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Cats/"Aggressive" abyssinian male

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Expert: - 10/9/2011


Question
I have a neutered one year old male who in the last few months at unexpected times turns, hisses and scratches.  A few times it was directed toward a grandchild and yesterday my adult daughter.  Each time there has been more "child play" activity and excited voices around the cat.  However, the same has been true for many other times when the cat has not struck out.  He is usually a sweet cat and very devoted to me.  However, he has definitely established his dominance over his younger aby sister.  What do you recommend?

Answer
Betsy,

These situations are always difficult.  Have you had him checked by a vet as this type of behavior could be the result of a medical issue (e.g. thyroid levels, or constant pain)?

Is it getting worse or does it only happen on rare occasions?

Is there anything in the household that has changed that might be setting him off? For example, a new 4 legged or 2 legged addition to the household, or a new cat hanging around the household that he can see from a window?

Does he have a pathway around his favorite room where he does not have to stay at ground level?

Please get back to me and we can see where to go from here.

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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