So You Want To Be A Breeder

It is not my intention to discourage anyone from becoming a breeder if that is his/her goal. I only wish to encourage you to research and study everything you can find, and talk to as many breeders as possible before making your final decision to become a breeder.

In a perfect world....you would be starting this endeavor under the guiding hand of a patient mentor. It is not always possible to find someone willing to mentor you right away. Do a little homework before you contact any breeders, go to some local CFA shows and read everything you can get your hands on about breeding. Don't have the attitude that you know it all just because you have read a few books, went to a show and surfed around on the net. Believe me, you will still have a lot to learn even after many years of breeding ! Be honest with them and tell them you are new and needing some guidance. Chances are, just by your conversation, they will know you are new. Expect to be asked a lot of questions by the breeder, that's what responsible breeders do. Don't be discouraged if you feel snubbed by some of the breeders you contact. Breeders get tons of inquiries in a years time and it's not always easy to see who is serious and who thinks they will make his/her fortune in a few litters.

A lot of the breeders that you will contact will suggest you get a cat to show in the premiership class before making a decision on selling you a kitten that is of show quality. You will see what is involved in grooming and showing a cat. You will also see that it's not quite as easy as you think. This is really the best way to get started before you make a large investment. Who knows....you may not even like it.

When you are a newcomer, you will find it difficult to get a breeder to sell you a show quality kitten. I know you are probably thinking....why should it matter that I have had no experience in showing? As long as I give them their asking price for the kitten, that should be all that matters. There is a little more to it than that. A successful breeder wants the cats they have produced to be shown to it's potential for several reasons. One is to have a grand that carries their cattery name. Another is to have their cats presented in show halls so others can see what they are producing . Also to try to earn that parents of the cat the title of D.M. (distinguished merit). This is CFA's highest honor and means that a female cat has produced 5 grand champions and a male has sired 15 grand champions. Only a small percentage of cats registered in CFA obtain this title. In a lot of cases, a breeder is better off giving the cat to an experienced exhibitor that they feel certain will show the cat than to sell it to a novice.

Hopefully, by doing plenty of research and attending some cat shows, you will be able to see the difference between a show cat and the other qualities. This is a must if you intend on purchasing cats that will be your foundation and you don't have a mentor that you feel comfortable with. You can and will get taken advantage of by breeders if you don't know what you are looking at. Like all areas of life, there are some bad mixed in with the good.

When you are first starting out you will have a lot of major expenses, the biggest being the purchasing of your cats. Expect to pay between $1500.00 and $3500.00 per cat. You may also have to build a cattery by adding onto your home or remodeling a room or two. And you will need lots of equipment and supplies. These will include all of your grooming needs, cat furniture, beds, toys, show supplies, and the list goes on. You will also need a vet that you can trust and that is willing to work with you. Not all vets are accepting of breeders.

Breeding can be very rewarding and also very heartbreaking. Not everyone is cut out to be a breeder. It takes total commitment, tons of hard work, and most importantly a true love of cats. You will breathe, eat, and sleep cats. You will lose lots of sleep sitting up with sick cats, expectant moms, hand feeding babies and traveling to and from shows.

If you think you want to become a breeder, I hope that you have done your research so you can avoid the many mistakes that most newcomers make. You will not become rich by breeding cats. Showing and breeding cats is a very expensive and life consuming hobby.

If it is your decision to become a breeder, then I wish you great success and beautiful healthy kitties !

My Number #1 Recommendation in Getting Started

Breeding cats is a very serious responsibility and should not be entered into lightly. My number #1 recommendation to anyone entertaining the idea of breeding is to start with a Premiership cat. You need to look at this cat as your “College” education. In college you spend money on tuition, books, labs and such to become “educated” and earn a degree, which leads to a successful career. With this education you will know about the field you are going into, the do’s and don’ts, it will get you further than someone coming into the field without an education… Your “college education” will open doors for you.

With a Premiership cat you will accomplish these same things within the cat fancy. You will learn how to groom & present a cat properly in the show ring, you will meet people and create relationships that will lead to your ability to acquire better breeding and show quality stock for your program. Showing a Premiership cat first will open many doors for you and show other that you are a serious person willing to get your education first… This first step has been very successful for many people in the cat fancy…..