Expert: Marcia Owen - 2/26/2010

Question
I have a male cat that has sired a litter before (a singleton).  He is a young boy (a year and a half old).  His problem is he grabs the girls too high and can't figure out (or is too short compared to the female) to scoot back far enough and just rides their hips.  Have you any hints on helping him figure out to grab lower?  I've tried a collar on my girls but he just grabs their ears.  He's not comfortable with my getting too close during the mating.  Thank you!

Answer
Hi Vicki

He has obviously managed it once so should be able to again.  I think you need to build up a really good relationship with him so that he then feels happy when you are there to try to help.  Stud work is a partnership between the cat and the owner and you would be able to help him grab them lower down when you have achieved that.

He is still very young at the moment so may grow a little more anyway so time and building up the relationship with him should resolve this.

Regards

Marcia