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Cats/kitten crossbreed

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Expert: - 8/10/2010


Question
the kitten I am thinking of adopting has a purebred Maine Coon momma and a purebred Persian papa.....the kitten is male and I am wondering about shedding and constant brushing as the little guy grows....any insights?  also, how about potentioanl temperment?  Thanks...Jan

Answer
Janet,

The kitten should be very laid back.  Maine Coons have denser coats, but Persians have longer coats.  So, I would start by combing the kitten out every day and bathing it once a week like a Persian. If the kitten seems to not need so much combing out, try every other day and bathing twice a month.  You will know if he is getting enough or too much grooming by how much hair you get out.

As he grows, and loses kittten coats, you will have to increase the combing out and bathing, and then again during periods of shedding.

For combing, we like a teflon coated metal comb with two different widths of teeth.

For bathing, I would use regular Goop on a dry coat and rinse thoroughly, followed by a couple of applications of Suave Daily Clarifying shampoo with thorough rinsing after each application, and end with your an application of your favorite conditioning shampoo, again with thorough rinsing. I would just towel dry your cat after all this, and see how it all looks. For drying, you could put the kitten in a small bathroom with a Holmes Heater running for about a half hour.

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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