From criteria developed to diagnose psychopathy in domestic cats, included in “A domestic cat model of triarchic psychopathy factors: Development and initial validation of the CAT-Tri+ questionnaire.” The article was published in the December issue of the Journal of Research in Personality.

Displaces other cats from favorable positions

Purrs when attacking people and animals

Regularly hunts small creatures

Torments his or her prey

Displays unprovoked aggression

Appears to act out in revenge

Attacks others when they’re shown attention

Only shows affection to make other pets jealous

Disobeys house rules

Is undeterred by punishment

Hides and jumps out at people and pets

Disturbs people when they are resting

Displays sudden mood changes

Vocalizes loudly for no apparent reason

Spends a lot of time alone

Attempts to copulate with inanimate objects

Does not learn from experience