Hi,

I know a few CD members have/had pedigree cats from which they've shown/bred from.   I am a real novice as far as cats and calling's are concerned as all my previous cats were neutered moggies.

So...Zelli was 9 months old on Tuesday and for the past 7-10 days she's been quite 'talkative' in her miaows to me, yesterday they became deeper, longer & more pitiful.   She is also rolling on the floor and if I tickle her she crouches down on her front legs and sticks her derriere up, I assume she's calling?  But is this the peak of it, will it get worse?   This morning she's rubbed herself around Mia and rolled on the floor next to her much to Mia's amusement.  She also hasn't wanted to sit on my lap and I normally have to peel her off of me!

How many calls can I put off before having to mate her?  I hear so many different stories, also some breeders inject/pill them to postpone seasons and others frown upon it.  Any experiences etc.  I must admit I'd rather be showing her at the moment but I know once they start calling they lose condition so by summer I might not have the luxury of being able to show her.

Christine

Christine - she sounds as if she is very definitely in heat - just scratch the base of her tail, and she will crouch right down & almost stick her backside in your face!!!

She will come into season every three weeks now - just check that this cycle, and you should be able to predict when she won't be in season for shows.

Really, there shouldn't be any problem with her losing condition as she comes into season - apart from a spring moult & winter moult, my longhaireds looked good all the time they were calling!

Hope that helps a bit

Margot

Hi - yes def in call!

Sounds like it would be the time to put her to stud if she was old enough!

I was told when I first started with cats by quite a well know breeder in the cat world as long as they are well grown you can breed them at 8 months, twice a yr untill they are 8 yrs old!
All her cats, even the old ones looked great!

I leave mine untill they are 18 months - 2 yrs before there first litter & only breed once a year, Mine have never had more than 5 litters.

Mine are birmans - what breed are yours & are they on the active register?

Oh yes she could call every 3 weeks or only twice a year, I have had both!

You have to be so carefull they dont get out - we are forever chasing ours up the road & pulling out from under cars - lol

Jo
xxxx

Hi Jo,

She seems to have quietened down this afternoon, she's now asleep in the lounge on a chair.   This is her first call and she is 9 months old, to be truthful I would rather she delayed the next one until October!

Can I ask how you get your's to 18-24 months for a first litter as I have been advised a year old for mating & not to leave it much longer than that?

Zelli is a BSH black tipped and very gorgeous but I'm not ready for her to be a mother just yet...although her hubbie is lined up!   But I need to get her Pet Passported first and that takes 6 months so any delaying tactics would be appreciated!  Yes she is on active.

Christine

It is annoying to hear them call all the time!

She may only call a few more times then be quite untill november time.

I was told to breed my first one at around 8 months so I am sure it would be fine, its just I thought it was a bit meen. All mine have been fine in giving birth though when leaving it later.

It does get annoying for them to be calling all the time. but mine were ok & were still in good condition even after a few calls with no matings.

Maybe the vet can delay a season?  I have never asked.

Sorry to ask about the active register, but a lot of people do not realise about it. 
A few people have asked me who I use for stud, but had no idea their cat had to be on active to register the kittens with the gccf.

Let me know how you get on & sorry I could not be more help

Jo
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Christine,

You're very unlucky to have such a vocal British breed, usually they aren't as vocal as the oriental types :)
I used to breed/show Burmese and found that if left they will start to call more or less continuously so females were put on the pill (yes - it can be done :) ) in between litters (at least a year in between for my cat) or there is a method of stopping the call and buying you about 3 months peace - but I'm not about to describe it here it is detailed in 'The Book of the Cat' by Michael Wright and Sally Walters (page 217) a book I would recommend if you want to breed as it is very informative.

ha, think yourself lucky Christine, that you dont have to live with a calling OSH....they are totally unbearable & speying was definitely an option for me!!! :)

Thanks Dill for the book recommendation, I shall have a look at Amazon later.

Thanks for all your replies.    It was good to know that she doesn't needed to be mated at a year, the cat I've seen is one I really like & it was his photo that made me buy a 'tippie' and I have my heart on Zelli getting mated to him.

A friend who has Burmese said that they are really, really vocal.   I don't think Zelli has been too bad, she has spells of 'long mewing' and then will go off & eat, sleep, play with water trickling out of the tap etc....

I have been recommended by reputable BSH breeders that the injection (Half strength) can be given so I may think about that option.   Seemingly most vets won't hand out Ovarid anymore as there's been too many side effects.

I would love to see photos of your cats too!

The sound of cats calling is the creepiest noise I know, I absolutely hate it and it goes right through me !!!!1

The absolute worst are Siamese!!!!

Mind you, goats are extremely vocal and sound exceedingly desparate......

Margot

Yep we have a siamese she is sooooo noisy! Especially when shes angry or wants her own way!

Christine,

LOL - you're right about Burmese vocals, they call every few minutes, even in their sleep and if they don't find a tom they get louder and more persistent - and they really teach you the meaning of Raucous (sp?).  Unlike bitches the queen doesn't ovulate until she is mated soooo.....  this can cause real problems if her seasons aren't controlled.  My old girl (she's 18 now) used to try and mate cushions, furniture, the dog (he got a rap on the nose for rolling on his back for her LOL ) even OH wasn't safe from her attentions LOL poor man.  She is neutered now but still likes to walk around the house when we least expect it and scream her head off.  I think she likes to remember her youth - bless.

I found that the vets prescribed a very large dose of ovarid which was unnecessary, I gave 1/4 of the dose fortnightly instead of the whole dose daily - no wonder they were getting side effects as with women, the dosage varies with the cat and the time of year, I gave the minimum dose which prevented calling to both of mine and never had a problem with side effects or delayed fertility (which is what many were complaining about)

The thing is that with the tablets the dosage and timing are under your control and at the dose I worked with the queen would be fairly predictable in her calling once the tablets were stopped.  I'm not sure that this would be the case with the injections ;)
I only ever had a litter from a queen once a year (4 litters in all) preferring quality over quantity ;)

The most effective method is the one outlined in the book IMO - no drugs ;)

I have to say that must be one of the shortest callings in record.  2 days long and she was back to her normal self by yesterday afternoon, she even had her weekly visit to my sister & partner's house for a few hours and didn't hound Charlie, their big ginger moggie!

I have found the book, Dill, on eBay.   Thanks again!

That's it Christine - a couple of days and it's all over!!!  When she is going to have her German honeymoon, be prepared for her to be over there for about 3 weeks - I've known some queens to go off the boil in a 1 hour car journey !!

Margot

I have been warned about this Margot!   Oh well, I can go and look at some German Munsters whilst I deliver & collect her!  ;)

Lucky you Christine, a Burmese can call for at least a week and it can get hellish can be much longer if they are left too long unmated and not on the pill/controlled otherwise.

Glad you found the book - it one of the best I've ever seen about cats :)