Dylan is a blue/grey tabby with golden eyes, very sleek and elegant, very much the head of my parents' household. He's four-and-a-half years old now, and they've had him since he was just eight weeks.
Right now, my two cats and I are staying with my parents (and their three) because my father is ill. Yesterday, a fight broke out among the cats -- I don't know what started it, but my Clyde and Pearl chased Dylan into the guest room, where he hopped on the windowsill and started hissing ferociously at one and all.
Now we all understand that Dylan's status in the household is challenged by the presence of my cats, and we know he feels a lot of pressure because of it. So we try to reassure him as much as we can.
So I came in and got between my kitties and Dylan while my mom removed them from the room. After they were gone, I apologized to Dylan for the fact that my cats have intruded on his domain. Then I reached out to pet him, which was a mistake -- he clamped down on my left hand and bit me badly, while also digging his claws into my right hand like fishhooks.
I don't know whether it was the right thing to do or not, but I didn't leave him -- I stayed right there and bled and continued to talk to him very quietly until he seemed to settle down. Then I tried again, VERY carefully, and this time he let me stroke his cheek.
Then I went out and cleaned up my wounds, bandaged everything, and about a half-hour later I went and sat beside Dylan again. He looked at my hands and then looked up at me very directly... and bowed his head. He sat with his head bowed for a long time.
This morning, while I was cleaning and rebandaging everything, Dylan hopped up on the counter and looked at the wounds, and again looked me right in the eye for a moment and then bowed his head.
And that's exactly what he did a couple of years ago when he tore a long cut in my mom's ankle. I honestly think this cat is apologizing! Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Right now, my two cats and I are staying with my parents (and their three) because my father is ill. Yesterday, a fight broke out among the cats -- I don't know what started it, but my Clyde and Pearl chased Dylan into the guest room, where he hopped on the windowsill and started hissing ferociously at one and all.
Now we all understand that Dylan's status in the household is challenged by the presence of my cats, and we know he feels a lot of pressure because of it. So we try to reassure him as much as we can.
So I came in and got between my kitties and Dylan while my mom removed them from the room. After they were gone, I apologized to Dylan for the fact that my cats have intruded on his domain. Then I reached out to pet him, which was a mistake -- he clamped down on my left hand and bit me badly, while also digging his claws into my right hand like fishhooks.
I don't know whether it was the right thing to do or not, but I didn't leave him -- I stayed right there and bled and continued to talk to him very quietly until he seemed to settle down. Then I tried again, VERY carefully, and this time he let me stroke his cheek.
Then I went out and cleaned up my wounds, bandaged everything, and about a half-hour later I went and sat beside Dylan again. He looked at my hands and then looked up at me very directly... and bowed his head. He sat with his head bowed for a long time.
This morning, while I was cleaning and rebandaging everything, Dylan hopped up on the counter and looked at the wounds, and again looked me right in the eye for a moment and then bowed his head.
And that's exactly what he did a couple of years ago when he tore a long cut in my mom's ankle. I honestly think this cat is apologizing! Has anyone else had a similar experience?
When she's knocked over a vase or gone through the trashcan (she has a bad habit of that, even though we try to stop it) and we find the mess, she immediately tries to climb into our laps and rub against our faces.
