Breeding means taking responsibility for the health of the queen and every future kitten. The decision does not start with choosing a tom but with questions: does the cat meet the breed standard, is she healthy, is she registered for breeding with your cat registry (GCCF, FIFe, TICA, WCF, CFA and others), and are you ready to find homes for the kittens?
Age and registry rules
- Cats reach puberty at 4–12 months (earlier in Siamese and Oriental cats, later in Persians and Maine Coons).
- A queen should be mated once she has finished growing and is in good condition. The minimum age, number of litters and intervals between them are set by your registry’s rules – read them in advance.
- Frequent calling without mating and frequent litters both exhaust a queen. If a cat is not intended for breeding, she should be spayed.
Health checks before mating
- A veterinary examination, weight and body condition (excess weight complicates birth).
- Tests for feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in both cats.
- Vaccinations up to date before mating: live vaccines are not used during pregnancy.
- Parasite control and a check for ringworm (dermatophytosis): it is highly contagious for kittens.
Genetic tests: what to check and how to read the result
Tests depend on the breed. The most important:
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD1) – Persians, Exotics, British Shorthairs and related breeds. Inherited dominantly: one copy of the gene is enough for the cat to be affected. A positive cat is not used for breeding.
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (MYBPC3) – Maine Coons, Ragdolls. Known mutations exist only in these breeds. A negative test does not rule out the disease – heart ultrasound by a cardiologist is needed, usually every year.
- Retinal atrophy (rdAc and others) – Abyssinians, Somalis, Siamese, Orientals. Recessive: kittens of two carriers are affected.
- Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK) – Abyssinians, Somalis and others. Recessive: causes anaemia.
- Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) – Maine Coons. Recessive.
- Blood group (A, B, AB) – all breeds, especially British Shorthairs, Devon and Cornish Rex, Exotics, Birmans and Turkish breeds. If the queen is group B and the tom group A, group A kittens die in the first days after drinking colostrum (neonatal isoerythrolysis). Blood-type both cats.
How to read a recessive test result:
- carrier × clear – no affected kittens, but some will be carriers;
- carrier × carrier – about a quarter of the kittens will be affected; this pair should not be mated.
Special cases:
- Scottish Folds. The gene for folded ears causes a cartilage and joint disease (osteochondrodysplasia). Mating two fold-eared cats is not allowed: kittens get a severe form of the disease. All fold-eared cats are at risk of joint disease, and major registries such as the GCCF and FIFe do not recognise the breed.
- White cats with blue eyes are often born deaf. Kittens’ hearing can be checked with a special test (BAER).
Use laboratories that work with feline genetics, and record the results in the kittens’ papers.
Temperament
Temperament is partly inherited, so calm, friendly cats should be chosen for breeding. Socialisation matters just as much: at about 2–7 weeks of age kittens need gentle contact with people, sounds and objects.
The cat’s cycle and mating
- Cats are seasonally polyoestrous: in the light months, calling recurs every 2–3 weeks, and indoor cats under artificial light can cycle all year round. The idea that a cat “comes into season twice a year” is wrong.
- Calling lasts about a week on average.
- Cats ovulate in response to mating, not on a schedule, so several matings over 1–3 days are usually needed. The queen is usually taken to the tom, on his territory.
- Pregnancy lasts about 63–67 days. A litter averages 3–5 kittens.
When a vet is needed during birth
- strong straining for more than 30–60 minutes without a kitten being born;
- more than 2 hours between kittens when more are clearly still to come;
- dark green, black or bloody discharge before the first kitten;
- the queen is lethargic, feverish or has a foul-smelling discharge after birth;
- a nursing queen trembles, wobbles, breathes fast or has seizures – this is eclampsia (low blood calcium) and needs urgent help.
Newborn kittens cannot keep themselves warm. The nest needs to be around 30 °C in the first days, and the temperature is then lowered gradually.
Sources
- Little S. E. The Cat: Clinical Medicine and Management. Elsevier, 2012.
- UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory – feline genetic tests (PKD, HCM, PK, SMA, blood groups).
- International Cat Care: guidance for breeders on inherited disease and Scottish Folds.
- Feldman E. C., Nelson R. W. Canine and Feline Endocrinology and Reproduction.
Paw4care editorial team
