How Many Pregnancies Before The Mother Is In Danger?

wcohan

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I know breeder who is now saying his cat is on her 6th pregnancy; I am worried about the mother; after how many pregnancies is it dangerous to the mother's health to have another litter?
 

Kieka

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What is the time period for the pregnancies?

I think most breeders will do no more than two litters a year. It depends on the Mom's health and the litters though. A female with a singleton litter might be ready to have another litter sooner then one who had a litter of six kittens. The biggest factor is the Mom's condition to determine if it is safe for her to have another litter. Plus, the health and quality of the kittens will start going down if the mom isn't in good condition. Most breeders will retire their females at 6 to 7 years old. So theoretically a healthy, well cared for female could have eight to ten litters in her lifetime (assuming start breeding at 18 months and two litters a year).

So if we are talking six litters in three years and she started at 18 months old, she might be fine. If we are talking six litters in 18 months and she started at six months old, yes I would be concerned.

Note, I am not a cat breeder and haven't bred cats so my information is based on what I've heard. I've bred parakeets and in parakeets it is two clutches back to back, if proper nutrition is offered, then 9 months off. They stop usually around 5-6 years old when their clutches got smaller. So we'd usually do eight to ten clutches per female before retiring her (which was a side aviary with no boxes). If someone with more knowledge in cats counters me, go with them.
 
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Willowy

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There's really no way to put a solid number on it. . .some cats have complications on their first pregnancy. If she has easy pregnancies and he gives her time to recover condition in between pregnancies, she'll probably be OK.

I don't know what the ethical number of litters is considered normal for purebred cats. . .I know that more than 4 in dogs is looked at with suspicion (a dog should not be bred before 18 months, should not be bred more than once a year, and should not have litters once a year more than 2 years in a row, so you basically have one at 2 years, one at 3 years, one at 5 years, and maybe one at 6 years if she's very healthy).
 

lutece

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This can depend on the breed, bloodline, and individual cat. It is more variable in cats than it is in dogs. Simple rules of thumb (such as not before 18 months, not more than once a year, etc) may work for dogs, but NOT cats, and this is one reason why legislation aimed at regulating dog breeders isn't necessarily appropriate for cats.

Some breeding cats have very frequent cycles, and have trouble maintaining healthy weight and good physical condition while they are cycling, so you can't let them go too long between litters... frequent heat cycles also make cats more susceptible to pyometra. Such cats are really better off having two litters per year rather than one, as long as pregnancy and nursing doesn't take too much out of them. Other cats don't cycle as often and are able to maintain health and condition while cycling, so you don't need to breed them as frequently.

If a female breeding cat does well when pregnant and nursing, remaining in good health throughout, and you are providing excellent nutrition and medical care, it's fine for her to keep having litters for some time. There is not a good rule of thumb about a maximum number of litters, or maximum age at which to breed a female cat. A friend of mine had a breeding female that regularly had large litters of kittens until she was 13 years old, maintaining glowing health throughout... this is unusual (most girls aren't fertile for anywhere near so long), but possible! Another friend had a girl who was never bred as a young cat... she had her first litter when she was 8 years old, and went on to earn the title of Distinguished Merit (an award given to cats that produce many Grand Champions). That sort of story is also unusual (most girls need to start breeding at a young age or their fertility is at risk), but possible!

On the other end of the spectrum, some female cats have trouble maintaining healthy condition, both when they are cycling, and when they are pregnant and/or nursing... I've known cats like that too, and they are better off when spayed after only one or two litters.

What is important as a breeder is to know your own cats and bloodlines, be aware of their health and nutritional and medical needs, and flexible in your breeding plans to accommodate the needs of each individual cat.
 

lutece

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If she has easy pregnancies and he gives her time to recover condition in between pregnancies ...
About recovering condition between pregnancies... some cats do lose condition while pregnant and nursing, and need time off to recover. But for many cats, it works the opposite way: they may lose condition when cycling between pregnancies, and recover condition while pregnant. Repeated heat cycles can be really hard on cats, so I generally worry more about "how long is it safe to wait?" rather than "how soon will it be safe to breed again?"
 
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ArchyCat

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I have read of breeders keeping a sterilized tom (clipped vas defer-ins) to breed with the female to take her out of a heat cycle. This reduces the risk of pyometra.
 

lutece

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I have read of breeders keeping a sterilized tom (clipped vas defer-ins) to breed with the female to take her out of a heat cycle. This reduces the risk of pyometra.
There are a number of ways to simulate mating so that a female cat will ovulate, which can make her heat a bit shorter (it doesn't bring her out of heat immediately) and can increase the time between heat cycles. I don't know anyone who uses a vasectomized male... but I have known breeders who have used an "acupressure" technique, particularly with female cats that are being taken to shows. If you are showing a female cat, you want her to maintain her weight and coat, and you don't want her to be in heat all the time at the shows. It can be convenient for the owner to keep a female cat out at the shows a bit longer and delay breeding her.

However, I don't think simulated mating reduces the risk of pyometra. I was actually told by a specialist vet that unsuccessful or simulated breeding, if it causes the female to ovulate, can increase the risk of pyometra in cats! My understanding is that during a simple heat cycle, without the stimulation of breeding, the uterus is not exposed to progesterone; but if ovulation occurs, the uterus is exposed to progesterone which causes many changes in the reproductive system and can actually be a trigger for pyometra. I have personally seen cats develop pyometra after unsuccessful breedings. So I personally don't use any simulated mating techniques with my cats.
 
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epona

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For most breeds, 1 year between litters for a breeding queen is considered a caring and ethical approach, it depends though upon how often a cat goes into season - that can be a physical strain in itself so may be mated again a little sooner as long as they have good body weight and condition. Some may require a longer break to get back to the peak of health.
 

SeventhHeaven

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I have read of breeders keeping a sterilized tom (clipped vas defer-ins) to breed with the female to take her out of a heat cycle. This reduces the risk of pyometra.
?? I've never had male sterilized that was interested in mating :( they have no interest...
(Not a 'breeder' but had a few litters...)
 

Willowy

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?? I've never had male sterilized that was interested in mating :( they have no interest...
(Not a 'breeder' but had a few litters...)
Some vets will give a tom a vasectomy instead of castrating him. It makes no difference to his sex drive or tomcat behaviors (which is why pet owners don't go for that) but it can be useful to breeders to have a sterile but functional tomcat around.
 

DreamerRose

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I once had a cat that had seven litters of kittens before she was spayed. It didn't seem to harm her because she lived a long life into her late teens.
 

marmoset

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I once had a cat that had seven litters of kittens before she was spayed. It didn't seem to harm her because she lived a long life into her late teens.
That's a great comfort to know. I have no idea how many litters our recent cat had. She was out there for at least 3 years breeding- and after I trapped her she was so close to delivery that I kept her (no spay abort) during the time of weaning her kittens she was in heat so frequently.

Now she's spayed and living 100% indoors. I hope she does as well as your cat and lives to see her late teens (though of course we won't know as she keeps her age quiet from us).
 

DreamerRose

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I hope she does too. My Tigger had one litter after another and was pregnant when I had her spayed. I had no idea she was pregnant. She never had a chance to recuperate, but remained healthy.
 

Willowy

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When I was a teenager we took in a pregnant stray. When she was spayed the vet said she had had "truckloads" of kittens and her ladybits were all worn out, so that another litter probably would have killed her. No estimate on her age, but old enough to have had truckloads of kittens.

She lived with us for 15 years. So her procreative days must not have taken too much of a toll on her long-term health.
 

Caspers Human

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For most breeds, 1 year between litters for a breeding queen is considered a caring and ethical approach...
When I was young, my father bred hunting dogs.

He would only breed them once per year.

Yes, I know that a dog's breeding cycle is different than a cat's but my point is that my father believed that one litter per year was the right way to breed.

Also, people were more willing to buy the puppies when they knew they came from dogs that weren't being overbred.
 
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