mary, I believe that cats have a kind of Pavlov's dog response, to the way they have been treated in the past, especially by another cat. If Muffin has done this consistantly in the past, they will expect the same treatment at the present and future. Probably what is happening is her demonstrating her matriarchial dominance, of which the others do not totally accept. I had problems with Tiger when she was a kitten over the same issues. Although in Tiger's case I believe that it was caused by a defeciency of feeding from her original owners. Tiger used to keep the others at bay while she fed from their mutual feeding tray, and she only being a tiny kitten at that!

............wayne