can my ragdoll female get pregnant ?

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I have a ragdoll female cat with 8 years, she was bought with show/breeder rights but I for some reasons I did not go along with my breeding plans. Now appears an opportunity to bread her with a good ragdoll male, with 13 months, with good pedigree, just like my girl as. She as turn out just 8 years some days ago, can she get pregnant with this age ? She still has her heat about every 6 to 8 weeks...

ANSWER: Hi Mlena

There is a formula which calculates a cat's age
see the web link
http://www.giveusahome.co.uk/articles/catsage.htm.htm
or
http://www.purina.co.uk/Home/All+About+Cats/Living+Together+Cat/Get+More+Out+Of+
This is a long link but worth the effort to check your cat's age against a human. the link shows your cat's age to be between 48 to 54 years in human terms.

Now it is possible for a human female to become pregnant at 48 years old but it can harm the mother and of course create certain problems in the developing foetus leading to problems later in life or even end up with a disabled offspring. So the answer is she could become pregnant but it could be harmful for both her and the kittens.

It is also possible that the cat is on heat but almost infertile in terms of egg production. Also you are suggesting that she has not had any litters so this would be her first one. At 8 that could be very dangerous and even life threatening. So I would ask you to consider this, is it worth the gamble of producing disfigured kittens or even putting your cat's life at risk to produce a litter. Whatever you do decide I would also suggest that you consider neutering her within the next year or so as well to prevent any uterine infection or pyometral damage.

It is a difficult call to make but I hope that I have given you sufficient information to make a sound judgemental decision

Best regards

Ray


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

QUESTION: Thank you very much for your reply.
I was thinking of neutering her last year but then appears this change to bread her, neutering her right after the babies and keep one of the kitties. She has an excellent pedigree, she come from the very best lines and with this breeding possibility I could keep her lines with the new baby kitty (and the male come also from an excelent lines). My girl turned just about 7 years old, sorry for the mistake I made. She has 7 years made few days back. She never had a litter but I have other female cat, younger than she (not a raggie) and my ragdoll always took her as she was her daughter, still today they are inseparable. My ragdoll female has a really ragdoll temperament, very gentil and calm. Could the fact of her breed caracteristics lead to a sucessfull breeding or she could still be in danger ? I love my cats, they are family and if it can be risky to her... pacience, she will be neuterized, she is more imortant than the rest.
Thank you for your comments and replies

Answer
Hi Mlena

As I said in my earlier email having a litter at her age could be dangerous for both her and her litter. It is not impossible for her to have a safe litter and deliver it successfully but the odds are definitely against her. She seems to have a good temperament and although she has a natural mothering instinct I do fear slightly for her health and well being if you do consider a mating.

Remember too she may be having calls but she may not be fertile so the mating may not take. I would suggest that you contact your vet and have a full health check done on the cat and explain to her/him your intention of possible mating. They will then do a sensible check on her to see if she has the potential to have a litter.

I can totally sympathise with you and your desire to have a litter of kittens by her, but in truth, with my hand on my heart I would not put my precious lady through this, I would love her for her own sake.

Ray