Expert: Norman Auspitz - 4/14/2009

Question
fist off all excuse my poor english (isnt my mother
language).

i have a white persian 17 months old (male), is not nutered
, im looking for a girlfriend of the same race , finally i
found it but the owner as i , dont have any idea about the
process; i guess the questions will be:
1)who is supposed to go to who (male to the female house or
viceversa)
2)how many times have this process to be repeated??
3)how are we sure there was a succesful mating (and sex
included)
4)also how long the littkle cats will be supposed tro stay
whith the mother.

finally , a question abbout another matther; my cat its
really especial and tender whith us (mom and dad) but
whenever a guest is n the house we just hides and run away
to a dark hidden place , its too shy , is there any way to
treat this behavior , making him more soccial??

Answer
Juan,

Before I answer your questions, I have a couple of questions: Is this cat registered in one of the pedigreed cat associations, and if so, which one? Do you have permission from the breeder to use this cat at stud?

Now on to your questions:

1)  Normally, the female comes to the male. On re4are occasions, the male will travel to the female.  Males tend to do better in their home territory.

2) Usually, we let the female in season stay with the male on and off for 3 or 4 days.  However, the females must be in season before we put them together.  One can use the male to determine if the female is in season if it is not obvious.

3)  We try to witness the breeding.  IF the two will not perform while we are in the room with them, we use a baby monitor and listen for the characteristic female shriek indication that there was a mating.

4) We wean the kittens at about age 5-6 weeks and keep them until they are at least 13 weeks.  By then they have had all of their shots and have been socialized to humans.


I answer to your other question.  It is not unusual for some cats to be shy about strangers.  The best thing to do is for your guests and you to ignore the cat until he decides to come out on his own volition, if her ever decides to come out!  Cats tend to do things on their own terms, so unless he is comfortable with company, he will continue to be aloof and there is nothing any of is can do about it!

Best regards... Norm.