CAT MEAN TO BOYFRIEND

Question
QUESTION: OUR CAT RECENTLY STARTED BEING MEAN ONLY TO MY BOYFRIEND BUT NOT ME.  WE HAVE HAD THE CAT SINCE HE WAS A KITTEN AND HE USED TO GO TO MY BOYFRIEND MORE THAN ME.  HE LET ME PICK HIM UP AND DO ALMOST ANYTHING EVEN GIVE HIM A BATH.  WHEN MY BOYFRIEND PICKS HIM UP HE WILL SCREAMS LOUDLY, HISSES AND BITES HIM.  WE THOUGHT HE MAY BE IN PAIN BUT HE I PICK HIM UP ALL THE TIME AND HE ONLY GROWLS A LITTLE.

ANSWER: Georgia,

How old is your cat?  Is he fixed?  When did this change in personality occur, i.e. how long ago?

He should not be growling at you.  My first guess without answers to the above questions is that he is now uncomfortable, for some reason, when he is being picked up.  His reaction may be stronger with your boyfriend than you since he is your cat and just casually knows your boyfriend.

My guess is that there is a hormonal or medical problem with your cat, but need the above answered to have any clue at all.

Best regards... Norm.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: THANK YOU.OUR CAT IS THREE YEARS OLD AND HAS LIVED WITH MY BOYFRIEND AND ME SINCE HE WAS SIX WEEKS OLD.  HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE ON THE MEAN SIDE BUT HE REALLY GETS UPSET WHEN EVER MY BOYFRIEND PICKS HIM UP NOW.  HE ONLY GROWLS AT ME BECAUSE HE DOES NOT WANT TO GO INSIDE AND IT ISN'T A LOUD GROWL.  I NEVER MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT HIS FUSSING. WE LET HIM GO IN OUR BACKYARD WITH US. THE CAT IS FIXED AND HE STARTED DOING THIS JUST ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO.  SINCE HE WAS A KITTEN HE HAS HISSED AT STRANGERS IN THE HOUSE BUT HE USED TO SIT ON MY BOYFRIENDS LAP ALL THE TIME TO THE POINT THAT IT UPSET ME BECAUSE IT SEEMED THAT HE LIKED MY BOYFRIEND MORE THAN ME.  NOW HE ACTS LIKE HE WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY BOYFRIEND AT ALL.  THE CAT WAS FROM A LITTER OF JUST TWO KITTENS AND THE FATHER WAS A FARRELL CAT SO I'M TOLD.  NOT SURE WHAT A FERRET CAT IS.

Answer
Georgia,

I am wondering if your cat may be uncomfortable because of some medical problem.  The most likely being urinary tract problems.  I would have him see your vet.  My bet is that your cat just does not feel well.

The word you are looking for is feral which means a cat that has grown up in the wild.

Best regards... Norm.