The best way to keep a cat is to offer it the freedom of choice between being indoors or outdoors. However, if you live in an apartment, in a town, or by a main road this may be too difficult or too dangerous. If your cats are not neutered and you want to breed there are really only two alternatives – either to keep them in a firmly shut room or preferably, in an outdoor pen. Otherwise, unplanned breeding is a continual risk.
For pedigree breeding a pen with several compartments is essential. This must contain heated indoor chambers with corresponding outdoor areas which the cat can enter and leave, preferably at will. For a stud tom, the accommodation must include extra rooms with an outdoor pen for visiting queens. When furnishing an outdoor pen, in addition to providing a litter tray and food and water dishes, remember to include scratching and climbing posts, and perches. The floor should consist of half sand or gravel, and half grass or, failing all else, concrete. The wire mesh used for the cage should be as narrow a gauge as possible, to prevent a young kitten poking its head through in the course of its early explorations, otherwise there is the danger of it hanging itself.
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