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Question
I am in desperate need of advice and don't know where to go or who to ask. I have 2 Bengal queen entires Duchess was my first she is 11mths old and Iesha is 3yrs and pregnant. Iesha came to us less than a week ago, she is Duchesses mother. Both girls are beautiful but Iesha has started in the last 2 days showing violent aggression towards Duchess. I know it takes time for any new addition to settle in more so being pregnant but Duchess is to afraid to leave the lounge room so I have had to put a litter box, food and water in with her because Iesha will hunt he down and attack her to the point where she is getting injured. I would like to find a way where they both have free run of the house is this possible? I have begun giving Iesha time out in another room everytime she begins to show aggression and also using a squirt bottle. Will this help or make the problem worse? I did have reservations before agreeing to take on Iesha (she had a dislike to 2 other cats) and the breeder thought because they were mother and daughter they would be fine. They re-homed Iesha and other cats and kittens because they were caught up in the Queensland floods. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Sharon,
My bet is, besides the fact that these two no longer know each other, Iesha is probably being rather hormonal as she is pregnant. I would isolate Iesha to the area in which she is to have her kittens. I would supply her with a birthing box (we like a "jumbo" cardboard storage chest, which is about 66 cm X 41 cm X 25 cm) with old toweling or bed clothes in the bottom in a nice warm area away from drafts and other cats.
This will temporarily resolve the issue. Once the kittens are weaned and away from mama you can see about introducing Duchess and Iesha to each other.
Please let me know when you are ready to do this and we can talk about strategies. Good luck on Iesha's upcoming litter.
Best regards... Norm.
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Answers by Expert:
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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