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Expert: Norman Auspitz - 1/26/2007


Question
I may, in the near future, decide to purchase a cat but am very worried about having cat hair all over my apt. as I did when I previously owned a part-persian calico. What breed is best for seniors who own a shih-tzu dog and one that doesn't shed all over the place and requires minimum grooming. We don't have allergies to cats but I don't like cat hair all over my furniture and clothes. Am I being to fussy?? Thanks in advance for your answer.

Answer
Dianne,

All cats shed, except for the Sphynx (the hairless cats).  

All cats, including Sphynx, require a certain amount of upkeep.  Note: Sphynx need to be groomed every day or their skin gets very oily!

For you, the minimum would be a shorthaired breed with no undercoat, like the Siamese, Oriental Shorthair, Korat, or a shorthaired cat with no or minimal guard hairs, like the Cornish Rex or the Devon Rex (both curly coated).

After that we are talking about levels of activity and how the personality might work with yours.  The shorthaired breeds I have listed are, generally, all very active and very affectionate.

You might look at a book called "The Cat Fanciers' Association Complete Cat Book" which has a chapter on each breed of domestic cat. It is edited by Mordecai Segal and published by Harper Collins in 2004. ISBN is 0-06-270233-5.  Your local library should have a copy or at least be able to acquire a copy for you to look at.  

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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