Devil Cat

We have a new family member, a large black male cat named Ani (it’s short for Anikan, the sweet boy who turns into Darth Vader in the Stars Wars movies). It is appropriately named. I just call it Devil Cat.
One of my daughters traded a kitten for this cat. She was pleased that she had found a home for one of the kittens. Me? Not so much! She says I gave her permission but I thought she was joking at the time. So now we have Devil Cat.
Devil Cat allows you to pet him, no, wait, he demands that you pet him. Just when you think you are getting into the cat/owner groove thing, he attacks you. Teeth, claws, the whole bit flash out at you. If you’re quick enough there is no injury. If not, ouch!!!
He prowls the house looking for victims. He’ll hide so you don’t notice that you are in his space until with a growl and a swipe he’s got you again. A few minutes later, he’ll jump on your lap and purr!
Watching him with the dogs is really interesting. Actually, watching the dogs reaction to him is what is so captivating. Our older, bigger dog, Meesha, completely ignores him. He’ll do his prowling, hunting thing and she just lays there seemingly not noticing. We can tell she’s on high alert but to most she looks like she hasn’t a care in the world. It’s driving the cat crazy!
Our medium more insecure dog, Tressa, has let the cat know he can bring it on anytime. He starts his intimidating thing and she watches for a few minutes before being the first one to pounce on him. This sends him snarling to another room. But a few minutes later, he is back to try again.
He has the most fun (and drives me crazy) with the two new, small dogs, Mo and Stu. Mo will not pass by him. Dog stands there barking like crazy at cat. Cat just sits refusing to take notice. Dog gives up. Stu, however, is even more intimidated. All Devil Cat has to do is look casually at him and he runs yelping the other way. The cat is in his element and loving it!
So I got to thinking about the bullies in the human world. And the different ways we react to them. Some of us ignore them, some fight back, some of us just cower and give in. There is a higher way, though. We can “love our enemies” and “do good to them that despitefully use us”. This is not a new concept and yet, we still hesitate to believe it will work. How can loving someone who is hurting us help?
I don’t know but it does. I know that it does. So maybe if we all start trying it, we can change the world one bully at a time. Maybe even Devil Cat. That’s the view from my side of the street, what’s yours?