52 THE CAT 



A frequent change of blood enhances constitu- 

 tional vigour, whereas in-and-in breeding weakens it. 



The initial outlay for a couple of good queens 

 will probably amount to ten guineas. 



Unless the cattery is indoors, winter breeding 

 should be avoided as much as possible, summer 

 litters being distinctly preferable. 



Care must be exercised to purchase stock from a 

 strain of robust constitution, as so many Persians 

 are delicate in this respect, rendering the kittens 

 difficult to rear. 



Before breeding from the queens, let them attain 

 the age of nine months, or even a little more ; 

 whilst in the case of a stud cat, six months later 

 is quite early enough, and even then the number of 

 visits should be limited. 



Never use old cats for stud purposes, as their 

 progeny will be small and delicate. 



Always select a sire that is strong in the points 

 in which the queen is deficient in fact, this con- 

 stitutes one of the grand principles of selection. 



A question that naturally arises is with reference 

 to the number of times it is advisable to breed from 

 the queen during the course of the year. The 

 Author's answer is twice, as two litters per year 

 allow complete reinstatement of the vigour of the 

 constitution. 



When a queen approaches desire for the male, 

 she becomes restless : cries to attract attention 



