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Expert: - 9/18/2009


Question
I've had my older male cat for several months and until now he was the only pet in my house. Just a few days ago I adopted a male kitten. He isn't very old at all, we think just a couple weeks. We believe something happened to the mother. He was in really bad shape, fleas were absolutely horrible. I washed him in baby shampoo and old blood was just pouring off of him. When we took him into the house, the older male cat took to him right away. I've never seen anything like this before and I have had cats ever since I was born. He grooms the little one, plays with him, everything. He didn't even hiss or scratch at him ONCE! I think the older cat knew that the kitten wasn't in good shape and was trying to help. I was wondering if this is just a very rare case. Is this normal behavior for a male cat to take to a male kitten as it were his own, or did we just get lucky?

Answer
Angie,

Often neutered males make great nurse maids to very young kittens.  So, this behavior, although not super common is not uncommon either.

I would make sure to get the little kitten to a vet for a health check as soon as you can.

It sounds as if things have worked out very well for both your male and the new arrival.

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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