My Chinchilla Marvin, and My Cat Tom

Question

My cat, Tom, is terrified of my chinchilla, Marvin. This has been a great ego boost to Marvin because he used to be a pansy, but why is my cat afraid of him. Marvin just jumps right into him all the time now, and Tom just backs away, or runs away (more often the case). Why is Tom afraid of Marvin?

Answer 1

Tom doesn't still know how tasty Marvin-meat is!

TW K

Answer 2

Because your big ol' macho Tom cat is a wuss--just like MINE. Mine is afraid of rats, birds or basically anything that moves except bugs. Also, Marvin may have bit Tom at some point in time, and when he goes to jump on Tom, those little toenails on a chinchilla are sharp. Tom just prefers to keep his distance from this little nuisance.

Answer 3

Because if I was a cat and saw a kangarabbitmousquirrel, I'd be scared too.

http://s228.photobucket.com/albums/ee311...

And, as you've mentioned, he runs into him. My chinchillas loved to gang up on our cat. Who just sat there and took it, LIKE A REAL CAT SHOULD! Perhaps rolling Marvin in catnip would solve the problem.

Or perhaps it's because they had never been properly introduced? I'd suggest a formal dinner and maybe a movie.