FIFe cat breeding rules: litter limits, mating intervals and kitten rehoming age

Where to find the rules

The rules are in the FIFe Breeding and Registration Rules, mainly articles 2.3.3 and 3.3. The current version applies from 1 January 2026, and FIFe members also publish it in translation.

How many litters a queen may have

Under article 3.3, two conditions apply at the same time:

• no more than 2 litters in any 12-month period,
• no more than 3 litters in any 24-month period.

How the 12- and 24-month periods are counted

The periods are rolling and counted from each litter’s date of birth, not by calendar year. For every new litter, look back 12 and 24 months and count the litters including the new one. The boundary is inclusive: a litter born exactly 24 months earlier still counts.

A fourth litter on 10 April 2026 would mean 4 litters in 24 months, because the first litter sits exactly on the boundary. One day later the first litter no longer counts. The 12-month condition is also met: since 11 April 2025 only the third litter and the new fourth one were born – 2 litters.

Because pregnancy in cats lasts roughly 63–65 days, check the dates when planning the mating, not at the birth.

Interval between matings with different males

If a queen is to be mated by a different male than at her previous mating, at least 3 weeks must pass since that mating. Repeated matings with the same male are not affected by this rule.

Caesarean sections

A queen that repeatedly requires a caesarean section must not be used for further breeding. National regulations may specify what counts as repeated.

When kittens can go to a new home

Under article 2.3.3, kittens must not go to a new owner before they are 14 weeks old, and they must be fully vaccinated against panleukopenia, feline herpesvirus and calicivirus unless a veterinarian decides otherwise. All kittens must also be microchipped, with the chip number entered in the pedigree.

National rules and the law

Under article 3.1, FIFe members may not make the breeding or registration rules stricter in any other way; national rules on health questions are the exception. National laws on animal breeding and welfare always apply alongside the FIFe rules. Litter paperwork – mating certificates, litter registration and their deadlines – is handled by your national FIFe member.

What else applies in the Czech Republic

For breeders in ČSCH-SCHK, the rules on breeding eligibility are summarised in a methodological sheet of the Breeding Commission (updated 5 January 2026), based on Czech Decree No. 384/2021 on the protection of dogs and cats bred for reproduction:

• A queen may be mated from 12 completed months of age, a male from 6 completed months.
• Between 9 and 12 months, a queen may only be mated as an exception for health reasons with a written veterinary statement, issued no earlier than one month before and no later than the start of her heat. For matings before 10 months, the pedigree costs more.
• A queen may be mated on her 9th birthday at the latest; there is no upper age limit for males. For matings at an older age, a veterinarian must confirm in writing that her health allows pregnancy.
• Only one male may mate a queen during one heat, and double matings with several males are not allowed.
• Breeders must keep a breeding log (on paper or electronically) with mating and birth dates, kittens including those that died, their weights, deworming and vaccinations, illnesses and microchip numbers – and keep the records for at least 3 years.

How Breedio checks these rules

Turn on the FIFe rules profile under My kennel. Breedio then warns you on matings and litters when a planned litter would exceed the allowed number, and calculates the earliest possible date of the next litter. It also checks the interval between matings with two males, caesarean sections, the queen’s age at mating under the Czech decree and kittens’ age at transfer. You can keep your breeding log directly in Breedio.

Warnings never block saving. If you have approval from a vet or your club, record the exception directly on the litter.