How often can I let my Persian queens go pregnant?

Question
QUESTION: Dear Dr Ray
I'm breeding Pedigree-Persians professionally , and I though it'd be great to ask you , how often should I let my girls mate and become pregnant , and up to which age do you think a pedigree-Persian can be allowed to mother ? I don't want to harm my girls , and they comes in to hear pretty much soon , seemingly few months after the previous pregnancy .
Thank you
Soheil

ANSWER: Hi Soheil

In my opinion I would say it is OK for a cat to have up to four litters during their life time. The fifth litter would be a bonus just in case you suffer some tragedy with an earlier litter.
Some suggest that the litters be spread over 5 years so first litter at about one year old then every 12 to 18 months another litter.
At 7 she is about reaching the end of her ability to produce healthy kittens

The cat will come onto heat about three months after having a litter so in order to protect the cat's health and ensure the kittens are attended to I would suggets you wait until they are ready to be rehomed before you consider letting her have another litter

Ray

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Doctor .so , only 5 litters during the entire life ? I was just wondering how come some queens give birth even till their 10th and 12th year and still be healthy ? I mean , does that has any thing to do with the way they eat , what they eat  or something ? this Persian queen of my aunt is 12 and has give birth at least twice each year ! that means more than 24 litters , and she's totally healthy even now (at least seemingly) . Just wondering how can it be possible then ?
Thanks
Soheil

Answer
Hi Soheil

http://www.catsinfo.com/catages.html
This shows the comparison of human to feline age
As you can see it shows that a cat aged about 10 to 12 is between 56 to 64 relative to humans.
I would say it is a high risk to allow a cata to have alitter at this age. It is not unknown for a male stud to be used beyond this age but a queen could risk interia, high still births etc.
Breeding 2 litters per year is also symptomatic of a back yard breeder, it is not giving the cat a chance to recover from its pregnancy before becominbg pregnant again.

I am sorry to be blunt but I would be very angry if I knew someone breeding a cat to that extent. It is not acceptable anywhere. Even in feral colonies cats do not breed at that rate

Ray