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.
Our cat is a ten year old male domestic longhair. He loves food and often woke up at all hours of the morning to be fed. We fed him twice a day, dry food in the morning and wet food in the evening with the occasional treat. Recently, he has stopped eating his dry food completely and appears to be afraid of his wet food as he hisses at it, runs away and hides under something. He continues to hiss at random things like his tail, the couch and his treats. After much coaxing, he will eat a little wet food at night, but not nearly what he used to. He is not acting sick or un-satiated in any way. The other cat we have continues to eat the same without problems.
We have tried moving the food, making sure the dry food isn't stale and soothing the cat before and after meals. Nothing is working and odd behavior continues. Please help as we are afraid he will stop eating completely.
Answer Erin,
At age 10, your cat is getting geriatric. When there is a sudden onset of strange behavior, the first thing I think of is that there is a medical issue. Cats are very stoical and, even though the cat does not appear to be in discomfort, it may very well be! So, I would go to your vet and see if they can tell you what may be going on.
Remember, I am not a vet, but teeth and thyroid are the first things that come to mind.
One other possibility is that there is a strange cat hanging around outside. However, I would tend to discount that since your other cat seems perfectly normal.
For older cats, sometimes, they do not always continue to do well on wet or dry, but seem to prefer semi-soft foods. You could try that. However, I still think a trip to the vet is warranted.
