Best Practices for Feline Breeding: Keeping Kittens Separated from other
Adult Cats
(DRAFT) - Work in Progress
By Amy Adolph (December 2007)
There are two primary struggles that all breeders face in unity: Disease
Prevention and Emotional Wellbeing. These two objectives deserve a good
deal of consideration before producing kittens. Very little qualitative
research articles discuss 'preventative' disease control beyond vaccination
protocols with maintaining the emotional wellbeing and development of kittens.
Without these types of discussion, breeders unknowingly make decision using
unbalanced methods which can lead to ill health of their cats and kittens both
physically and emotionally. Producing a wise practice that limits the
damaging effects by incorporating both disease control and socialization of your
kittens
Being a cat breeder comes with
GREAT responsibilities that go beyond being a pet owner. Breeding cats,
have hormones that dictate one quest, "reproduction." Armed with that
knowledge, you must be prepared to manage your cats differently than a pet owner
would. The difficulties come into conflict emotionally for most breeders,
because cats are a domesticated creatures, and new breeders are most familiar with
the "person-cat relationship," rather than the "breeding-cat relationship."
The practice of Isolating kittens from other breeding cats until the 12th week of age is
recommended because following the weaning stage, a kittens immune system is most
vulnerable prior to having their vaccinations (University, 2005).
Although kittens are at greatest risk during the first 12 weeks, kittens less
than 6 months of age continue to be at increased risk for communicable disease
infection
(Medicine, 1998). Essentially that
means kittens should have their 12th week vaccination prior to the
introduction of immediate breeding cats within the same cattery, but should not
be exposed, or at least have confined limitation to external cats prior to six
months of age.
The antibodies a mother's milk produces during nursing are “temporary” and
act “minimum” protective
shield. Breeders should in addition to implementing a good cattery vaccination
protocols, must also practice diligent isolation measures to allow the kittens antibodies
adequate time develop without exposure to viruses from other cats. Remember, breeding is different from pet
ownership. As a breeder your responsibility is to produce healthy kittens for other
people. The distinction of being a
breeder verses a pet owner, means making personal and emotional sacrifices which
include managing situations to protect the kittens, by monitoring your breeding cats living collectively as pets.
What does this mean for a
breeding program? While ensuring a
medically healthy practice is observed, the emotional wellbeing of kittens must
also be considered. Because human
involvement with the socialization of kittens is crucial during the 12th
week time frame (Practitioners, 2004), you
need the ability to adequately allow the kitten's to have ample human and normal
house exposure without the risk of other cat contact.
I will give you the example of how my home manages this process while
ensuring my family enjoys all of our cats and kittens with minimal
stress...
Personal Example:
My husband is in the military, and while we are use to traveling with pets, working with breeding animals is
much more trialing.
At one point, we moved to Florida where I returned to school and decided to work in the community
for far less wages then we once had been accustom.
As a result, our family moved into military housing, which was
approximately 1600 sq ft. To
accommodate my hobby in the small living area, each child was/is assigned an adult cat to care and love, while I supervise. This plan didn’t always work when you have a child with disabilities who
often forgets, so some moderations during different times have to be
implemented. We limited our breeder
ownership of cats to four; each queen had a child and their bedroom to call
their own.
Their room had a tall
scratching post, shelving, litter box, food and bedding; shades were added to
the rooms to ensure they could be kept dark if necessary for reproduction
control if necessary (this technique does work by the way).Our laundry/mud room was converted into the kitten
room. This was a fantastic arrangement since it was connected to the kitchen
and had tile flooring. My room and bathroom were used in reserve in case of any
sick cats needing isolation or quiet healing time.
Finally the stud room, which was the most complicated feat of all due to
the nature of owning a stud. Studs
spray. My father in law and husband
turned my 17x15 lanai into an extra room to be used as my office, exercise room
and Stud dwelling. This room is my
favorite, as I spend most of my time here, and there is a HUGE glass door that
allows me and the stud to view and hear the happening of the inside house.
Note there are no cages being
used and the older cats have free roam of the house when being supervised.
However, when kittens are around, we implement a stricter protocol.1)Ages 0-4 weeks, the laundry room door stays shut. 2) 4-7 weeks a plexi
glass barrier is placed at the laundry door in the afternoon. This allows the
kittens more expose to the family sounds. When the plexi glass barrier is up, all adult cats are placed in their
perspective rooms. 3) 7-9 weeks, the plexi barrier is expanded into the kitchen
giving the kitten more access to the house, but restricted to the tile areas
(great to litter training). This
third step is becomes a little more exhausting as the kittens like being out and
about in the bigger room. 4) 9-13 weeks the kitten have full supervised access
to the house. It is the supervised time
that makes living in a small home and managing isolating kittens and our cats
successful. The function of
supervision for the kittens and my adult cats reduces territorial stress and
minimizes the transference of viruses.
I will state for the record, my children really help with ensuring all
of our breeding cats getting the individual attention each one
deserves.
My method of isolation is just one example of many, and was
created after having a couple years of experimenting and balancing the socialization
of my cats and kittens, with moderate disease prevention considerations, around what worked with my
family. Every family is different and comes with its own unique set of
requirements. As a breeder you will need to learn how to balance the
functionality of family without sacrificing health or the emotional well being
of the cats.
Additionally, I only have one litter at a time, and have a small number of
breeding cats (max 4) at anyone time. The difficulties in breeding
immensely increases with more cats.
Recommended Reading:
Feline Husbandry Diseases and Management in the Multiple Cat Environment by Neils Pedersen.
Future Additions to this Article: When I find the time I am hoping to get
additional materials added from a point of view from specific breeder who I
consider well educated in isolating kittens in a muli-cat cattery.Works Cited
Medicine, A. P. (1998). Feline
Vaccination. Retrieved 2007, from Veterinary Information Network, Inc.:
http://www.vin.com/mainpub/feline/vaccines/fpvacmain.htm
Practitioners, A. A. (2004,
December). Feline Behavior Guidelines. Retrieved December 14, 2007, from
American Association of Feline Practitioners Online:
http://www.aafponline.org/resources/guidelines/Feline_Behavior_Guidelines.pdf
University, O. S. (2005).
Ohio State University VTH Canine and Feline Vaccination Guidelines.
Retrieved 2007, from College of Veterinary Medicine:
http://www.vet.ohio-state.edu/assets/pdf/hospital/vaccinationGuidelines.pdf