Cat Breeding for Beginners: Choosing Your Breeding Cats, Pairing Techniques, and Risks of Borrowing a Stud Cat

Cat Breeding for Beginners: Choosing Your Breeding Cats, Pairing Techniques, and Risks of Borrowing a Stud Cat

If you're planning to start a cattery, it's crucial to understand the concept of breeding cats. Simply put, breeding cats are those specifically chosen for breeding purposes. Selecting the right breeding cats is key to the success of your cattery.

Many people mistakenly believe that any cat without being neutered can be used for breeding. However, breeding in a cattery requires professional knowledge and experience to produce healthy kittens that meet breed standards.

I. Choosing the Number of Breeding Cats

The number of breeding cats to start with is crucial for a new cattery. Don't engage in breeding just because your cats aren't neutered.

1. Space and Energy:

- First, consider your space and energy levels. If you struggle to care for one cat, don't think about getting more.
- It's recommended to start with no more than 3 female cats and 1 male cat.

2. Bloodline Diversity:

- If your female cats are not from the same bloodline, you can experiment with different bloodline pairings to produce superior kittens.
- When considering breeding with your own offspring, ensure your initial breeding cats have diverse bloodlines.

II. Breeding Cat Pairing Techniques

1. Risks of Inbreeding:

- For established breeds like shorthair cats, Persians, and Maine Coons, finding suitable bloodlines is easier.
- However, for smaller breeds like Manx and Chartreux cats, choosing suitable bloodlines is challenging.
- Inbreeding increases the risk of genetic diseases, so it should be avoided as much as possible.

2. Basic Pairing Scheme:

- Ensure you have at least two female cats.
- Offspring from a female cat and a male cat cannot be bred with their parents or siblings from the same litter.
- You can consider adding another male or female cat over time.

3. Choosing Breeding Cats:

- Select healthy cats that meet breed standards.
- Consider their temperament and choose cats that are docile and easy to manage.

4. Risks of Borrowing a Stud Cat:

- Borrowing a stud cat can help your cattery acquire superior bloodlines, but it also carries risks.
- A borrowed stud cat may bring infectious diseases to your cattery, particularly if the stud cat serves frequently.
- Borrowing a stud cat violates the "closed cattery" principle, hindering bloodline maintenance.
- When choosing a stud cat, ensure the cattery has a good reputation and take necessary precautions for disinfection and isolation.

III. Management Considerations for Breeding Cats

1. Emotional Management:

- Female cats experience low immunity and mood swings during their heat cycles, and borrowing them for breeding may cause stress.
- Take preventative measures and administer stress-reducing medications if needed.

2. Considerations for Borrowing a Stud Cat:

- Breeding is only considered complete when the female cat becomes pregnant; otherwise, no fees can be charged.
- Borrowing a stud cat may have kidney problems, especially male cats that consume dry food long-term.
- It's common for female cats not to become pregnant after breeding, so be prepared.

3. Managing the Cattery Environment:

- Maintain a clean and sanitary cattery environment and disinfect regularly.
- Provide ample space for your cats to roam and ensure good ventilation.

Summary of Tips and Experiences

Running a cattery requires patience, meticulous care, and professional knowledge and skills. By diligently learning, continuously gaining experience, and following these guidelines, you can breed outstanding cats and achieve cattery success.

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