MY BREEDING PRACTICE:

 

I prefer to breed my females once per year and keep them in the program for a longer period, to be able to breed them to different males. This ensures that enough progeny can be kept from the VERY best mating. If a female cycles very often, I follow the Merk Veterinary Manual instructions and breed her in short intervals, keep offspring and retire her at young age. This will protect her from cystic endometriosis and pyometra. A female that is bred with this method might then be available for adoption early. Generally my girls are retired after reliable offspring for the continuation of the lines has been obtained. 

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Note: It is generally unwise for a breeder to keep several spayed/neutered pets as this not only hinders a responsible breeding program, it also causes these retirees to be harassed by hormonal breeding cats.  Most of my girls are spayed early and placed in loving pet homes where they can be pampered to the fullest extent, without competition. This method also prevents an unhealthy hoarding situation.