How to Breed Tabbies

A tabby cat is not a specific breed of cat. Most tabby cats are mixed breeds. The tabby name comes from certain distinct features of the cat, including stripes, a M shape between the eyes and occasionally swirls. Orange, black and gray tabbies are the most common. Most tabby cats also have a white bib or stomach and may have white ̶0;socks̶1; on their feet. Breeding a tabby cat is not difficult as long as both parents have characteristics of tabby cats.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 adult tabbies
  • Large breeding area
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Find a female tabby cat that has the characteristics and coloring that you want the kittens to have. The female should be between 18 and 24 months of age for ideal breeding conditions. Find a male that has the desired coloring. Males can breed starting at 18 months of age.

    • 2

      Watch the female for signs of breeding preparedness. Most cats have their cycles during the spring and summer. One or two days before ideal breeding conditions, the female enters the proestrus stage. The female rolls around on the ground, makes calling or growling sounds and acts irritable. Once the female leaves the proestrus stage she enters into the estrus stage, which can last up to a week. During this time she allows the male to come close and mate with her.

    • 3

      Breed the two cats three times a day for the entire duration of the estrus stage. Make sure the male cat has an escape route after breeding, as the female cat may try to attack him for up to one hour after mating.

    • 4

      Watch for signs of pregnancy after mating the two cats. A female cat will show signs of pregnancy three to four weeks into the pregnancy. If the cat does not get pregnant, she will go through the proestrus and estrus stages within one to two weeks after the mating session and you can try breeding the cats once more.