Professional cat breeding can be an extremely rewarding practice, however it is vital for the breeder to understand the commitment, the resources and the steps required in order to perform such a task. The very fist step you will need to perform when commencing a breeding program is to find an appropriate stud cat. You can either visit your local breeding club where you can get a list of the most respectable and acclaimed breeders or you can visit cat shows. Cat shows, apart from being a great place where you can evaluate your own cat against others of the identical breed, are a fantastic opportunity to meet other breeders to exchange information with so that it is easier to make informed decisions regarding the strengths and weaknesses of various lines.

Once your cat’s mate has been successfully selected both cats should undertake physical examinations, stool check examinations for internal parasites, vaccinations updates, FelV& FIV tests and tests for genetic traits such as polycystic kidney disease, hip dysplasia and heart diseases. The cat’s pregnancy period lasts approximately 60 days in addition to a 5-6 week lactation period. Once the kittens are born it is also essential to create a kittening box, such as a thick lined cardboard box, and place it in a moderately warm and aphotic corner.

During the pregnancy period, it is essential that your cat receives a balanced diet with all the essential nutritional elements. High quality cat food and  consumption of fresh water is fundamental, especially after the 5th week of pregnancy because of the accelerated growth of the cat, thereby putting enormous demand on nutrients. A diet which is poor in the essential nutrients can lead to pregnancy toxemia.

Finally, cat breeding is an activity which requires thorough consideration when it comes to working out the expenses. Some of the expenses the breeder will have to take into account are traveling expenses to the veterinarian and the stud, additional heating, health tests and registration fees. These are some things to think about before entering the world of cat breeding.

Did you Know ?

Apart from the the physical health the personalities of the parent are key determinants of the personalities of the kittens. If the parents are hostile or aggressive the kittens will act fearful and aggressively, whereas if the parents are friendly kittens will be friendly too.

Source:

“Lost and Found Pets” © 2011 Joplin Tornado, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63350979@N08/5812796356/

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