[Shrek 2] Why did Puss in Boots switch sides so easily?

[Oliverlogan263]

In Shrek 2, Puss is hired to assassinate Shrek. After his initial attack, he is stopped in his tracks by a hairball, and then he gives up as soon as Shrek grabs him. Not only does he instantly begin begging for mercy, but he immediately tells Shrek who hired him and then swears fealty to Shrek shortly after because Shrek spared his life.

This is the fearless hero Puss in Boots? He barely put up a fight, and then he not only gave up as soon as Shrek grabbed him, but completely switched to Team Shrek.

Perhaps most importantly for this question, in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, it is made clear that he is fearless because he has nine lives. He knows that if he dies, he’ll just come back. So why does Shrek merely grabbing him make him mortally afraid, unwilling to continue fighting after he’s releasing, and willing to immediately jump over to Team Shrek?

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I guess you forgot he didn’t actually make Shrek bleed in all his attacking. Puss In Boots wasn’t meant to go much farther than this in the original production of the sequel, just a cute nod to Zorro while having him voiced by the original Zorro actor for fun. He also gets on the team because he’s a cat and he pulls a cute face with big eyes to let them agree to come with him. It’s a kids movie, it’s not that deep, I understand the need to find an in-canon explanation but you can find a better one looking at the film’s production.