How to Prepare Cats for Breeding

By eHow Pets Editor

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

Veterinarian
Clean bill of health
Birthing cage or box

Step 1:
Wait until your female cat is a minimum of 12 months old before breeding her. Remember though that females mature sexually younger than this, usually around 6 months old, and can become pregnant by accident. Males are usually mature around 10 months of age.
Step 2:
Locate a veterinarian you are confident in prior to breeding. Make sure the cats you plan to breed are current on their vaccines and have a clean bill of health from this vet. Male and female cats should both be de-wormed and thoroughly checked for parasites.
Step 3:
Prepare your female for breeding by providing her with nutritious, well-balanced meals. Once she is about 5 weeks pregnant, increase her feeding by an extra meal a day. If she acts hungry, feed her more, but check with the vet if you become concerned about the amount she is consuming, whether you think it is too much or too little.
Step 4:
Increase the chances of a successful breeding by having the cats mate in surroundings that are familiar to the male cat. If you do not own the stud, you will need to prepare arrangements for your female cat to stay with the owner of the stud during the mating. Some breeders prefer to leave the female for 2 weeks to help ensure she will become pregnant.
Step 5:
Provide your queen (pregnant female cat) with a special area for delivering her kittens. Some breeders prefer to use cages to make sure a new mother won't move her newborns to undesirable areas. Other breeders choose to use a box (usually made of cardboard or plastic) that the mother can go to and from comfortably.
Step 6:
Prepare a long-haired queen for the impending birth of her kittens by clipping the hair away from her bottom and her nipples. This will help ensure easier birthing and nursing. Be careful not to cut too close to the skin.

Tips & Warnings

Don't overfeed treats to your queen in the latter stages of pregnancy. Instead, be sure she is eating cat food that is high in nutrition.

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