A Quick Guide on First Timers Breeding of Any Cats Breeds
While dog breeds tend to be in multitudes, and varied, with cat breeds the consensus is that they are part of one big family. However, if you think about it, both dogs and cats share the same similarities, or shall we say differences. There are just as many different feline versions as canines.
When it comes to breeding them, the main idea behind the act is to select the parents based on certain traits, while still maintaining the unique qualities of the domestic pet. There are three ways to breed cats, and this guide will tell you about them and more information that may help you if you are thinking about breeding or adopting any type.
The Three Different Ways Cats Can Be Bred
If you are looking to become part of the cat rearing club, not an actual thing, but you get the point. You must realize that is something not everyone can do. It is an expensive endeavour, not to mention a serious one, and a time-intensive undertaking. However, the reason most people do it is that the positive side is that it is rewarding to see what kittens you end up with, and they are undoubtedly very cute.
In many instances, the result is safe, happy and healthy felines, as well as owners, who get to take them home. This page has more elaborated information on how to do it right. So, if you are wondering where to begin, the guide below will help you get started on the right foot.
Step 1. Plan Ahead
As with most projects you plan on jumping into, planning is an essential part of it. With this, it is also the same idea. there are plenty of different types of these furry friends, so the first thing to do is to choose the one you want to produce. Animals shelters almost always have different ones to choose from, be it pedigree or pure-bred types.
Knowing where they should be homed is also part of the process. If there is a wide variety of one type, then go for the one least likely to be in your area, that way the chances of them getting adopted is higher.
In general, there are 10 different types of cats, these according to popular platform Britannica are the most common ones that pet owners tend to go for, but there are others that exist too.
- Polydactyl
- Snowshoe
- British Shorthair
- Calico
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Siamese
- Persian
- Japanese bobtail
- Gray Tabby
- Scottish Fold Cat
Planning involves a few smaller steps. Once you have chosen the breed you would like, the next step under this category involves networking. If you have no experience with this type of ‘task’, no one will come to you and other experienced professionals won’t include you in their ‘clubs’. So, get networking.
First of all, you need to have a cat of your own, then you can enter him or her into a cat show, or competition, and perhaps even ask your vet for some contacts. Besides getting help from these experts, you would also need a place to buy a feline or two to get started, and the more contacts you have the better.
Once this is on its way, you can choose the female or male and make sure they are in good health, of a good age, which would be anywhere between 18 and 24 months old, and check to see if they display the common traits of the breed you are after. The person you buy them from needs to have a legal license for this, or as they call it ‘breeding rights.’ Getting all the essential paperwork like the certificates and vaccinations is also key.
Then, you choose the male if it was a female you chose first), and do the same here. Make sure they are in good condition, happy and healthy as well as get the right paperwork for him. The one thing you should keep a keen eye on is that the stud or male is not closely related to the female in any way.
Once you have all the information and both the male and female moggies, you go onto the next step.
Step 2. Breeding
There are 2 seasons you have when it comes to this – summer and springtime are when they would typically be fertile. The large cat breeds are no different from the smaller ones. these include the Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Savannah Cat or Bengal. They will go through 3 stages namely:
Proestrus – usually lasting between 1 to 2 days. Sometimes it could be as short as one hour that you get but it will depend on the species. At this stage, they tend to roll around on the ground, and won’t allow the male near them.
Estrus – usually lasting about one week, this is the ideal stage for them to be taken to the area for mating. The obvious signal for this is when she has a particular type of call. The sound she makes is a short yet hollow one and can also vary between cats. Experts are aware of this and can show you how it sounds.
Interests – in cases where the moggy does not ovulate, they enter this third stage. At this time there are no signs of reproduction till the first stage starts again.
Step 3: Taking Care of Them while Pregnant
This is the most straightforward part but needs to be handled carefully. More information can be found online from the right sources. So, there you have it – A quick, yet useful guide for those thinking of stepping into this arena.
