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Expert: - 3/24/2010


Question
We have a 11 month old male cat, he is fixed. He has this problem with whining all the time sometimes its really late at night other times its is really early in the morning waking up my 4 year old son. The only time he seems to stop is if he is looking outside. Nothing has really changed in the house that would effect him so what is going on?

Answer
Stephanie,

Cats vocalize to get out attention.  The problem is we often do not have any idea why?  Has he always had this whining issue or is it recent?  Have you tried keeping a radio or TV set on where he is? Are you sure there has been no change in your household?  Nothing subtle?

Normally, for adults, when this type of beahvior starts, I would suggest getting ear plugs (i.e. the kind used in 1st class in trans-Oceanic flights).  I do not know how that would work with a 4 year old.

Of course, if the whining is recent, you might have this kitty checked out by your vet.

Please get back to me.

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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