Expert: Marcia Owen - 10/17/2008

Question
I am a breeder of devon rex cats, one of my queens has been coming in to seasons since she was 5mths old she is now 9mths old and this is her 8th call, i know it's a bit young but she is a good size i'm also worried that if i don't mate her soon i could end up with more problems like i did with one of my other queens(we nearly lost her).I also have a holiday book for march 2009 so i know my cut off time is now and then i won't be able to mate her until april next year, i really don't know what to do for the best. With my other girl (the one we nearly lost)  we did put her on a hormone to stop her calling which is why we almost lost her, so i don't really want to try that.HELP.

Answer
Hi Lorraine

Sometimes nature dictates other than we feel is ideal and you have done well to hold her off this long.  Providing she is a good weight and size then I don't see why you shouldn't mate her now.  She will be virtually a year old by the time she has the kittens which is quite acceptable.

Do go ahead and get her mated and enjoy the kittens.

Marcia.