Reluctant/scared queen

Question
Hi
I am living in Egypt and have a female cat who was having her first season (we think) She is well grown and was so strongly in season that on the third day we introduced a tom for her. We put them together in a small room, where she spat and growled for the first 24 hours. We then put them together in a very small plastic washing basket with a weight on top for 12 hours. Unfortunately can't leave them there as there is no room for food and water so after 12 hours, and they seemed to have settled down a bit, we let them out into the room again. Growling and spitting started right away again. We were told by the owner of the tom to try holding the queen so he could service her. A lot of blood later, ours of course, we had a terrified queen and tom in opposite corners of the room. Left them overnight and the situation stayed the same. This afternoon we have put them back into the small basket. The room stinks, I suppose from tom cat spray, and I am at my wits end. How do I help my queen to breed from this hansom tom I have found her?

Answer
Liz,

I have been thinking about this all day.

Not long ago, we had a female in for one of our Abyssinian studs, a proven breeder with a number of progeny to his credit. He flat out did not like this girl.  They ended up in different corners of any room or pen we had them in. She went back to her owner and took up with another male at the next season.  So, it can happen, although I am not suggesting that is what is going on here!

The plastic washing basket is not the solution. If they are going to breed, they are going to breed!!!!!  If they are not, they are not and there is nothing any of us can do about it.

I suspect the female is not sure what is going on and is rather frightened and confused by the whole thing.

Also, if the stud has not bred before, this may not be a good combination for her to begin with.  We like to put an experienced male with a first time female and vice versa.

It may also be that she is not fully enough in season for her to accept the tom's advances.  We usually put the female in with the male.  If she is going to accept him, she will posture right in front of him.  If not, we remove him and try again the next day.  Sooner or later, when she is ready, she will let him near her (insist is a better word).

I do know of one breeder who gave the female a small amount of white wine to "mellow her out", but I am not sure how she got the female to drink the wine!!!!!

You must have more patience with the two of them, especially if they are new to the breeding scene.

Best regards... Norm.