Hi,

I was wondering how those of you that keep boys as well as girls for breedig house them? do you keep all in catteries, or the boys in the catteries and the girls in the house? does anybody keep them together in the house and just remove the girl that is calling? Also from what age can a boy get a girl pregnant, and could this be from the first day of calling or is it like dogs when its the 2nd week they are actually receptive? i would like to look into keeping mine together but just wanted some advise and experiences!

I don't think you've a hope in keeping queens and an entire boy together permanently. They doubtless get along okay but some points to consider are:

- a lot of males spray to mark their territory; not nice/acceptable for you to put up with in your home. even if they don't spray...

- at some point he (or the girls) will need to be removed to prevent unplanned matings because...

- in the presence of an entire male girls frequently aren't noticed to be vocally in call and he'll know they're calling before you do, by which time the deed is done

- or, if you're very fortunate/extremely vigilent in separating them before this occurs but both are still in your home you'll have a devil of a job in keeping them segregated and in the near vicinity of a calling queen that he's unable to get to it;s almost certain he will spray and probably make an awful racket aobut wanting to get to her.

My studs have always lived outside, occasionally with one of my girls for company for short periods of time and generally in the depths of winter when I know the particlar girl's calling pattern; i.e. that she never calls in the winter.

I know boys living outside isn't an ideal situation but for most breeders it's the only practical solution. Some are fortunate enough to have boys who don't spray in the house, ever, and so owners are able to bring them in for periods of time. Can't do that with my own stud (he will spray an unfamiliar territory and particularly where he can smell a queen has habited) but he does have loads of supverised access into the garden with us, on an almost daily basis in the summer - and *still* sprays my garden furniture/the back door/etc/etc

Though we have a few other large pens/runs they're mostly empty as our girls are, I'd guess about 75% of the time, always indoors with us.

Excellent reply. Nothing to add but didn't want to read n run!

thats really good to know, thank you. at what age does the male become interested in the female, at what age could he possibly get her pregnant and when do they normally start spraying? i have just bred a little boy and would like to keep him but not sure if its going to be possible!

It's a bit how long is a piece of strong really Friends have had studs they despair of ever showing an interest in girls - at 2 years old. Yet I once had a boy who mated a queen when he was only just 7 months - which is pretty precious for my breed (British). I'd guess the average age for them to be 'working' , or at least trying, is 9/12 months old but, as you can tell, that varies by an awful lot. And if he can insert A into b, then he's perfectly capable of getting her in kitten from the off.

Some studs never spray - ever. On the other hand, I once looked after, overnight, a 7 month old kitten I'd sold to someone in my village. He was in my lounge and I came down in the morning to find he'd sprayed everywhere When (if) they spray is much harder to determine. It tends to occurr with hormonal, sexual maturity and that differs from cat to cat. It's environmental also to a degree, so it may depend whether he's kept as a single, indoor only cat or, at the other extreme, calling girls around him - that'll generally be enough enough to solicit some sort of sexual behaviour from a male who is WELL under a year old. Think it's probably also breed dependant too. Mine, British, are generally pretty slow to mature.

hi,
gskinner info is spot on, great reply

I dont know what garden size you have but you could build a couple of pens, I have individual pens for females and males, they dont cost that much to make providing your ok with a bit of diy,

My females have a insulated house and cat flap to where they can sleep and an additional run with scratch post etc, they love it as they have the ability to seek shade and shelter but can get fresh air and play whenever they choose.

My males have simalar but double size, as this gives them a feeling of more terrority, it also has a small holding pen within which helps with introductions of potential queens.

I keep the queens in pairs from a young age and males seperate. This cattery is three individual bays and can be made for as little as £150 everything bought from B n q, apart from cat flaps. I can send the plans and dimensions etc if required it really is basic Diy, no fancy joints etc, just the ability to measure, saw,screw and hammer.

__________________
http://www.funkyfurballs.co.uk