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Expert: - 10/14/2009


Question
Good Afternoon,
I have a male cat who is right about 2 years old. He is a people lover, he is almost like a dog. He brings you to whatever he wants, when he wants to go outside, he goes to the door, hits the doorknob and meows. He wants to be held like a baby and will stay with you for long periods of time. When he goes outside, he makes friends with people, then he makes his rounds to people everytime he is out.
We just moved recently, we move every few months for my husbands work. The cat is wonderful driving, even for 1500 miles. He will come out of his carrier, walk around to check things out, and then go back in to sleep for the day. One time he whined to come back out, we let him out, he found his catbox in back, used that catbox and went back to sleep.
Anyways, we have been at our new place for about 2 1/2 weeks, for the first time in his life it is a cold weather place. (Bismarck, ND) For the last 2 days, he has started arching his back and walking sideways in the house. He is not jumpy, or aggressive. I can still go pick him up as normal. I am just wondering what this type of behavior may mean. Anything you coudl tell me woudl be appreciated.
Thank you!
Susan

Answer
Susan,

I am wondering if he sees another cat outside or his own reflection in a window????????  It is also possible he is seeing some other type of wild life that he does not like.  This type of behavior is normal for a cat when it feels that it is being threatened by another cat or some other predator, like a dog, a coyote, or by something he has never seen before. I have seen cats do this when they see a picture of something they feel is strange or threatening.

I would check to see if you can figure out what he thinks he sees.

Best regards... Norm.  

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Norman 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.

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