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Expert: - 1/6/2010


Question

pair
We (my wife and I) rescued two kittens from the middle of a lonely  road on a rainy night some six months ago. both female. got them neutered a month and half ago. they've been great with each other, extremely playful and caring for each other. they're indoor cats as of now, and five days ago one (goldie)went missing. the other (blackie)became insecure and wouldn't leave our company. this morning goldie returned, but blackie now spits and is wary about her.. goldie seems surprised.. how do we get blackie back to how she was earlier  

Answer
Vinod,

Cats know each other by scent.  Depending on where Goldie was and what scents she acquired, she probably smells differently to Blackie.  They will have to go through s bit of the "getting to know you" ritual which consists of a certain amount of hissing, spitting, and growling.  I would do absolutely nothing and let them sort it out amongst each other. They should get back to a good relationship in a few days to a week.  The worst thing anyone can do is to intervene in their "discussions".  Just ignore any noise and even if there is loose fur.  Human intervention is always counter productive unless someone has drawn blood (very rare!!!!!).

As I said above, give it a few days to a week and see how things progress.  Remeber, do not separate or discipline the behaviors, just ignore them.

Best regards... Norm.
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    CommentThanks..... will try that out. as of now we haven't separated them, but do try a prevent the hissing on blackie's part. gve goldie a bath too to "wash off" any foreign scent. will follow your advice.. hope things work out. goldie is keen to play, and she licks blackie when she can..


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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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