- Joined
- Oct 14, 2023
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We have an appointment to get 18-month old Griselda, spayed on Monday, 10-16-23 . We had planned to breed her just once because I thought the experience of having & caring for kittens would round out her personaility. All five of her kittens were adopted in short order. But ..... but I am starting to wonder, could her very sound mothering behavior and the good health of her kittens - one a male calico - possibly indicate that breeding her to the right Siamese male could improve the Siamese breed? I have not mentioned this to any of my members; they would have a fit. Her mother was a calico rescue, parentage unknown. Because Griselda has 4 very long black legs, big ears, a slender build, an extra long black tail, and is quite vocal, our vet thinks the father or perhaps a grandparent was a Siamese.
Though multiple posts on CatSite's kitten forum indicate problems are quite likely if cats are bred young, Griselda was an attentive and conscientious mother. She effectively used a long black leg as a safety bar to keep them from straying and had plenty of mik. She watched them like a hawk when they were older, cavorting about, and had good jundgement as to when it was prudent to carry a kitten back to the family bed by the scruff of the neck. Moved them to a new unaccessible location under a bureau, after several, successive visitors handled them. She clearly enjoyed her kittens. We also enjoyed the process, except for kitty litter duty, after they started eating solid food at 9 weeks or so. On July 17, at 14 months of age, she bore four large, well-co-ordinated female tabbies and one unique male calico, with an orange triangular "flag" over his head and shoulders. The girl tabbies were very cute, but not unusual- looking. The question is, to what extent are Grisleda's mothering skills the result of her genotype? Or are they mostly the result of a secure, calm environment and very good socialization? Or did she perhaps ingest healthful vitamins and trace minerals when she nibbled my botany plant specimens? Waving grass culms and complex infloresces are tempting toys, but she interes with the identrifation work, and besides, we are told that plants can be toxic to cats.
The father, Tigger, is an even tempered, good-natured, sturdy young, orange-stiped tabby, a very well-socialized, outdoor cat, whose mother was a calico. Magda, his owner, breeds German Shepherds in lovely, rural Durham, Connecticut. Griselda and Tigger spent three days together, and both seemed to enjoy the mating, on May 11, 2023. We were surprised that there was none of the ghastly screaming I recall from my childhood, when our female barn cats were bred by an old, scarred, oange Tom, who appeared on our farm only to sire kittens. Like Griselda, Tigger likes dogs, and got along well with Dundee, our Cairn terrier. Magda's preteen granddaughter, Bella, is starting to be interested in boys, and she got quite a kick out of Tigger's and Grisleda's "getting married". She gave them a nice "wedding dinner" in a pink plastic bowl on a pretty plastic place mat! The orange calico "Boy", was returned to Magda, the pick of the itter.
I just read that many purebreed mothers, especially if young, have defective mothering skills. I also read that the founder pool for the Siamese breed was very, very small. Even though I know there are far too many kittens in the world in need of good homes, I am starting to rationalize that maybe if we bred her to a Siamese, her good mothering genes could improve that breed - maybe her descendents (F2 or F3 generation) could be used by professional breeders? Perhaps we should not be so quick to spay. Griselda was in season last week (last kitten given away 6 weeks ago), and she acted less tense and annoying than during her seasons before pregnancy. We live in Connecticut and regularly drive to othr mid-Atlantic and New England states to visit relatives, so beeding would be fasilbe, with Simaese anywhere in this region. .
Wondering what would be most beneficial strategy for catdom & their caregivers. Griselda is a gem and a great mother.....?????
Though multiple posts on CatSite's kitten forum indicate problems are quite likely if cats are bred young, Griselda was an attentive and conscientious mother. She effectively used a long black leg as a safety bar to keep them from straying and had plenty of mik. She watched them like a hawk when they were older, cavorting about, and had good jundgement as to when it was prudent to carry a kitten back to the family bed by the scruff of the neck. Moved them to a new unaccessible location under a bureau, after several, successive visitors handled them. She clearly enjoyed her kittens. We also enjoyed the process, except for kitty litter duty, after they started eating solid food at 9 weeks or so. On July 17, at 14 months of age, she bore four large, well-co-ordinated female tabbies and one unique male calico, with an orange triangular "flag" over his head and shoulders. The girl tabbies were very cute, but not unusual- looking. The question is, to what extent are Grisleda's mothering skills the result of her genotype? Or are they mostly the result of a secure, calm environment and very good socialization? Or did she perhaps ingest healthful vitamins and trace minerals when she nibbled my botany plant specimens? Waving grass culms and complex infloresces are tempting toys, but she interes with the identrifation work, and besides, we are told that plants can be toxic to cats.
The father, Tigger, is an even tempered, good-natured, sturdy young, orange-stiped tabby, a very well-socialized, outdoor cat, whose mother was a calico. Magda, his owner, breeds German Shepherds in lovely, rural Durham, Connecticut. Griselda and Tigger spent three days together, and both seemed to enjoy the mating, on May 11, 2023. We were surprised that there was none of the ghastly screaming I recall from my childhood, when our female barn cats were bred by an old, scarred, oange Tom, who appeared on our farm only to sire kittens. Like Griselda, Tigger likes dogs, and got along well with Dundee, our Cairn terrier. Magda's preteen granddaughter, Bella, is starting to be interested in boys, and she got quite a kick out of Tigger's and Grisleda's "getting married". She gave them a nice "wedding dinner" in a pink plastic bowl on a pretty plastic place mat! The orange calico "Boy", was returned to Magda, the pick of the itter.
I just read that many purebreed mothers, especially if young, have defective mothering skills. I also read that the founder pool for the Siamese breed was very, very small. Even though I know there are far too many kittens in the world in need of good homes, I am starting to rationalize that maybe if we bred her to a Siamese, her good mothering genes could improve that breed - maybe her descendents (F2 or F3 generation) could be used by professional breeders? Perhaps we should not be so quick to spay. Griselda was in season last week (last kitten given away 6 weeks ago), and she acted less tense and annoying than during her seasons before pregnancy. We live in Connecticut and regularly drive to othr mid-Atlantic and New England states to visit relatives, so beeding would be fasilbe, with Simaese anywhere in this region. .
Wondering what would be most beneficial strategy for catdom & their caregivers. Griselda is a gem and a great mother.....?????
