Breeding cats can sound like a fun and profitable endeavor, after all, who doesn’t love kittens and a little extra money? However, most new breeders fail to consider all of the work, time, and expense that are involved.

If your cat is not a purebred, then carefully consider whether she should be allowed to mate. Can you find homes for six kittens? Shelters are perpetually overcrowded, and many wonderful animals are put to sleep that could not be placed in a permanent home. If you have a purebred, talk with some breeders about the advisability of breeding your particular animal.

If you still want to breed your feline, consider the money involved. :You will have vet checkups for mama and the future babies, vaccinations, medicines, supplies, and the potential for major expenses if a surgery like a C-section is needed. You time is also a factor. Mama could die in childbirth or refuse to nurse one or more of th kittens which will make you on the hook to bottlefeed kittens. The babies will also need to be well-socialized with humans which means that you will need to spend time daily interacting with them.

You will also need to think about how you will tolerate a cat that is in heat. You will have to keep other males away from herr beyond the one you have selected to be daddy. The average heat cycle is seven days. During this time, she will be very affectionate. She’ll stick her rump up in the air, cry constantly and possibly mark areas with urine. The cycle repeats every ten days until she is mated or cold weather arrives.

Should you breed your cat? Only if you can be a responsible breeder including having homes for all of the kittens and shoulder the expenses to properly care for a family of cats.