OP - Alex learnt about gentle from an early age - with one really affectionate, patient cat, who does the most stupid things with alex. But he still hits, but if we say gentle he wont' hit as hard. - I came out of the bathroom one day to find Alex kneeling on the cat, bouncing. The cat was just lying there with eyes that said "See what I do to get fed in this house?" I told Alex off, pulled him off the cat and she just layed there, refusing to move. But then this cat is more of a dog, she comes to see Alex when he cries and will come up to him to say hello and they play together. I've never had a cat like her before, she's such a softy.