Breeding as we speak.

[Sohni]

So, Skylark went to the vet and they told me she looks great.. if a little porky.. She has been living at my parents for the last few montsh while I set up my cattery downstairs and they were housed in large dog kennels. She is actually happier in there and when I let her out for a romp she ends up heading back in when she is done. Unfortunately I have to contain both her and Tsekani as they both spray in my house.

Safiya and Sony come and go as they please, and I put them in with the caged ones once in a while for some company. The cages are made of outdoor dog kennel panels and are about 8 feet by 6 feet by 5 feet tall each with climbing shelves and cat scratching furniture. My next goal is to set up my computer and reading chairs in the space so that I can spend more time in the room with them.

For the last three days, Tsekani has been introduced to Skylark through the bars and then I put him in with her. She accepted him right away and they have mated twice a day for 3 days now. I leave him in with her for a while, and right now they are curled up together snoozing. I am going to try and get a picture.

If all goes well, I will have kittens in mid-January.

[WellingtonCats]

I hope everything went well. When will you take her out? After three days of witnessing matings I would probably take her out so you have a good chance of estimating when they were born. My three girls were all with the studs for 10 days to 3 weeks and it's making it a nightmare to tell.

[Sohni]

Well, I was going to stop the matings today, but this afternoon she started calling really loudly when he was in his own cage so I brought him back out. I plan to mate them again tomorrow and then that will be it. I am just thinking that maybe the first two days of mating she wasn't in full heat since she wasn't calling very much.

[GoldenKitty45]

Remember they are induced ovalators - so when bred, they will release the eggs. I would not leave them together too much longer - she should have released.

[Sohni]

Yeah I know, but there is a chance that she can't become pregnant again because of having a bad infection following her last litter. I figure 4 days won't hurt, and if she's calling then she is definitely in heat. If she doesn't catch this time, it's back to the vet and I may even need to spay her. I have waited this long to make sure she is as healthy and happy as possible before trying to breed again.

If I can't breed her again, then I will get a kitten from her daughter who GC'ed back East as well as her daughter that I have kept. WIll see how well Safiya does in the next few shows.

I do know the biology behind cat mating, just trying to giver her the best chance as possible without overdoing it.

[missymotus]

Hope she takes, and 4 days is not too different to 3.

[GoldenKitty45]

Sorry Sohi if you thought I was out of line. Most my rexes were ever kept with the boy was 3 days of mating - took every time. But if she had some problems, then I don't blame you for going the extra step in this case.

IMO those that let them breed for a long time risk possible kittens being at different develoment and losing some. Most of the breeders I know witness 3-4 good completed matings and then take the girls out.