what happens or is it bad if kittens breed with there mother?

Answer 1

Breeding closely related animals leads to inbreeding, which increases the chances of genetic mutations showing up.

If you think about it, if the mother has the genome Bb where b=recessive deformity/illness/mutation, then half of her kittens are going to inherit the B gene, and half the b gene. If its a rare recessive gene (say only 10% of the population has it), then if the mother mates with a non related tom, the chances of him having the gene are 10%, but her sons have a 50% chance of having inherited it.

So any offspring the two related cats might have are far more likely to be sufferers than two unrelated cats.

Thoretically speaking, if you have two genetically perfect specimens, then there is no harm; but everyone has a certain number of DNA mutations evven if these are normally "silent" (ie. they don't show up in our physical appearance), so in practice, it is considered a bad thing to mate two closely related animals.

For further proof, look up breed specific genetic diseases in nearly all domestic mammals - dogs are good for this (eg. skin disorders in Westies, hip dysplasia in certain larger breeds).

Answer 2

It is not true that the resulting kittens will always be born deformed or impaired in some way.

It just means that it is possible for any hereditary defects to appear in the kittens. This sort of breeding is called Line Breeding or In Breeding & is sometimes done by experienced breeders to bring to the fore any heriditary defects so to identify the animals carrying the defect & remove them from the gene pool. Or it is done to fix some desirable trait in the particular breed.

My Snow Bengal Rico is a result of a mother/son mating. He was one of seven kittens - all healthy & happy. I saw him at his breeders when he was just two weeks old - he & all his siblings were fine. It wasn't until I got his pedigree that I realised he as a mother/son mix. Rico is fine & healthy ... sometimes he thinks he's a dog & likes to go out for walks ... but I don't think this means he is mentally deficient in any way ... just a normal Bengal. He's perfectly formed & gorgeous.

I would also imagine that inbreeding or father/daughter breeding also happens more often than you might think - especially in the moggie or domestic shorthair population. Not many people are happy to have a full Tom in their house (spraying, fighting & smelling) but many keep entire females who just happen to get out & get caught & so have a litter of kittens. If one of the kittens is rehomed in the same area & remains unspayed then it is very likely that the Tom who catches her when she's out calling is her father.

While I wouldn't recommend such close breeding because it can reveal heriditary problems in the kittens - it does NOT mean that all kittens from such a mating will be deformed or mentally retarded. They are more likely to be healthy, happy kittens just the same as most others.

Answer 3

A kitten would have half of its genes from its mother! Mated back to its mother would produce a kitten that would have the same genes passed from both parents and that is what causes deformity, mental problems and inherited diseases.
It is very irresponsible to let any cat or other animal, mate with a close relative. The closer the relationship the more dangerous!
Brother and sister being the worst!
Have all your cats Neutered or spayed! You dont know enough about them to breed them! There are enough unwanted WELL-BRED animals already!

Answer 4

It's something that you really should avoid.
I have two cats that are the result of inbreeding.
I don't know it at the time I took them in, but it wouldn't have changed anything I would still have made them my babies.

One of them is huge, I can honestly say that I've never seen a cat with longer legs in all of my life this same cat can't meow...she opens her mouth but nothing comes out.
Her sister got the brunt of the problems...she is very small, never lost her kitten fur or kitten teeth, she's cross eyed and sometimes her eyes move from side to side VERY rapidly.
When she was a baby one day she simply stopped eating and bathing herself...if was almost as if she had forgotten how, I had to force feed her special, VERY EXPENSIVE liquid food with an eye dropper.
I had to use warm wash cloths to bath her because she wouldn't do it herself.
After about 2 months of that she turned the corner and started to eat and bath herself again.

She also does very odd things, things you'd think a cat would have no idea how to do...My Husband calls her "Rain Man"
Her sister can't meow, but she never shuts up...LOL...well she actually doesn't meow, it's more like a chirp!

Neither of them can be spayed because they both have breathing problems and the Vet said the risk of spaying them outweights the benifits by such a high precentage that he wouldn't even attempt it.
BUT, they are two of the most affectionate cats I've ever seen..so sweet and loving....just wanted you to know that there are upsides to my two girls and we love them to bits.
They are 6 years old, the Vet said the bigger one will probably have a normal life span, but my little angel probably won't.

So after all of that, if you're willing to put some time, effort and money into a cat that is a product of inbreeding don't let it stop you from adopting one...but don't let it happen in the first place..make sure that the Mother and her kittens are all spayed and netured.

Answer 5

Inbreeding causes you have an animal that is not all there. I had a beautiful kitten out of it but he went out in the street and got hit my a car I think b/c he came back really hurt and died last mo. He was kindof stupid, I felt sorry for him, he wasnt blind but he would run into walls, get in the neighbors garden...well to make a long story short, he got his self tangled up so many times in fishing line from the neighbors boat and he just layed there chocking to death a couple of times...better get your cat fixed, its more trouble than its worth.

Answer 6

Inbreeding happens and its not good. Had a brother and sister breed before we could get them fixed so ended up with a few kittens. They werent really bad. Just a little dumb and definitely no where near alpha cats. Werent the prettiest looking cats with course coats and when had fleas they had a tendency to scratch and lick their fur off...Very loyal, loving, attached cats to their owner. (I was a kid when this happened so dont blame me)

Answer 7

Any defects in the mother's line will be worsened by the close blood relationship. You can look forward to kittens with neurological problems, crossed eyes, blindness, motor problems (they can't run straight, etc.) and weak immune systems.

Answer 8

Possibly have deformities. Best not to breed the kitties with their mother!

Answer 9

I have seen this many times, the kittens are born with clef plaits, hearing impairments and other health problems.
Your best bet is to have your cat fixed and avoid these problems all together.
Hope this helps.

Answer 10

Inbreeding between siblings or mother and kitten will lead to deformities and illnesses.