Every story brings out more complexities in these aliens. Though their instincts are to "scream and leap"; and they are not sophisticated in many ways; they do learn. They also keep their own goals always in mind. They are a fair challenge for mankind.
Killer pussycats in space!
Back cover: A Kzin's instinctively combative responses make for poor diplomatic relations between species. But now that their 'first you scream and then you leap' approach to interstellar relations have led to three straight losses to the hairless hominidae of Soll III, there has begun to arise in Kzinti consciousness the faintest glimmering that there may be a Better Way. And in the resulting calm between wars, humans and Kzin are beginning to collaborate, sort of.