Breeding programme
Breeding programme
Choosing a pairing
Three things decide a pairing, in this order.
- Health and genetics — every cat is screened for HCM by cardiac ultrasound and for PKD before entering the programme.
- Temperament — a cat that stresses easily does not enter the programme, whatever its conformation looks like.
- Conformation against the breed standard — third, not first.
We avoid close line breeding and bring in unrelated lines when the chart starts to narrow. Cats like Vega are here for exactly that reason.
Queens
A queen has at most one litter a year, and retires at five years old or after her third litter, whichever comes first. Retired queens stay in the same home; they are not moved on.
Kittens
Kittens leave no earlier than twelve weeks, after two vaccinations and worming. All are neutered before placement, except where a placement into another registered cattery's programme has been agreed in advance.