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Expert: - 1/16/2010


Question
Hi Norman
Two cat questions.
We adopted a male kitten, we already have a mature spayed female.
The kitten wants to constantly play with the other cat and she will have none of it. She doesnt fight back just meows loudly. At first she ran but now she stands her ground. Its very annoying for us and for her. We have tried spraying the little guy with water but what do you do when no one is home?
Also, there is a new bylaw that cats can no longer roam free.Our older cat did, but with the new guy, I think we should keep them enclosed. Where can I buy, or find plans to build an outdoor cat enclosure?
Thanks.

Answer
Terry,

I know this is counter intuitive, but I would do nothing.  I would ignore any ruckus and not intervene in any way.  My contention is that any and all human involvement in cat inter-relationships is counter productive.  Spraying with water and separation are not going to help, in fact, they may make matters worse.  We have a tendency to ascribe human emotions and motives to things cats do. Cats do not think like we do and we tend to misinterpret their actions.  What we perceive as fighting is often rough play.  Cats have to find their own way of dealing with each other however they are going to!

Is the little guy neutered, yet?  If not, this would certainly help. Being beutered and getting some age will tend to calm the kitten down.

As far as outdoor runs, you can chek Kitty Walk (See http://www.kittywalk.com/), Fosters and Smith (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/) and Revival Pet Supplies (http://revivalanimalpetsupplies.com/) to name a few.

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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