Starting a Cattery

One of the first things you have to remember when contemplating breeding cats is that your "breeding" cats are not necessarily the same as "pet" cats. Hormones play a very big part in their lives, and will affect how you can keep them. Very seldom can the males be allowed to roam the house. MOST male cats will spray if they are not neutered. Also, to be fair to your male, you must provide him with at least 3 females. Not to do this, is to subject your male to getting very depressed and possibly sick from not eating properly because of the depression. In the US, I know of NO reputable Ragdoll breeder who does stud service…certainly not Kauffman Kats.

So, to maintain a whole male, you will need an area or a large cage that is waterproof and very easy to clean. The male should not be completely isolated however. Being a Ragdoll, he will need and crave your attention too. Some males only spray a little, when the females come into heat. Others are "hosers" who spray everything in their reach, including their own food dishes, water bowls, bedding and any person near enough for them to spray. No one can guarantee you that a male won’t spray. I have heard people being told that "if you only have one male he won’t spray". Not always true. Never get into breeding assuming that you won’t have to cage your male.

People also don’t realize that females can spray while they are in heat. A female cat comes into heat every 3 to 7 weeks from the end of January to about November. Many females are very vocal when they come into heat, calling out to any males in the area. Often times the males will call back to them, and it can make some very unpleasant, not to mention sleepless nights.

A female should only be bred an average of 3 times in 2 years. Females can come into heat when the babies are only a few weeks old, but they must not be bred again that soon. The pregnancy and nursing are very hard on the female. Very seldom do breeding females, especially after finishing weaning a litter, look like they would if they were a spayed female. You can tell by their coats and their weights that they have just weaned the litter. There is no way they are ready to start over breeding for a while. Therefore, you have to make sure the male cannot get at the females while they are recovering from having a litter. As I stated earlier, a male needs at least 3 females to keep him happy, because breeding only 3 times in 2 years is not enough for him, but having more than this amount of litters is too much for one female in most cases.

You will also need a separate room for your kittens. The females should be isolated for two weeks before the kittens are due, and then kept with the kittens and away from the other cats, until the kittens are weaned and have had their first shots.

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