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Expert: - 5/24/2010


Question
I have a cat that is normally very social and laid back behavior, I have had him for 9 years, a couple weeks ago I gave him a bath for the first time and ever since he hides all day under the bed, acts skiddish, and only comes out to eat. What can I do to get my cat back to normal?

Answer
Trina,

In these cases where we have inadvertently traumatized our cat(and yes, although necessary, baths can seem traumatic to the cat in question if they have never had one or it has been a very long time), I find the best thing to do is to feed and water the cat normally, change the litter pans normally, and then make pretend the cat does not exist. Do not approach the cat, do not try to pet the cat. Let your cat come to you in its own time, when it is ready. The cat will be more amenable to being handled if it thinks it is its idea and not yours.

I would give it some time with this protocol and see if your cat comes out of its shell. Cats can remember such indignities for quite a while, but, usually, their innate affection for people will win out if they are left alone.

Please let me know what happens.

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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