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Expert: - 12/2/2009


Question
QUESTION: I have a 14 month old siamese cat what I am hoping to breed. She went to a stud on 14th October 2009, and I was provided with a mating certificate. Today would be 19 days, all books etc are saying about "pink nipples" this is not occuring, but she is eating a lot more than normal. Her last season was in Sept and she called again when a took her to the stud, not sure now if she will call again if she is not preganant as it is a colder season here in England so hard to tell if she is likely to call again before spring if she is not pregnant. Don't want to take her to a vets at this stage as she hates the car jouorney and gets very stressed out with it. She she likely to be pregnant without the pinking up? Thank you

ANSWER: Catherine,

I would keep watching.  We usually count on 21 days for the nipples to pink up.  This phenomenon only lasts a few days, so it is easy to miss.  By my count, she would have been bred mid November, if she is 19 or 20 days into the pregnancy. Is that right?  If she was bred October 14, she is about 50 days into her pregnancy.

As to when cats come into season, every one is different and it is more to do with hours of say light than temperature outside.

Best regards... Norm.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you, she is 20 days into it, mated 14th November 2009, so does the pinking come and go, and should she be eatring more at this early stage?
Thank you

Answer
Catherine,

The pinking comes on around 21 days and then goes until much later in the pregnancy.  Assuming she was with the stud for more than one day, we usually start counting at the second day of breeding.  I would keep watching as, like all things in nature the 21 day thing is not really very precise, so she may be off by a couple of days either side of 21.

Best regards.... Norm

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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