AboutNorman 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.
Question QUESTION: Hi. i have a 2yr+ old persian tom cat. I bought him specifically for breeding purposes. He shows no sign of spraying/marking his territory and has neither mated nor shows any interest in mating with female cats which are in heat.
Any reasons why he is not mating. also till what age do u become sexually mature?
Will he ever become a stud cat?
ANSWER: Amar,
Every cat is different, and it is not unusual in Persians for a male to be a slow starter. I have seen them take until 3-5 years of age to figure it out. Unfortunately, some never do figure it out <sigh>!
I would use an experienced queen with him so he can "learn what to do". Some breeders just have the queen live with the male and, lo and behold, one day, the female is pregnant. Of course, the problem here is that you may not know when they bred, so you would have to guess at when the kittens are due.
Best regards... Norm.
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QUESTION: Thanks for the info. i just got a physical done by a vet and figured out that this persian tom has only 1 testicle. the other one hasnt descended. this is what the vet told me.
But he said this cat can still breed?
Will it still breed?
Answer Amar,
OK. Yes, the cat might still be able to mate, however, it is not certain the sperm will be of high enough count to impregnate the female. If the testicle has not descended by age 2+, it is almost sure that it will not descend at all!!!!!
In addition, although it is not a certainty, having only one descended testicle (monorchidism) or no descended testicles (cryptorchidism) are thought to be genetic and passed on by the mother. In our breeding programs, with any breed, we have monorchid males neutered and never use them. Fortunately, we only ever had one monorchid male!
There is some controversy as to whether a retained testicle will become cancerous. This has not been confirmed, but there appears to be enough anecdotal evidence to wonder.
