14 THE DOMESTIC AND LONG-HAIRED CAT 



CHAPTER IV 



The Breeding Queen 



Great care should be used in selecting a 

 queen for breeding. If it is worth the time and 

 trouble to raise cats, it is far more satisfying 

 both from a show point view as well as finan- 

 cially, to breed them on scientific principles. 

 Therefore, be sure the queen's pedigree is of 

 the best, for this is of more importance than 

 her looks although we like to possess both. 

 Select the color you prefer and be sure her an- 

 cestors have been this color for at least five 

 generations. To the novice I would suggest 

 starting with a good queen; if you can buy a 

 queen who has already had a litter of kits so 

 much the better, as sometimes the young queen 

 is nervous and may not have nurse for her 

 babies and to the novice these things, while not 

 common, might prove discouraging to the be- 

 ginner. In keeping one queen, she may be 

 given the freedom of the house and trained to 

 go out for a walk in the garden or grounds 

 with you. Never let her out alone or at some 

 future date she may present you with a strange 

 family of kits. Provide a basket or box for her 

 sleeping place and train her to sleep in this at 

 night. It is better to confine her to one room at 

 night. A good healthy female usually weighs 

 about six pounds at eight months to a year. 

 Few weigh over eight pounds at maturity. 



