breeding your cat

Pet Care Article

• Breeding Your Cat

If you have decided to breed your cat, and you are looking for the right breeding program, these helpful guidelines will help you to choose a responsible breeding program for your cat.

Any responsible breeding program will require complete medical check-ups for all breeding pairs. These check-ups include blood tests, x-rays, and tests for sexually transmitted diseases. All cats involved in the breeding program should have a well documented medical history, and preferably the medical history of their parents and siblings. The breeding program should also pay particular attention to the cat’s genetic background as well.

Programs which breed cats responsibly will not compromise a cat’s health for breeding purposes. Female cats should not be bred before they are 2 years of age, and they should only be bred every other year. Many legitimate breeding programs put a cap on the number of litters that a queen can produce, and they require medical check-ups for the queen  before each and every litter.

Legitimate breeding programs were started in order to preserve and maintain the quality and health of cat breeds around the world; they are not concerned with financial gains or marketing puppies. If you find a breeding program that promises you financial rewards through breeding your cat, walk away and walk away quickly; these programs do not have your cat’s best interests at heart.

A responsible breeding program should be up front with you about all the financial costs that you may incur during this time. Breeding cats can cost a small fortune; in fact, many professional breeders routinely lose money on their breeding endeavors.

Before you choose a breeding program for your cat, research that program thoroughly. Talk with your veterinarian about which breeding programs may be best, and ask local breeding clubs about breeding programs which they may recommend.