A female cat should be healthy before breeding and should be at least 2 years of age. At least one heat cycle should pass before breeding. It is recommended that the female and the male cat be free from parasites and properly vaccinated before breeding. If the cats in question have hereditary traits that are undesirable, the cats should not be bred because these bad traits will continue to be passed on. The female cat reaches puberty at about 6-12 months of age. It is possible for female cats to go into season as early as 3 months of age. Unlike the dog, the cat can continually go in and out of heat year round. Some cats go back into heat as soon as a week after having given birth to a litter of kittens.
A normal pregnancy usually lasts an average of 58-63 days. Kittens can sometimes be palpated at approximately 25-30 days after breeding. After 45-48 days, an x-ray will reveal the skeletons of the kittens. During the pregnancy, any medications must be okayed by a veterinarian first for the safety of the kittens. It is also important to know that the mother could be eating for herself as well as 1-8 other kittens. That is why it is important to feed a very good food like Science Diet. It is recommended to establish a doctor/patient relationship with a veterinarian before the breeding.