AboutNorman Auspitz Expertise I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
Expert: Norman Auspitz Date: 7/21/2008 Subject: New kitten vs resident cat
Question My husband and I recently got a new kitten - about three days ago. We have had our first cat since she was around 10 weeks old. She will be three this year. She has lived with other animals for about 6 months or so - not including her siblings as a kitten. She lived with a curious golden retriever and an older male cat. The first couple weeks or so weren't that great. Although, she wasn't separated from the animals. She was just thrown into the pit. After a while she became comfortable and at one point let the male cat clean her! With our new kitten, we let her see the baby after a few hours of being in different rooms and she frizzed and growled and started to walk towards her. I don't think she would so any serious harm, but we quickly put the kitten away. Now we just let them peek at each other through a crack in the door but Frankie (the resident cat) just growls. Sometimes she hisses when Layla (the kitten) meows through the door. We put treats near the door where Layla is and Frankie would eat them, but she would be growling as she chewed. It's hard because Layla's foster home had other animals and people so she isn't used to being alone so she cries. We don't want to go in there every time she meows but I don't want her to just cry. Layla has no problem with Frankie - she just wants to play. But Frankie isn't having it. What should we do? Are we rushing things with the cats? Did we do damage from letting them see each other?
Answer Meggie,
What I am about to tell you is very counter intuitive. However, what you must keep in mind that Frankie will not really hurt the kitten. They are going through the usual "getting to know you" rituals, which can be pretty noisy and even have some loose fur, but no real damage.
So, what I would do is to just let the kitten out and let them "discuss" things and work out their inter-relationships. There must be no interference on your part. Do not separate them, do not discipline Frankie, just ignore any noise, even if it sounds like World War III.
They will come to terms and will settle into some kind of relationship.
Giving Frankie extra treats and affection is also a good thing to do as cats can become jealous of a new arrival.
Three days is not much time, especially since they are not really getting to deal with each other.
Please let me know how things are in a few days of no restrictions.
