Introduction
Cat breeding is the practice of intentionally mating selected cats to preserve and continue specific pedigrees. There are many important considerations before breeding cats, including health, temperament, conformation, genetics, and availability of homes. Responsible cat breeding requires extensive research, planning, resources, time, and dedication to proper animal husbandry.
There are several main reasons why cat fanciers may choose to become breeders:
- To continue propagating and improving specific pedigreed breeds.
- To produce beautiful, healthy, well-socialized kittens.
- To contribute to the preservation of rare or specialty breeds.
- To experience the joys and challenges of responsible animal husbandry.
However, breeding should never be undertaken lightly, as it requires a major commitment. The breeder takes on responsibility for all kittens produced, including care, socialization, veterinary needs, and finding lifelong homes. Backyard breeding or breeding for profit alone are unethical.
Pre-breeding Considerations
Selecting a healthy sire and dam is crucial for responsible breeding. The female cat should be at least 10 months old before her first litter according to breeding guidelines (food.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2020-11/aw_platform_plat-conc_guide_cat-breeding.pdf). Both the male and female cats should undergo genetic testing for hereditary diseases common in the breed. Vaccinating the breeding pair against feline panleukopenia, calicivirus, herpesvirus, feline leukemia virus and other infectious diseases is also an important pre-breeding step.
When selecting a sire and dam, look for cats with good temperament and conformation typical of the breed, without disqualifying faults. Review the pedigree for both cats to avoid inbreeding depression. Breeding closely related cats can increase the chances of inherited health problems in the offspring.
Setting up a proper breeding environment is also key prior to mating. Cats are sensitive to stress, so a quiet space away from other pets is ideal. Increase feeding portions for the breeding pair 1-2 weeks before mating to support good health.
Mating
When breeding cats, timing the mating properly is important for a successful pregnancy. Queens are polyestrous, meaning they can go into heat multiple times per year. The breeding season for cats is typically between spring and late summer. Queens will go into heat every 2-3 weeks during this time until they are bred. Their heat cycles last about 4-7 days.
When your queen is in heat, you’ll notice behaviors like loud vocalizing, rolling around, and holding her tail up and to the side. This signals she is ready and willing to mate. To introduce the pair, bring the selected stud cat into the room and allow them to interact freely when she is at her peak receptiveness. The actual mating process is quite brief—the tom mounts and intromission occurs, often accompanied by a piercing caterwaul from the queen.
Stud cats are ready and eager to mate when a queen is in heat. Toms can mate with multiple queens in a day. It’s ideal to allow the pair to mate every 1-2 days while the queen is in heat to increase the chance of conception. Mating will typically continue until the queen will no longer allow it.
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Pregnancy
A cat’s pregnancy lasts about 9 weeks or 63-65 days. There are some notable signs of pregnancy to look out for. Morning sickness may occur in the first 2-3 weeks, causing vomiting. The cat’s abdomen and nipples will start to enlarge around 3 weeks as the kittens develop. You may also notice behavioral changes like nesting activities, less affection, and more reclusiveness as her due date approaches.
Proper nutrition is crucial during pregnancy. Feed a high-quality kitten food since it contains more calories, protein, and nutrients for growing kittens. Feed 1.5 times the normal amount in the final 3 weeks before delivery when the kittens rapidly grow. Always provide ample fresh water. Continue feeding the kitten diet while nursing. Consult your veterinarian if you have any diet concerns.
Veterinary care helps ensure a healthy pregnancy. Schedule a vet visit for an ultrasound and checkup around 4 weeks to confirm pregnancy and examine the kittens. Visit again around 6 weeks for another checkup. Your vet can monitor weight gain, test for issues like anemia, and answer any questions. Have an emergency kit ready as the due date nears with supplies like towels, rubbing alcohol, dental floss, and scissors. Monitor closely for signs of labor in the final days.
According to The Spruce Pets, regular veterinary checkups and a high-quality diet formulated for growth are important during feline pregnancy. Monitoring weight gain and having an emergency birthing kit ready can help ensure a smooth delivery.
Birthing Preparations
Making the proper preparations before your cat gives birth can help ensure a smooth birthing process. Some key steps include setting up a designated birthing area and gathering any supplies you may need.
The birthing area should be a comfortable, quiet, low-traffic area in your home. Many cat owners set up a birthing box or kittening box – a box lined with newspaper, towels, or blankets where the mother can give birth. The box should be large enough for the mother and kittens, with sides low enough for easy access. Avoid loud or high-traffic areas that may stress the mother cat.
In terms of supplies, you’ll want to stock up on things like clean towels, unscented puppy training pads, gloves, scissors or floss for tying off umbilical cords, a baby scale, heating pad, bottled kitten milk replacement formula, and disinfectant. Having these items on hand before the birth allows you to focus your attention on the mother and kittens when the time comes.
For more details on setting up a birthing area and other preparations, check out this in-depth guide: https://www.chipmanroadanimalclinic.com/how-to-prepare-your-pregnant-cat-to-give-birth
The Birthing Process
The birthing process for cats has three distinct stages of labor. According to Purina, the stages are:
Stage 1: Preparation
This stage can last between 6-12 hours as the cervix begins to relax and dilate. Your cat may seem restless and anxious. She may start nesting behaviors like scratching and digging. You may also notice a drop in body temperature below 100°F and loss of appetite.
Stage 2: Active Labor
This is when your cat begins having contractions and pushing out kittens. According to The Spruce Pets, the first kitten should be born within 30 minutes of pushing. Kittens should come every 10-60 minutes after that. Stage 2 labor lasts around 12-24 hours.
Stage 3: Afterbirth
Once all kittens are delivered, the mother will pass the placentas. This usually concludes within 1-4 hours after the last kitten.
Contact your vet immediately if your cat strains for longer than 30 minutes without producing a kitten, if there is significant time between kittens, or if strong contractions subside for more than 1-2 hours before resuming. This could indicate complications requiring emergency assistance.
Newborn Care
Proper care in the first few weeks of a kitten’s life is critical for their health and development. Handling newborn kittens requires extreme gentleness as their bodies are very fragile. Always support their head and neck when picking them up, never lift them by the scruff or just one limb (Cats.org). Only handle kittens when absolutely necessary, such as for weighing, feeding, or grooming. Limit handling to no more than 5-10 minutes per kitten, 2-3 times a day.
Feeding is also a delicate process with newborns. They cannot eat solid food and rely completely on their mother’s milk. If for some reason the mother cannot nurse, kittens will need to be bottle fed with kitten milk replacement formula every 2-3 hours. Make sure to only use specific KMR formula, not cow’s milk or other products. Feed slowly and gently, stopping if the kitten starts coughing or choking. Warm the formula to about 100F before feeding (WebMD). As kittens grow bigger and stronger, adjust formula amounts and frequency based on their weight and appetite.
Weaning
Kittens should begin the weaning process around 4-6 weeks of age, though the timing may vary depending on the individual kitten and breed (PetMD, WebMD). Weaning is the process of gradually transitioning kittens from their mother’s milk or bottle feedings to solid food. This process typically takes 2-4 weeks.
To start, offer the kittens milk-based gruel made by mixing kitten formula or KMR with wet kitten food into a thin, porridge-like consistency. Place small amounts of gruel in a shallow dish and allow the kittens to sample it. They may play with it at first. Over several days, gradually thicken the gruel by mixing in more kitten food and less liquid.
Next, provide the kittens with shallow dishes of pureed or soaked kitten food. Canned food can be mashed with a fork to a pate-like texture. Dry kibble can be soaked in formula or water until soft. As the kittens get used to lapping gruel and purees, slowly transition them to whole wet foods and dry kibble. Kittens should be fully weaned by 8 weeks of age (Kitten Lady).
Monitor weight gain and watch for digestive issues during weaning. Make sure kittens always have access to fresh water as they transition to eating solid foods.
Vaccinations and Spay/Neuter
It is important to follow the proper vaccination schedule for kittens. According to Spay Neuter Network, kittens should receive a series of vaccinations starting as early as 6 weeks old and continuing until 16-20 weeks old. These early vaccinations help protect kittens while their immune systems are still developing. The specific vaccinations recommended are FVRCP (feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia) and rabies.[https://spayneuternet.org/vaccinations/]
Spaying and neutering kittens is also highly recommended. According to Texas for Them, spaying and neutering provides important health and behavior benefits. For female cats, spaying eliminates the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer later in life. For males, neutering prevents testicular cancer and reduces spraying and roaming behaviors. Spaying and neutering is safe for kittens as young as 8 weeks old. Many low-cost clinics, like the PAWS Clinic, offer discounted packages that include spay/neuter surgery along with recommended kitten vaccinations.[https://texasforthem.org/shop/kitten-spay-neuter-and-vaccine-wellness-package/][https://thepawsclinic.com/spayneuterservices/recommended-vaccines/]
Finding Homes
Finding the right home for your cat’s kittens is very important. Here are some tips for screening potential owners:
- Require potential owners to fill out an application so you can learn about their home environment.
- Conduct interviews, either in person or on the phone, to get a sense of their level of commitment and knowledge about pet care.
- Ask for references from their veterinarian to confirm they have properly cared for pets in the past.
- Offer to do home visits before finalizing an adoption.
It’s also wise to use an adoption contract outlining the terms of the adoption. Key points to cover include:
- Requiring the cat be spayed/neutered by a certain age.
- Requiring vet care and vaccines.
- Requiring the cat be kept indoors.
- Requiring the adopter return the cat to you if they can no longer care for it.
In terms of pricing, it’s common to charge an adoption fee, typically $50-$100. This helps ensure serious adopters, covers some of your expenses, and demonstrates the value of the pet. However, be flexible if an adopter is willing and able to provide an excellent home but faces financial limitations.
Taking the necessary steps to vet potential adopters will help set your kittens up for success in their new forever homes.