The period of gestation in the cat varies from fifty-six to sixty-three days. The cat will breed some three or four times in the year, and has a variable number in each litter of its kittens - sometimes two or three only, and sometimes five or six. A young cat is apt to have but two or three at its first pregnancies, and when it reaches the age of four or five years it has a larger number, which diminishes again as the mother becomes older. Longhaired and more highly cultivated cats have smaller litters than the common Tabby which has the run of the barn and stable.

The Wildcat breeds twice a year, and has a somewhat longer period of gestation - about sixty-eight days.

A female cat, or the "queen" cat, as she is called, is usually ready for her first pregnancy at six months of age; but it is not advisable to breed her before she is nine months to one year of age, as at the earlier period she has not attained her growth, and pregnancy is apt to stunt her in size.

The stud cat should not be used until he is one or perhaps two years of age; and he should be in perfect condition of health, with a good coat on him, when given service. When the queen cat gets ready for service she gives unmistakable evidence of it by her peculiar meows and in other ways which are familiar to every one. She should be immediately shut up in a room or loft where she is inaccessible to any cat but the stud who has been chosen for her. The period in the "queen" lasts for some four to ten days; but to be absolutely safe it would be well to extend the confinement to twelve days. The tom-cat who has been selected for her can be placed in the room with her for a period of twenty-four hours, extending from one day over the night nntil the next day, which is quite as satisfactory as if he remained with her for a longer period. The queen cat usually becomes sterile at about the age of nine years; but Jennings gives an example where a eat had kittens in her nineteenth year.

The average life of a cat which has been well taken care of, and has not met with accident, is from twelve to fifteen years. The oldest cat whose age is authentically known is given to be twenty-four years.

The kittens are born blind and deaf and almost absolutely helpless. At the end of about nine days their eyes begin to open and they are able to use their legs, when they are first seen by the public and fit to be handled. They can be weaned at the end of the third week, but it is preferable to allow them to remain with the mother for a longer time. If any of the kittens are to be destroyed or removed from the mother, the whole litter should not be taken at once, but the young ones should be removed one or two at a time, which leaves the others to gradually diminish the milk-supply of the mother. If the whole litter is removed at once the mother is very liable to be affected with milk-fever - a severe fever, with local inflammation of the mammary glands, which may destroy them for future use.

Kittens lose their temporary or milk teeth and acquire their full dentition of permanent teeth at between five and seven months of age; so that if a kitten has its entire permanent dentition, with the teeth completely out of the gums, it can be assumed to be over six months of age, and is to be regarded as such by the judge at cat shows.