What makes Merly so mean?

I adopted her from a shelter at 4 weeks old. She was the sweetest, tiniest calico kitten, and when I got her home she would nurse my ear frequently for comfort. She is now about 8 years old and still thinks I am her mother.

My first clue should have been when Béarnaise, who shared a cage with her at the pound and is the most laid back cat ever, got a nasty abscess from where she hooked him with her tiny claw.

When company (especially females and children) come to visit, she is intimidating at the least, but more often aggressive and violent. She will park herself in a high traffic area and swat when people walk by in hopes of drawing blood. If my company manages to stay out of reach, she contents herself with demonic, threatening yowls. She is pretty fond of my male visitors for some reason, though.

Sometimes, to throw her victims off balance, she becomes affectionate and begs for attention. When they finish cringing and give her a delicate pat on the head, she rips their hand off.

She's pretty well-behaved with me (I am the person who feeds her and still provides ear) but I am not permitted to reach into the laundry basket if the laundry is still warm. If I pet her incorrectly (and the rules change daily) she wraps her legs around me and bites my arm until I bleed.

The truth really sank in when I was told by my vet I was no longer allowed to drop her off for her annual checkup. I must stay in the room with her at all times. Apparently once she got in her cage, when the staff walked by she swiped them through the bars. When they tried to put her under to clean her teeth, she drew blood from 2 or 3 employees even as the anesthesia kicked in. My vet told me that some cats attack from fear or intimidation, but he is pretty sure she attacks out of pure meanness. Official diagnosis!

Photo submitted by: Jessica
Date last updated: 09/14/07