As a cat owner and a future cat breeder, you know the importance of following breeding guidelines. In fact, you may have already done plenty of research on the subject.
Siamese cats are a special breed that comes with specific breeding guidelines. You’ll want to review these guidelines first if you’re planning on breeding your cats.
This article provides crucial tips on how to responsibly breed Siamese cats. By following this, they can continue to spread their adorable genes to future generations. So, keep reading!
What to Consider When Breeding Siamese Cats
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when it comes to breeding Siamese cats. You must ensure that you have two healthy and compatible cats. Siamese cats have small litter sizes. Thus, you also need to prepare for the possibility of having to care for kittens.
Additionally, you must be aware of the potential health problems that Siamese cats can be prone to. These include respiratory and congenital defects.
With all that in mind, breeding Siamese cats can be a rewarding experience. This is only true if you prepare yourself and are willing to do the work.
How Old Should a Cat be Before You Breed Her?
Every cat is different and will reach maturity at different rates. However, most experts agree that a cat should be at least one year old before breeding.
Preferably, they should be 18 months to two years old. Pregnancy and motherhood can be physically and mentally demanding, so the cat must be mature enough before breeding.
What are the Responsible Breeding Guidelines for Siamese Cats?
These are best practices breeders should follow to produce healthy, well-adjusted kittens. These guidelines cover everything, such as selecting healthy breeding stock. Others include providing proper socialization during the kitten’s early weeks of life.
- The GCCF recommends blue to blue and blue to lilac matings to produce Blue Point Siamese cats. They recommend lilac to lilac or lilac to warm chocolate matings for a Lilac Point Siamese Cat. A breed should avoid caramel and tabby points if possible.
- Eye color is an essential factor in determining the quality of a breeding line. Pay attention to the color of the cat’s eyes and only breed those with desired colors. The ideal eye color is deep blue. Once breeding loses a good eye color from a line of descent, it is very difficult to get it back.
- Cats should be of good temperament and have no negative traits that could pass on to their offspring.
- The Siamese is a pointed shorthair. Thus, outcrossing to other breeds is not permitted. This is to preserve the Siamese cat’s unique appearance.
Outcrossing a Siamese cat to any longhaired or semi-longhaired breed is not allowed.
A breeder cannot breed Siamese cats with Smoke and Silver Tabbies.
- Healthy, well-adjusted Siamese cats are the building blocks of responsible breeding. A responsible Siamese cat breeder selects only the healthiest cats for breeding purposes.
Breeders don’t try to breed Siamese cats with the “prettiest” traits. They don’t breed cats who have won cat shows or have fancy titles. They don’t breed Siamese cats because they have pretty faces or a “cool” coat pattern.
Breeders don’t breed Siamese cats who have “good breeding papers.” They only breed healthy Siamese cats with specific blood tests and genetic screenings.
Responsible breeders don’t let their cats procreate unless they meet health criteria.
- The goal is to only select cats that contribute to the good genes and discard the bad ones. Breeders want to produce Siamese kittens with good qualities from both parents.
- Remember that doubling up on the desirable traits also doubles the chances of defects. Thus, it is best to avoid breeding cats with similar faults to avoid fixing those defects.
- Only experienced breeders should perform inbreeding because they understand pedigrees well. This will cut the risks associated with inbreeding. This will also maintain the health and well-being of the cats.
Is Cat Inbreeding Okay?
There are a few schools of thought when it comes to inbreeding cats. Some people believe it is okay to breed closely related cats. Others believe any form of inbreeding is unethical.
There are pros and cons to both sides of the argument. Inbreeding can help to preserve certain physical traits that may be lost otherwise. It is a means of achieving specific goals, such as producing a litter of blue-eyed kittens.
Inbreeding can also fix specific health problems within a bloodline.
On the other hand, inbreeding can also lead to health problems for the kittens. Inbreeding can increase the chances of birth defects and genetic disorders. It can also make the kittens more susceptible to disease.
Some people believe that inbreeding is unethical and that breeders should avoid it. The decision of whether to inbreed cats is a personal one. There are arguments for and against it. Still, it depends on what the breeder is comfortable with.
What are the Health Concerns to be Aware of When Breeding Siamese Cats?
When breeding Siamese cats, there are a few health concerns to be aware of.
- Amyloidosis. One issue is that Siamese cats are prone to amyloidosis. This is a disease that causes abnormal protein deposits in organs.
- Cleft palate. Some birth defects, like cleft palates, may result from environmental factors. There seems to be an increased incidence of this defect in certain lines of Siamese cats.
A cleft palate occurs when two sides of the palate fail to fuse together during development. This leaves a gap in the roof of the mouth. While it may not cause health problems, it can make it difficult for Siamese cats to eat and drink. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the problem.
- Feline Asthma. Siamese cats are also at risk for respiratory problems. This is because they have narrower airways than other cats.
- Mammary tumors. Siamese cats are more likely to develop mammary carcinomas, and affected cats tend to be male.
- Siamese cats are susceptible to genetic defects. These may include crossed eyes and kinked tails.
- Siamese cats are prone to a hereditary kidney condition called polycystic kidney disease. This condition can lead to kidney failure. Thus, it’s essential to have your Siamese cat checked by a veterinarian before breeding.
- Finally, Siamese cats can suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is a condition that causes the thickening of the heart muscle.
A Final Word of Caution: Be Careful Who You Buy From
Choosing a Siamese cat breeder who does all the above guidelines is still no guarantee of a healthy kitten or a great pet. Many irresponsible breeders are more concerned with making money than producing healthy kittens.
Avoid buying Siamese kittens from breeders who do not follow responsible breeding practices. Find a Siamese cat breeder who studies genetics, bloodlines, and health.
Conclusion
The responsibility of breeding is not to be taken lightly. You must ensure your cats are healthy and don’t have any genetic disorders. Responsible breeding can help avoid cat defects that can cause pain and suffering.
Siamese cats remain one of the most difficult to breed. Thus, they need a tremendous amount of dedication and research.
We gathered all the health tips tailored toward maintaining your Siamese cat’s optimal well-being. Check it out here: Siamese Cat Health: A Complete Guide
