At what age should you breed queens for first time?

Viscountess Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 435

Curious what people think; I know Pyometra is a great concern.

So, I ask of breeders, when you have the breeding rights to your queen, what are the rules of thumb, to gauge when to breed them?

Perhaps, it may depend upon the lines, that the queens come from, on what age to breed?

I've had 2 - 3 breeders tell me, "Absolutely no sooner than 2 years - her line's a slow maturer." Definitely Princess Daphne (my first pure blooded Persian, from Chicago), was one, and now Princess Zofia. I can't recall the age with Purrvette, but it may have been 18 months - 2 years with her, but definitely with Isis, my silver-shaded (or, pewter, she had black eyeliner, black nose leather, and paw pads; there was a group of us trying to get it accepted, as an alternate color, when the shade was dark).

With Isis, it was a good thing, because we discovered she had PKD, a week before I was to breed her; unfortunately, due to the Northridge Earthquake, she had internal injuries, and I had to wait 3 more years, until she was healthy enough to spay. I had her and Purrvette spayed at the same time, when she was too old to breed.

In my contract, I'm not to breed Zofia, until she's 2 years old. Daphne had a few light heats perhaps, but she got pregnant the first try.

Thank you,

Julie

Viscountess Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 435

Look, I'm curious what other people do normally - I've never had 'normal' situations, so I don't pretend to, lol.

Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 7:55 pm

Julie, I'm hoping either Lynda or Tracy will see this post to give you a proper response. I'm not sure but 2 years old sounds kind of old to me. But what do I know? LOL

Marchioness Joined: 21 Aug 2008 Posts: 1635

I am far from an expert but I would say it depends on the cats heats and the lines. It is believed by some that a risk of developing pyometra is genetic. In lines that have had pyo problems it might be better to breed sooner than later. If a cat is constantly cycling it is NOT good for them. Hope Tracy can shed more light on this since she has more experience than I do.

Princess Joined: 30 Jul 2008 Posts: 7094

I was hoping you or Tracy would answer this Lynda. I have no experience in this area but I do have Binky and his Mom Alexus. Alexus is 1 year older than Binky. So doing the math---she was not 1 year old when she was bred.

Viscountess Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 435

Yes, I can see where the lines could differ. And I agree - a queen shouldn't be kept cycling over & over!

What I read about Pyometra, is that it pops up about 2 months after the queen has had their heat.

I normally keep the house cool, like 60 - 75, all year round for the cats - not for me. I learned that from my first breeder.

Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 5:47 pm

The rule in cats is that they should be at least one year old when they have their first litter. Some cats start cycling as young as 6 months (I have heard sooner but have never experienced any earlier than 6 months) but most around 8-10 months. I try to breed them on their 2nd or 3rd heat. Any more than a few heats and pyometra is a risk. Not to mention the poor girls appear to be in such pain for weeks on end if they are not bred. I have some girls that cycle continuously until they are bred. And others that only cycle a couple times a year. The more you show a female, the more she cycles it seems. I definitely wouldn't wait until 2 years to breed a cat for the first time.

Overall, I'd say it depends on the cat: if she is cycling a lot as a 10 month old go ahead and breed her. Otherwise wait until she is one year old and then breed her. Some cats will not conceive until they are 1.5+ years, but at least the breeding part brings them out of their continuous heats with a false pregnancy for 45 days.

Hope this helps.
Tracy

Marchioness Joined: 21 Aug 2008 Posts: 1635

All of the cats I had before this past litter have been well over a year old when they had the first heat, and the boys 2 to 21/2 years before they figured out they were supposed to breed. This litter has surprised me - the girls, with the exception of Lottie have all had 2 heats. Lottie may well have had a silent heat. They are just under 9 months old. Sol has found out he is a stud - :shocked

so now my cuddle cat can't sleep in our bedroom at night any longer. :cry

Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 6:33 pm

Lynda,
Try taking one of your girls to a show if you want them to come in heat earlier. It never fails when you are going for those last 8 grand points, they will come in heat and not come out!! lol

Tracy

Marchioness Joined: 21 Aug 2008 Posts: 1635

Don't have any trouble getting them INTO heat! lol I wish I could show some of the girls, but none like showing except Lottie and it is her turn next show (maybe - depends on he eye color - it isn't the greatest!).