This is a question I get asked all the time, and I have to say it is a common one. The truth is, cats are born with a very limited range of awareness. Because of that, it’s very difficult to predict their behavior and reactions.
All cats are genetically predisposed to being hyper-active, but cats can also have a few days where they go completely blank. This is due to a genetic mutation in the cat’s brain that allows the part of the brain that’s responsible for awareness to go on vacation. The cat then experiences the normal range of behavioral changes, but isn’t aware of them. These days are really hard to determine a cat’s state of awareness.
A cat is schizophrenic if they experience changes in their behavior that are outside of their normal range, but that are considered to be part of their normal behavior. This includes behaviors like being unable to speak, being aggressive towards other cats, or having trouble with learning to talk. They also have trouble with memory, which is why a cat with brain damage or a cat with a cat brain problem will not be able to learn to talk.
Now we know why a cat is a cat. It’s because it’s not just their normal behavior that are outside of their normal range. Sometimes the cat is not exactly aware of what they’re doing, but they are aware that their actions are different and therefore are not part of their normal behaviors.
This is a common problem. Some cats are just not aware of what they are doing, especially if the behaviors are different from their normal ones. The cat brain is not aware of that, so they are not aware of being aggressive towards other cats or not learning to talk. Instead, they blame the other cat. It is a vicious cycle that can cause a lot of problems.
A cat that is aware of what they are doing but can’t remember why they did it is “schizophrenic.” A cat that is aware of what they are doing but refuses to remember why they are doing it is “insane.