This study assessed the impact of various cryoprotectant (CPA) exposures on nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation in the immature cat oocyte as a prerequisite to formulating a successful cryopreservation protocol. In experiment 1, immature oocytes were exposed to 0, 0.75, 1.5, or 3.0 M of 1,2-propanediol (PrOH) or 1,2-ethanediol (EG) at room temperature (25°C) or 0°C for 30 min. After CPA removal and in vitro maturation, percentage of oocytes reaching metaphase II (MII) was reduced after exposure to 3.0 M PrOH at 0°C or 3.0 M EG at both temperatures. All CPA exposures increased MII spindle abnormalities compared to control, except 1.5 M PrOH at 25°C. In experiments 2 and 3, immature oocytes were exposed to CPA conditions yielding optimal nuclear maturation that either had caused spindle damage (0.75 M PrOH, 1.5 M EG, and 3.0 M PrOH at 25°C) or not (1.5 M PrOH at 25°C). After maturation and insemination in vitro, oocytes were cultured for 7 days to assess treatment influence on developmental competence. CPA exposure did not affect fertilization, but the high incidence of MII spindle abnormalities resulted in a low percentage of cleaved embryos. Blastocyst formation and quality were influenced by both CPA types (EG was more detrimental than PrOH) and concentration (3.0 M was more detrimental than 1.5 M). Overall, cat oocytes appear to be highly sensitive to CPA except after exposure to 1.5 M PrOH at 25°C, a treatment that still allowed ∼60% of the oocytes to reach MII and ∼20% to form blastocysts.