If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Calico cats - Bad temperament?
I just adopted a stray 8-10 week calico female kitten. I told the vet
that she was very sweet and I was handling her alot to help her become socialized. The vet replied "Let's hope she stays that way. Most calico cats are quite ill-tempered." She had worked several years at a cat shelter. I was shocked. Is there any evidence that calico cats are more anti-social as adults than mixed breed cats? I know some of you may own a calico cat and have some antedoctal evidence. I am interested in any research or documentation on this issue. Or perhaps the vet was speaking from limited experience? My calico kitten named Maya is a bit skittish, but once she knows who you are is very friendly and affectionate. I want to help her to keep that temperament - any suggestions? PS. I do plan to have her spayed at about 3 months. I have four other inside neutered adult male cats who ignore her or just hiss at her but keep their distance. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Calico cats - Bad temperament?
"Richard" wrote in message oups.com... I was shocked. Is there any evidence that calico cats are more anti-social as adults than mixed breed cats? I know some of you may own a calico cat and have some antedoctal evidence. I once owned a huge lomg hair female calico. She was one of the most social animals ever born. She was quite loving and very outgoing towards new people. First time visitors to our home were always investigated and 'tested' by her for kitty attention and play tolerance. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Calico cats - Bad temperament?
"Richard" wrote in message oups.com... I was shocked. Is there any evidence that calico cats are more anti-social as adults than mixed breed cats? I know some of you may own a calico cat and have some antedoctal evidence. I am interested in any research or documentation on this issue. Or perhaps the vet was speaking from limited experience? No evidence, or documentation, or research- just 33 years grooming them. *Among groomers* calicos are pretty much regarded as the most difficult of cats to handle. I think it is just because they are girls, and girls are mostly more difficult than boys. And I said *mostly*- don't any of you girls owners get your knickers in a twist g -- Toni http://www.cearbhaill.com/kitties.htm |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Calico cats - Bad temperament?
I wouldn't say they are ill tempered they just have very distinct
personalities. I've had one that was shy and reserverd and my current one is 5 years old and is the ornery one of the house and shows no sign of growing out of it. Celeste "RobZip" no wrote in message . .. "Richard" wrote in message oups.com... I was shocked. Is there any evidence that calico cats are more anti-social as adults than mixed breed cats? I know some of you may own a calico cat and have some antedoctal evidence. I once owned a huge lomg hair female calico. She was one of the most social animals ever born. She was quite loving and very outgoing towards new people. First time visitors to our home were always investigated and 'tested' by her for kitty attention and play tolerance. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Calico cats - Bad temperament?
"Toni" wrote in message .. . "Richard" wrote in message oups.com... I was shocked. Is there any evidence that calico cats are more anti-social as adults than mixed breed cats? I know some of you may own a calico cat and have some antedoctal evidence. I am interested in any research or documentation on this issue. Or perhaps the vet was speaking from limited experience? No evidence, or documentation, or research- just 33 years grooming them. *Among groomers* calicos are pretty much regarded as the most difficult of cats to handle. I think it is just because they are girls, and girls are mostly more difficult than boys. And I said *mostly*- don't any of you girls owners get your knickers in a twist g -- Toni http://www.cearbhaill.com/kitties.htm The calicos and torties do have a rep to maintain. I've seen them run the gambit though. I have a long haired calico now who is a real lap cat and love bug. She checks in with everyone who comes in the house to get attention. OTOH I saw one of my former foster kittens over the weekend. She's a dilute calico and her person brought her in for us to clip her claws. You'd think we were trying to kill her the way she carried on. If one of the other volunteers didn't have a good scruff on her she would have ripped me to ribbons. They tell me she's not like that at home (thank God!). My first cat after we got married was a calico and she was moody. Not a monster and really pretty good with kids just not a lap cat and she preferred to avoid people she didn't know. W |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Calico cats - Bad temperament?
In article .com,
"Richard" wrote: Is there any evidence that calico cats are more anti-social as adults than mixed breed cats? I know some of you may own a calico cat and have some antedoctal evidence. I am interested in any research or documentation on this issue. I bet there is little to no actual documented evidence of this. Or perhaps the vet was speaking from limited experience? Experience perhaps more expansive than many, but still limited to personal observation. Of course, that is just a guess on my part. Why not ask the vet in question where she gets this information? There is so little actual study done of domestic cats that it is pathetic. Most housecat wisdom (apart from some medical physical phenomena) is based on anecdotal observation. AFA calicos go, I own one, the only one I ever had. She is currently in the living room of a house containing 4 other indoor-only cats. She came to us as a stray, too. Belle is very unfriendly to all the other cats, although she is sweet to us for the most part. When she first came, the other cats tended to stalk and attack her... sometimes viciously. Thankfully, that nastiness has attenuated considerably over time. Had it not, I would have been forced to one of various options-- all of which I find repugnant. I have been subject to minor scratches and occasional bites from Belle when she is over-stimulated or otherwise upset (by the presence of one of the other cats, for instance). When hungry, Belle has been known to feint at the passing ankle in the kitchen. Her voice is a scratchy little old lady's voice, which I find irresistibly endearing but which drives my better half crazy. Belle can be *very* vocal. When she is in a loving mood, she is an incredibly affectionate, expressive animal. I have no explanation for it, but my heartstrings are hers to pluck and she seems to know it. As much as I adore this little cat, she seems to prefer the company of strangers, like our visitors-- ANY visitors, but especially the female kind. Based on her personality and behavior (and my own ignorance) I have constructed an entire history for her, which I believe to be pretty close to the facts. (How's that for anecdotal?) In a perfect world, Belle would be an only cat, living in her own private quarters with someone who cherished her like a little queen. As it is, she has little choice but to put up with the inconvenience of other cats and her barely-tolerable human caretakers. Maybe that's what makes her so grouchy sometimes. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Calico cats - Bad temperament?
Richard wrote:
I just adopted a stray 8-10 week calico female kitten. I told the vet that she was very sweet and I was handling her alot to help her become socialized. The vet replied "Let's hope she stays that way. Most calico cats are quite ill-tempered." She had worked several years at a cat shelter. I was shocked. Is there any evidence that calico cats are more anti-social as adults than mixed breed cats? I know some of you may own a calico cat and have some antedoctal evidence. I am interested in any research or documentation on this issue. Or perhaps the vet was speaking from limited experience? My calico kitten named Maya is a bit skittish, but once she knows who you are is very friendly and affectionate. I want to help her to keep that temperament - any suggestions? PS. I do plan to have her spayed at about 3 months. I have four other inside neutered adult male cats who ignore her or just hiss at her but keep their distance. I have had four tri- or bi- colored cats. Two have been the sweetest things that they could possibly be. One is sweet only to my husband, and one has her moments of sweetness and her moments of being a total b!tch on four paws! Not sure if this has anything to do with it, but the two that were (one passed away Dec 2002) the sweetest they could be, were raised by us from the age of about 4-5 weeks. The two not-so-nice ones were adults when we got them (one from the local shelter, was labeled as a 'stray' caught by the local Animal Control Officers, had an estimated age of 8 months when we got her; the other a stray that decided that our garage was a good place to live was estimated to be about 6 years old, but then we invited her into the house proper, and here she stays). |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Calico cats - Bad temperament?
In article ,
"Magic Mood JeepŠ" wrote: the other a stray that decided that our garage was a good place to live was estimated to be about 6 years old, but then we invited her into the house proper, and here she stays). That is a very good description of how we got our Belle. So good, it made me smile in recognition. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Calico cats - Bad temperament?
No. It's just nonsense. In general, girl cats are fussier than the boys
and calicos and torties are often "all girl" in their personalities. But they're all individuals and you have to take them as such. Just like people. Richard wrote: I just adopted a stray 8-10 week calico female kitten. I told the vet that she was very sweet and I was handling her alot to help her become socialized. The vet replied "Let's hope she stays that way. Most calico cats are quite ill-tempered." She had worked several years at a cat shelter. I was shocked. Is there any evidence that calico cats are more anti-social as adults than mixed breed cats? I know some of you may own a calico cat and have some antedoctal evidence. I am interested in any research or documentation on this issue. Or perhaps the vet was speaking from limited experience? My calico kitten named Maya is a bit skittish, but once she knows who you are is very friendly and affectionate. I want to help her to keep that temperament - any suggestions? PS. I do plan to have her spayed at about 3 months. I have four other inside neutered adult male cats who ignore her or just hiss at her but keep their distance. |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Calico cats - Bad temperament?
Richard wrote: I just adopted a stray 8-10 week calico female kitten. I told the vet that she was very sweet and I was handling her alot to help her become socialized. The vet replied "Let's hope she stays that way. Most calico cats are quite ill-tempered." She had worked several years at a cat shelter. They are quirky and bitchy. They also have their charms. I was shocked. Is there any evidence that calico cats are more anti-social as adults than mixed breed cats? Calicos are mixed breed. I know some of you may own a calico cat and have some antedoctal evidence. I am interested in any research or documentation on this issue. You will never get it. Those kinds of studies just aren't done. Or perhaps the vet was speaking from limited experience? LOL...probably not. Everyone I know who has ever worked in vet medicine, rescue or shelters pretty much agree that calicos are a bit snooty if not bitchy. Same for torties. Orange males tend to be mellow. Male black cats are big, whiney babies. Siamese (and many pointed moggies) are just obnoxious attention hounds. Ragdolls are just dumb. It's all anecdotal evdence, but almost everyone agrees. My calico kitten named Maya is a bit skittish, but once she knows who you are is very friendly and affectionate. I want to help her to keep that temperament - any suggestions? Play with her and give her a lot of affection. PS. I do plan to have her spayed at about 3 months. I have four other inside neutered adult male cats who ignore her or just hiss at her but keep their distance. She will soon rule the roost. Mark my words! -L. |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
rec.pets.cats: Norwegian Forest Cat Breed-FAQ | Bjorn Steensrud | Cat Information | 0 | February 18th 06 05:26 AM |
rec.pets.cats: Traditional Siamese Breed-FAQ | Laura Gilbreath | Cat Information | 0 | February 18th 06 05:25 AM |
rec.pets.cats: Norwegian Forest Cat Breed-FAQ | Bjorn Steensrud | Cat Information | 0 | October 19th 05 05:37 AM |
rec.pets.cats: Traditional Siamese Breed-FAQ | Laura Gilbreath | Cat Information | 0 | October 19th 05 05:35 AM |
Cat predation studies | Alison | Cat health & behaviour | 48 | February 5th 04 03:17 AM |