WTH is going on with this wailing cat?

October 3, 2011 5:28 AM

I just saw this YT video in my FB stream & have no idea what is happening for the cat. Any ideas? It kinda looks scared to me.
posted by dash_slot- to Pets & Animals (8 answers total)

Judging by the pinned-back ears and giant eyes, I would guess that that is one terrified kitty
posted by torisaur at 5:38 AM on October 3, 2011 [1 favorite]

The YouTube comments seem to suggest that the cat is seeing a child for the first time and freaking out because of it.
posted by Jelly at 6:11 AM on October 3, 2011

We have a cat that makes similar noises when she's upset and scared. The cat in the video is nervous, scared, but wants to defend it's territory from a (terrifying) interloper. The arched back and flattened ears are the defense "I'm big and scary and prepared to fight" posture.

This is a kitty panic attack, but she's trying to be brave.
posted by bonehead at 6:35 AM on October 3, 2011 [3 favorites]

We have an orange tabby that makes a similar sound right before it lobs up a hairball. Not saying that the cat is about to puke fur, but it's definitely a similar sound of distress.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:02 AM on October 3, 2011

It seems to me to be mixed messages only because the cat's eyes do not remain fully dilated throughout the episode. Truly odd, though.
posted by bz at 9:13 AM on October 3, 2011

Jelly is correct. The caption on the video from the original uploader is "She is meeting for the first time the small daughter of a friend."

Basically she saw a baby and it broke her tiny brain.
posted by kavasa at 10:19 AM on October 3, 2011 [1 favorite]

Before reading the bit about meeting a small child, I was going to guess hair ball or impending epileptic seizure.
posted by MeiraV at 10:33 AM on October 3, 2011

Totally terrified. I'm surprised that the person who was petting him/her didn't get slashed to bits.
posted by deborah at 11:39 AM on October 3, 2011