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Expert: - 3/1/2009


Question
I have a siamese neutered male cat age 4 years named Mojo and just brought home an 8 week old female kitten named Kiki. Within a matter of hours Mojo and Kiki became friends,and Mojo constantly grooms her. They share potty boxes and eat together, and play alot. If the kitten is in distress, Mojo runs over to help her.
Lately, I've noticed him biting her neck and meowing at her. She stays still, then meows and manages to get cut loose from, and then resumes playing. Mojo seems to be biting her neck more these days, and his meowing has become intense. but when I walk in the room, he seems okay and wags his tail, and they both play again. I am assuming he is training her to "calm down" as she gets out of hand. The vet thought that he was very attached to her in such a short time but didn't see it as a problem. They came together in one carry box to the vet and they both seemed fine in and out of doctor's office. Is Mojo okay? I keep them separate at night because I can't monitor him especially when he is clamping down on her neck. I prefer they sleep! Let me know what you think. They are both healthy.

Answer
Ana,

How long ago did you get the kitten?  Do you know Kiki was really only 8 weeks old when you got her.  I have heard of kittens coming into season as young as 16 weeks of age.  

Anyway, the behavior is not harmful and speculate though we might, it is not clear to me what it means.  If she is in season, even though he is neutered, he may engage in mating behaviors.

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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