Without a doubt, every owner or mistress of the Canadian Sphynx will at some point be faced with solving such a problem as mating their pet. And first they will have to decide whether they need it at all. And if you have come to the conclusion that you want to have kittens from your four-legged friend, then you will have to learn all the nuances associated with mating and breeding of Canadian Sphynxes.
Breeding a Sphynx is quite a labor-intensive job.
In order for this rather complicated process to be organized without errors, both breeders and ordinary owners of these animals need to know in detail how puberty occurs in cats of this breed. After all, without them, it will be difficult for the owner of the animal to determine whether the cat is ready for mating or not.
Therefore, it is important to understand how to properly prepare your pet for mating, since mating representatives of this breed of domestic cats not only requires special attention, but also knowledge of at least the minimum rules for organizing mating.
To properly organize the process, it is necessary to know the physiology of the animal.
Puberty
Female Sphynx cats reach sexual maturity quite early: already in the sixth or seventh month of life. It is during this period that your pet goes into heat for the first time in her life, during which the female emits loud cries, rolls on the floor and arches her back, at the same time stamping on the spot with her hind legs. In addition, during the period of estrus, the female’s manner of movement may change, as well as some other transformations, both in her behavior and character.
Puberty does not coincide with physiological
Moreover, while some Sphynx cats become extremely aggressive during this period, others undergo diametrically opposed metamorphoses and become extremely affectionate. Owners of Canadian Sphynx cats should remember one rule: it is strictly forbidden to breed a cat during its first heat, since it occurs during the period when its body is still developing.
The terms physical maturation and puberty should not be confused. These are completely different concepts, for this reason, at this stage of life, veterinarians prohibit mating Sphynx cats. This period is most suitable for the owner to carefully consider the details of the upcoming estrus and plan the choice of a partner for mating.
Cats' behavior can change noticeably during estrus.
As for sexual maturity in males, it occurs noticeably later than in females, and more specifically, somewhere around the seventh or eighth month. However, despite puberty, mating during this period is not advisable, since at this age your pet is absolutely not ready for it. When your cat reaches puberty, he will become much more aggressive and may begin to mark his territory and try to use soft things to satisfy his sexual needs.
Breed Features
These hairless cats received this name for the breed due to their rather striking similarity in appearance to the appearance of the ancient sphinxes. Today, three of their species are officially recognized: the Canadian (registered more than 40 years ago) and younger varieties - the Don and St. Petersburg sphinxes.
The main features of the appearance of Sphynx cats, in addition to the lack of hair, are:
- wedge-shaped head;
- Long neck;
- slightly slanted eyes;
- wide at the base, large ears;
- muscular body on strong limbs (with the hind legs slightly higher than the front);
- long and flexible tail;
- presence of skin folds.
There is also a classification of this breed according to the type of skin and coat: barebred, velor or flock (with the presence of rudimentary hairs along the body) and “brush” (with soft or hard curls). True, as they grow older, representatives of the “shaggy” varieties of the Sphynx usually return to the standards, becoming bald.
The main advantage of this cat, unique in its appearance, is its gentle character and great affection for its owner. Such a pet will always need attention and care. His favorite place will be the owner's lap, and he will sleep with you under the blanket. This desire to always feel the warmth of a person can also be explained by the properties of the breed, which, due to the lack of wool, is quite heat-loving. At the same time, Sphynx cats are extremely well-mannered and delicate. They are not intrusive and not demanding, moreover, they are able to sensitively recognize the mood of the owner.
If you have already personally appreciated all the advantages of this breed and want to become a breeder, then you need to learn in more detail the rules for mating sphinxes.
First mating
The first mating for Canadian Sphynxes should be organized only after your pet is at least one and a half years old. At the same time, the cat will be completely ready for mating only after two, or even better, three heats. As for cats, the ideal age for the first mating is one and a half to two years, since only at this age the animal’s body has already formed. It should be noted that care should be taken to ensure that by this age both male and female cats have already received all the necessary vaccinations. Please note that under no circumstances should animals be vaccinated two weeks before mating.
Basic rule of knitting
First of all, every owner or breeder should understand that under no circumstances should one get carried away with various drugs that are used to stop or suppress estrus in cats. This is explained by the fact that these drugs have a hormonal structure. Therefore, increased use of these medications can lead, at a minimum, to hormonal disruption in the cat’s body, and at maximum, provoke the development of serious diseases. It is for this reason that every owner should decide on the choice of a suitable pair for mating his pet, and, therefore, he will have to prepare in advance for this process in all its details.
Sphynx mom and baby
Nursery services
There are several “closed cats” in the nursery, which are used exclusively for mating with local cats. In order to use the services of one of these representatives, a mating agreement is concluded and it is quite expensive. The peculiarity of using nurseries is a 100% guarantee of obtaining healthy and purebred offspring , but for this you need to pass a check, pass all the necessary tests and give the cat a manicure. Only after that the cat is invited to her.
Saving on mating can turn into a real disaster, which is not recommended. So, after saving on dates, you can get motherless offspring in the form of sick kittens that will have to be treated.
Daily procedures will cost a lot and will not guarantee the animals’ complete recovery. Such experiments can harm the cat itself, because untested cats can have a number of diseases that will be passed on to their offspring. Age will not play a role here, as well as many other features and characteristics.
Where to find a mate for your pet:
- according to the white list in nurseries;
- according to numerous advertisements on the Internet;
- at exhibitions that are held several times a year;
- in special clubs for cats, where this is stated in the rules.
Mating will depend on the title and breeding value of the cat. All necessary documents must be with the owner, who can provide them upon request.
Choosing a mating partner
Shortly before breeding Canadian Sphynxes, you should definitely take the animals to the veterinarian to make sure that your cat does not have any diseases. In addition, approximately fifteen to twenty days before mating, both partners should undergo deworming for the purpose of prevention. This will allow your pet to receive a guarantee that pregnancy will not be complicated by the presence of worms.
Check your cat's readiness to bear offspring with a veterinarian
Immediately before mating, both the male and the female must trim their claws, otherwise the animals may injure their partner during the mating process. And keep in mind that you should never wash cats before breeding. This is explained by the fact that washing can destroy the real smell of the cat, which attracts the male, which, in the end, can result in a failed mating.
The most important rules for owners of male Sphynx cats
Owners keeping male Sphynx cats should be careful throughout the mating process to ensure that it does not involve two animals that have not previously mated (so-called “untied” animals). Failure to do so may result in both physical and psychological harm.
Mating takes place in the male's territory
In most cases, mating occurs on the territory of the male owner. This additionally imposes additional obligations on the cat’s owner, because it depends on him how comfortable the cat will feel while in the cat’s territory. In addition, the owner of the male or female should take care of a special enclosure, which may be useful for the cat when it settles into the territory of the male. It must be delivered to the mating site in advance so that the cat has the opportunity to sit in a familiar place from the first minutes of its appearance in a new place. In addition, if the acquaintance with the “groom” is unsuccessful, the cat will be able to hide there and calm its nerves. Therefore, both the cat owner and the cat owner should try to control the entire course of the mating and, if the need arises, help the animals.
The process of mating cats
In most cases, mating of Canadian Sphynxes lasts no more than half a minute. She is accompanied by rather loud cries of a cat and a strong purring of a cat. Just at this moment, an egg is released from the cat's ovaries. However, fertilization does not occur immediately, taking about a day. In some cases, one mating is not enough for pregnancy to occur, and therefore both partners must spend a few more days with each other.
The most favorable time for mating of the Canadian Sphynx is the third to fifth day of estrus. This is explained by the fact that this is precisely the period when females ovulate.
If you look closely at the behavior of the Canadian Sphynx, it will be very easy to understand when mating has completed. Indeed, immediately after the end of mating, the female begins to roll on the floor, turning over on her back, and she can do this for a fairly long period of time. As for the cat, after finishing mating he strives for privacy and begins to wash himself and lick his fur.
Pregnancy and childbirth
Pregnancy in Sphynx cats is very easy to recognize by their behavior. If a female becomes pregnant, for the first time in a few days she will demand more care and affection from her owners. Also, some cats become picky about food during pregnancy and until birth occurs. Sometimes Sphynx cats like to retire with their favorite toy during pregnancy. At this time, the Canadian Sphynx can be not only affectionate, but also aggressive. However, this behavior of the Canadian Sphynx should not bother you at all, because after a while the cat’s aggressiveness will go away, it just needs to get used to its condition.
As a rule, a cat's pregnancy lasts only 63 days, after which the long-awaited birth occurs. It also happens that birth occurs 3-5 days earlier or, conversely, later than the due date, in which case there is no reason to worry - this is considered the norm. In cats, childbirth is generally uneventful. There are situations when childbirth can be quite complicated, and that is why the owner must be nearby during the period of labor of the sphinx.
Childbirth lasts several hours depending on the number of kittens. Pregnancy and childbirth of cats end with the birth of 1 to 12 babies. It is definitely worth noting that kittens are born in the amniotic sac. And after the birth takes place, the cat itself chews the amniotic sac, and then licks the kitten’s face, and also cleans its mouth and nose so that it can breathe on its own. Healthy newborn kittens squeak very rarely. At birth, kittens should have the same body temperature as their mother.
In general, childbirth proceeds without complications
As a rule, Sphynx kittens are born with a Rex-like wavy coat, as well as a small bald spot on the forehead. However, literally after a couple of months they rapidly begin to lose their fur. And by the age of three months, kittens become completely hairless.
Kittens begin to open their eyes very early - approximately 1–5 days of life. Their eye color can vary in shades of blue and blue.
Many people know that kittens of this breed are very active and playful. And that is why, within a couple of weeks after their birth, they will demand care and affection from their owners.
Immediately after birth, babies must be given nicknames, which they will have to get used to. Kittens of this breed are very smart and that is why they remember their names very quickly.
If you know all of the above rules for mating Sphynx animals, conception, pregnancy and childbirth will be successful and you will see strong and healthy little kittens!
