Hi all -
I'm new to the forums but have something I need advice on from other Breeders. My wife and I breed Bengals (all with TICA certs) and have been trying to build a cattery. The issue I have is we have 2 queens (one proven and one not yet) and a stud. We purchased the stud from another breeder as a kitten and which is the norm when starting out. The stud is going on 3 yrs old now. We built our whole program around the hopes of this first stud. The issue is we believe he may be infertile. He does the deed with both queens but nothing. This has been going on for well over a year now. So where I need advice is a couple things:
What is the widely accepted test that breeders use to authenticate the infertility? We have a clause in our contract from the breeder that we can request a replacement if he is infertile but it doesn't specify what test is used to prove it. I've called dozens of vets, a cat clinic (vet that specializes in only cats) regarding a sperm count test (since that's what they do in humans -- pardon my ignorance) and none of them do it or even know where to go. The only advice I got was that maybe a university vet program might. Getting this test seems like it is rare and not common so I'm getting the feeling that the sperm count test is not the commonly accepted test for infertility in male cats. Most vets have mentioned that they can do a testosterone test but that does prove infertility.
My second question is if the sperm count test is the commonly accepted form of proof in the breeder community then where does one go to get one of those tests performed on their cat? One vet said they do it in dogs by taking a freshly inseminated female and extract the sperm that way. I think that would be a long shot getting two cats to breed on command (LOL). But that vet didn't do cats or know where I could get it done. FYI - We're in the Chicago area.
Anyhow, I need real advice as to what some of you out there may know or have experienced regarding this.
Thank You.
I'm new to the forums but have something I need advice on from other Breeders. My wife and I breed Bengals (all with TICA certs) and have been trying to build a cattery. The issue I have is we have 2 queens (one proven and one not yet) and a stud. We purchased the stud from another breeder as a kitten and which is the norm when starting out. The stud is going on 3 yrs old now. We built our whole program around the hopes of this first stud. The issue is we believe he may be infertile. He does the deed with both queens but nothing. This has been going on for well over a year now. So where I need advice is a couple things:
What is the widely accepted test that breeders use to authenticate the infertility? We have a clause in our contract from the breeder that we can request a replacement if he is infertile but it doesn't specify what test is used to prove it. I've called dozens of vets, a cat clinic (vet that specializes in only cats) regarding a sperm count test (since that's what they do in humans -- pardon my ignorance) and none of them do it or even know where to go. The only advice I got was that maybe a university vet program might. Getting this test seems like it is rare and not common so I'm getting the feeling that the sperm count test is not the commonly accepted test for infertility in male cats. Most vets have mentioned that they can do a testosterone test but that does prove infertility.
My second question is if the sperm count test is the commonly accepted form of proof in the breeder community then where does one go to get one of those tests performed on their cat? One vet said they do it in dogs by taking a freshly inseminated female and extract the sperm that way. I think that would be a long shot getting two cats to breed on command (LOL). But that vet didn't do cats or know where I could get it done. FYI - We're in the Chicago area.
Anyhow, I need real advice as to what some of you out there may know or have experienced regarding this.
Thank You.