Should you breed your cat?
Some people buy their cat with the aim of breeding, particularly with pedigree cats. There's absolutely nothing with this and if you are looking at it financially, then a great quality breeding program can generate revenue as well as the pleasure of being a part of creating new life. But there are some serious considerations if you have a pet cat and are considering breeding her.
Firstly, as we mentioned, do you have an outlet for the kittens? It can be easier to rehome, or sell, pedigree cats because each breed of cat has its own fanciers who are always looking for new cats or want to expand to a new breed. If you have a garden variety cat, a moggy, then selling or even giving away the kittens can be harder. It can also lead to heartbreak if you give them away and something terrible happens - beware of people seeking something for nothing, as occasionally there are those who have horrible ulterior motives.
Secondly, can you handle any associated costs? Normally, cats handle being pregnant and giving birth without any need for a vet's assistance but there is always the chance that something can go wrong. If you need to take mum to the vets or any of the kittens, can you handle the associated costs?
Finally, there is a misconception that a cat should have a litter of kittens before being spayed, as this is better for her health. The reverse is actually true - if a female cat is spayed at a young age, she has a reduced change of cancers and other illnesses relating to the female reproductive area.
How to breed a cat
So having gone through these considerations, you have decided that breeding from your cat is the right thing to do, you can afford any unexpected costs and you have buyers lined up for the kittens. So what's the next step?
From here, we will discuss breeding pedigree cats because that is more complicated. If you have a non-pedigree cat then all you need is another suitable cat and with luck, nature will take its course. But to breed a pedigree cat, there is a little more involved.
All pedigree cats will be registered with a cat registry such as the Cat Fanciers Association. That registry will have an Active Register for female cats looking to breed so she needs to be on this. This is usually done when the cat is first purchased.
Cats shouldn't breed until they are fully grown and adult and she will also need to have had all of her vaccinations before any stud owner will consider allowing one of his cats to mate with her, certificate to prove this will often be requested. Once you find the suitable stud through the register, you need to wait until the female shows signs she is coming into season, which differs a little between breeds.
When you are sure she is ready, you will contact the stud and arrange a time to visit. Normally, a fee is paid to the stud owner for this and a Mating Certificate is provided along with the stud's pedigree details. After visiting the stud, the cat may still be calling and it is important to ensure she can't escape the house at this time as other tomcat may find her and spoil your breeding plans.
Pregnancy lasts for around 65 days in cats so during this time you will need to read up on what to do when the birth commences and what your cat will need from you in the lead up. Make sure you have a good vet on hand in case something goes wrong or if you are worried about anything during the pregnancy.
Conclusion
Being party to the bringing of new life into the world is a wonderful thing and the pleasure of having kittens around the house is amazing. But it is not something that should be undertaken lightly and without thorough consideration. There are many thousands of cats needing homes around the country and many of these are due to ill-considered or accidental pregnancies. Please don't add to this terrible situation.
Angela Tempest
