I thought it was their owners who were brutal, I sort of imagined the scenario, man/woman talking to cat, "Alex is coming, so wait outside until he's settled down and then come in. Don't forget, rub yourself against him so as to leave your scent on him, sit on his lap and once you are purring, dig your claws into his thighs. You got it? Good. Do it right and afterwards I'll open you a tin of tuna."