So you want to Breed your Cat?





			Breeding from Your Cat Practical considerations Before deciding to breed from your female (queen) ask it is best that you ask yourself the following questions: Firstly why do I want to breed? Do I have the time, patience and understanding to cope with a pregnant cat and then her kittens? Can I afford it financially – kittening box and supplies, stud fees, vet bills, extra food - to name just a few of the extras? Have I taken the time to research the subject thoroughly? Have I discussed this with the experts other breeders, my vet etc? How will my own family feel about the idea, will they help and understand when it’s time for the kittens to go to their new homes? Will I be able to sell my kittens; is the breed desirable how many kittens were born and registered with the GCCF of that bred in the last few years? Am I located too close to an existing breeder of the same bred? If you can’t answer to any of these questions positively, then it’s best to make an appointment with your vet and have her spayed. Additionally, if you think you will only need just a little more food and a cardboard box with newspaper for her to kitten in and all will be simple, you’re in for a shock. You only get out of breeding what you put in to it! Your first requirement is a healthy female of the breed you are interested in, with no outstanding faults and typical of the breed. She also needs to have a good temperament and be free from all known and testable genetic faults. It helps to check that her parents are healthy with a problem free breeding history. Next you will need to locate a suitable stud cat within a reasonable travelling distance of your own location. Taking a queen to a stud will entail two visits - one to take your queen and the other to collect her. A maiden queen may possibly require a repeat visit as she may not settle and mate, or conceive after mating, the first time. It is better still if you can visit the prospective stud before taking your queen to her. This way you can be sure of the accommodation for her, the quality of the stud and talk to the stud’s owners over whether they feel your queen makes a good genetic match and is of the right type to produce good kittens from a mating with their stud. Any reputable stud owner will be happy to advise you and if they thing it necessary refer you to a different stud. Your queen will need special feeding, not only throughout her pregnancy, but during the whole of her breeding life, in order to produce good quality kittens, while ensuring that her own health doesn’t suffer. From the date of mating the normal gestation period is about 65 days, but it can be as few as 61 and as many as 70 days. When your queen is close to her due date she will need 24 hour surveillance until the kittens are born, which may amount to quite some time! Many queens, especially maiden queens, do not know how to cope with their first or for that matter subsequent litters. This means that your absence at this crucial time could cost you the litter and possibly the life of your cat! Most breeders with experience are usually happy to give advice, as are most stud owners. Read all you can on the subject ask questions of those with experience and be prepared for anything and you’ll do well. It is vital that the kittens are kept warm (about 22ºC) – litters due during the winter months may mean vastly increased heating bills! As is good food for the kittens as they wean; fresh chicken, fish, special kitten food, good quality minced beef and the like all cost money and take time to prepare. Food bowls must be kept spotlessly clean and leftover food should never be left down for the kittens as it is the perfect place for bacteria to breed which once ingested are likely to cause diarrhoea – potentially life threatening in a young kitten. Your life will revolve around kitten feeding times and changing their litter trays. Sit down beforehand and work out your expenses. You will need to think the blood testing for FIV and FeLV you will need within 24 hrs of going to stud, the stud fees, travelling expenses to the stud and the vet, special food, extra heating, lost holiday time for kittening if you are working (plus how will you get home to feed them midday?), vaccinations for kittens, micro chipping costs and GCCF registration fees. Breeding means a big commitment! Finally, will you and all your family be able to part with the kittens? It’s no good your child crying over their leaving and begging you to keep them all – especially in front of the kittens prospective new owner! They may be with you round the clock for three months, but then they have to go to new homes and it is up to you to find the right kind of home and owners! This too will probably take a good deal of your time, including inviting prospective new owners over to visit with the kittens once they’ve had their fist shots. However, it may not be that easy to sell the kittens, so you my have to keep and feed them until they are 6 months old or more! As a reputable breeder conforming to the GCCF General Code of Ethics, you may even have to take back an older cat that you have bred if the owner's circumstances change… If, after considering all these points, you still wish to breed cats - good luck!



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