From: UC Davis Vet Med Article on Feline Agression
Petting-evoked aggression is a rather odd behavior. Typically, a cat who has been gently petted on a person’s lap for perhaps five minutes suddenly turns and scratches or bites the person who has been petting it.
This appears to be a behavior that has no counterpart in wild felids, but it is a real phenomenon for which there is generally no cure. As with redirected aggression, there are guidelines for how to avoid the behavior.
When holding and petting a cat, human family members need to understand signals that indicate an impending change in behavior—from sitting quietly to attacking the lap that holds it. Our advice is simply to put the cat down before his or her tolerance threshold is reached, rather than assume that the cat would enjoy more prolonged petting.
From: UC Davis Vet Med’s Article: Pica: The Un-finicky Feline
What is Pica?
Pica is the act of eating non-food items. In less serious cases, cats may chew or suck on objects, but not actually swallow them. Common targets include yarn or string, fabric, wool, phone or electric cords, and plants. Any object may be a potential target, however.
Why is Pica Dangerous?
Other than its destructive potential, pica can be extremely hazardous to your cat’s health if non-food items are consumed. Ingested fabric, string, or other materials can lodge in your cat’s stomach or intestine. The blockage prevents the passage of food and may cut off the blood supply to these organs. Both are life-threatening conditions. Cat’s that chew on power cords may be electrocuted. Additionally, many common houseplants are toxic to cats; chewing or eating these plants can cause a wide range of symptoms from drooling to death. If your cat has a history of ingesting non-food items and becomes lethargic, vomits, or displays other concerning behavior, take them to your veterinarian immediately.
Why Does My Cat Eat/Chew on Non-food Items?
No one knows exactly why some cats exhibit pica behavior. Because pica has been associated with a variety of diseases including feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus, a veterinarian should examine any cat with pica. A genetic component is also suspected since wool or fabric sucking/chewing is more commonly found in Oriental breeds such as Siamese cats. Although it is normal for cats to eat small amounts of grass, consumption of large amounts of plant material may be an indication of a dietary deficiency or illness. Once medical causes are ruled out, behavioral reasons for pica can include boredom, attention-seeking, attractive odors, hunger, and learned behavior.
My first cat I named Cookie – short for Cookies and Cream which is what her coloring looked like. So I went with the idea of Kahlua and Cream for Khalua, but I like how Khalua looks better. It’s pronounced the same way though. And Mocha is Mocha with Cream.
how did you come up with the name khalua