| If you take a kitten or cat into your life, you take on | | | | on her vaccinations. So not wait until after she is |
| a responsibility for caring for that new pet. You | | | | pregnant to vaccinate her, as this could lead to |
| ensure her good health by regularly taking your cat | | | | serious problems for the developing kittens. Schedule |
| to a veterinarian, by feeding her well, and by | | | | a visit to your veterinarian and discuss your breeding |
| grooming her. You keep both of you entertained | | | | plans for the cat. He will be able to advise you on |
| through play, and give her your love and receive her | | | | necessary preventive-care measures. |
| love in return. The bond between people and cats is | | | | You want a healthy mate as well, and in able to start |
| truly remarkable, and is a pact that lasts for years. | | | | finding him, talk to your cat's breeder. Do not just |
| But with it comes the responsibility for making the | | | | search for a cat of the seem breed "with papers," as |
| right decisions for the good of your cat, and for all | | | | you could be setting things up for a genetic |
| cats. Your kitten will hardly be settled into your | | | | catastrophe. Certain breeds to not mix well when |
| house before you must make one of the most | | | | they are the exact same breed. For example, |
| important decisions for a cat owner: Do you allow | | | | breeders will pair Manx cats with tails to Manxes |
| your cat to breed? | | | | without, because breeding two with tails often |
| For most people, the answer is a decisive "no," and | | | | produces cats with serious congenital defects, and |
| because of that answer, your cat will be a better | | | | kittens that suffer or die, or have to be humanely |
| pet, and remain in better health. And just as | | | | killed. You must understand the genetics behind the |
| important is the fact that your cat will not contribute | | | | cat you are going to be breeding. And you sure your |
| to the tragic surplus of cats and kittens, millions of | | | | cat's mate also is free from contagious diseases. |
| which die without ever knowing what your cat | | | | If you plan on breeding a mixed-breed cat, and allow |
| knows: what living the life of a loving and | | | | her to breed on her own, most experts will strongly |
| well-cared-for pet is like. | | | | encourage you to reconsider. Mixed-breed cats are in |
| Still, the decision is usually yours to make, but not | | | | such over-supply that millions are killed every year. No |
| always. Sometimes your young cat could end up | | | | one is clamoring for more mixed-breed kittens, no |
| pregnant before you even expected it, or a pregnant | | | | matter how cute they are. |
| cat could end up on your doorstep. But after the | | | | Many people never see their outdoor cat being bred, |
| deed is done, you have another set of responsibilities, | | | | and many meant to have her spayed, but just never |
| which are to help your cat through the pregnancy | | | | got around to it. Then one day they notice she is |
| and birth, help raise her kittens, and then find them | | | | pregnant. If you suspect your cat is pregnant, and |
| good homes. | | | | you do not want her to be, talk to your veterinarian |
| If you plan to breed your cat, make sure she is at | | | | about your options. You can still have her spayed, |
| least a year old. She also needs to be free of any | | | | even if she is pregnant. Otherwise, congratulations, as |
| viral diseases, such as feline leukemia, and be current | | | | you are about to be a grandparent to kittens! |