One must come to understandings with ones cats. One must assign superiority to the cat for instance, because it is true - they are much smarter than we are. It helps to just give the cat what it wants, then it will be playful and tender, even cooperative at times.
I hope your protagonist learns how to live with the cat, because living with a provocative cat is no fun.
I love cats, all cats, even cats that bite me and I have to get rabies shots. I'm hopeless that way.
I liked your story, but I felt pain for both the characters.