Cats fight

Today, on my travels I was attacked by a stray cat. Why is it that cats attack me? I saw a cat under a flower stand and I blinked at it (that's cat for hello). While I stood looking at the flowers it came out and came around my legs asking to be pet. So I pet it for a while (random stray cat - but it looked healthy enough.... a sick mind in a healthy body!) and he liked it (or so it seemed) - he curved his back towards me and wrapped his tail around my leg (I even think he was purring). even got stray-cat hair all over my hand. but when he got tired - instead of just walking away (I was standing still - I didn't follow him, or crowd his space or anything - he was in my space) he attacked me! teeth and nail and and hissing and spitting and everything. and no I hadn't done anything wrong - not that I know of, unless I crossed some invisible cat line of etiquette. It's as though they think I'm one of the cats and treat me as such - well I growled at him (arg! GRRRRRR!!!!)- so maybe he was half right.

but it's not just random stray cats - it's even our very own Tom. he attacks me. even though K is the one who harasses him - she gives him love he doesn't want and holds onto his tail or paw (which he hates) and all he ever does is walk away. but he always comes at me with claws out and teeth bared (that is, when he's not sleeping or asking for food) - even when I'm not doing anything - just sitting in bed. K says that it's Tom's way of talking to me - she says it's better than the way he just ignores her - as though she's not even worthy of comment... I say I want to be unworthy of comment (especially at 4am)!
Tulip