowdy human behavior. I've only ever seen them leave the premises by the most direct means available, usually looking very offended.

Tell me what you think. Has anyone seen this type of thing? I've been around cats most of my life, and seeing this has motivated me to come on this site. Very peculiar.
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I've had a cat come if they hear crying. I have also heard of some cats attacking people who break into their owners house or attack their owners, though thats more along the lines of strong rumors...
 
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rotobay

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One of our cats is just like this. She tends to be bold and bossy by nature, but every now and then (esp when my husband and my son play wrestle) she intervenes. She gets this weird look with her ears back and then she will bite someone. Not hard, but firm enough that you know she was trying to tell you something.

Oddly enough, she always runs to the front door (along with our dog) when the doorbell rings. Our other cats hide.
 
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krazy kat2

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My daughter's cat did that when my granddaughter was an infant. He would sleep under her crib and if he did not know you, your ankles were toast if you approached. If someone he did not know held her, he would sit right there and if she started crying he would growl. When she started crawling and walking, he stopped doing that, but even though she has her own cat now at 3, he still makes sure she is ok. I would not want to be the one that did anything to her, he is a large cat and could do plenty of damage. He still naps with her on the couch sometimes.
 
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othie

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Originally Posted by krazy kat2

My daughter's cat did that when my granddaughter was an infant. He would sleep under her crib and if he did not know you, your ankles were toast if you approached. If someone he did not know held her, he would sit right there and if she started crying he would growl. When she started crawling and walking, he stopped doing that, but even though she has her own cat now at 3, he still makes sure she is ok. I would not want to be the one that did anything to her, he is a large cat and could do plenty of damage. He still naps with her on the couch sometimes.
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aww that sounds so cute!
 
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whiteforest

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When I worked in an animal shelter there was a neutered male that took a particular liking to me. Well, one day I was cleaning the cat colony (where the cats were all free roaming) and another male hissed and swatted at me. Well, my little buddy came flying across the room and got between us and attacked the other cat. They will protect their loved ones just like dogs will.
 
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ladylonewolf

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I'm sure cats can be protective just like dogs are.

If my son starts crying, Snickers will come running and try rubbing around his legs, or he'll sit next to him. He always has the most confused look on his face, as if to say, "what's wrong?".
 
beturtlement

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I've had my li'l one become a bit over protective of me a few times. One particular instance, my mother was at my bedroom door and went to toss a t-shirt to me while Niko was laying beside me. The minute she raised her arm to throw the shirt at me, Niko /bolts/ towards her in a bit of a lunging fashion, gets in this wide footed stance, and hisses at her... the ears were back, the tail was all puffed up, etc. He's never shown ANY type of aggression, let alone to my mother who he chills with all the time. For the next day or so, whenever my mom would come near me while he was in the vicinity, he'd step between us and stare her down. *giggles* I love my li'l protector man.
 
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