note: the following in not meant to offend anyone, but simply to
inform and possibly educate
as to the special responsibilities involved in the breeding of cats.
From time to time I am questioned on my contract policy of requiring kittens to be altered by the age of Eight months, or about requiring that they be altered at all. I will attempt to explain the reasons for the altering policy below.
Kittens are not required to be altered as a means of "cornering the market" as some have suggested. This requirement comes from my love of all my babies and concern for their welfare.
As I have learned through my studies and research on deciding to breed, breeding purebred cats is not simply a matter of putting a male and female together and letting nature take its course. Care needs to be taken in the selection of the male and female to breed. Pedigrees need to be examined. Bloodlines should be researched. Putting the wrong male and female together could be disastrous for not only the kittens, but for the parent cats as well. Although many breeders do engage in "line breeding", it should only be done with the utmost scrutiny of pedigrees and bloodlines. Too many "inbreedings" or the wrong combination could well result in deformities in the offspring. On the other hand, breeding a male and female who have not been properly screened for certain communicable feline diseases, such as FeLV and FIV, could not only result in infected kittens, but leave a previously healthy adult infected too. Other considerations such as known genetic defects should also be researched.
Even after care in selecting a breeding pair are made there are other needs to be meet if you are to be responsible in your breeding of cats. Although the concerns are too numerous to mention them all, here are a few.
My chosen breed is Persians (& Exotics, AKA shorthair Persians). Persian kittens traditionally have considerably larger heads than a domestic kitten. It is not uncommon for a persian queen to require assistance in delivery, even cesarean sections. For this reason it is necessary that someone be available for the birth. An unattended birth that develops complications could well result in the loss of not only the kittens, but the mother as well. Attention must be given to the date of the initial mating and plans to be available in the time frame of the birth (gestation is generally 63 - 70 days). Keep in mind, kittens arrive on their own schedule and time. It could be morning, afternoon or the wee hours. Often I find myself up all night rubbing a belly of a nervous mom cat who wants reassurance from her human mom.
Mom cats should also not be breed too often. Repeatedly breeding a female without proper "rest periods" between litters could result in problems such as kidney failure (among other things) and an untimely death. Before breeding a female their overall health must be considered before the decision to breed is made.
And then comes the kittens. After birth, care needs to be given for the raising of healthy kittens. Ideally they should be weighed everyday to make sure they are gaining. They must be provided with a clean, safe and healthy environment. Vaccinations must be given on schedule, and they should not be exposed to older or newly vaccinated cats before they receive their shots. They should be well socialized to promote a good disposition.
Also comes placing the kittens. I , as most breeders, take great care in the selection of homes for my kittens. I feel a great responsibility to provide these babies with the best possible home. Since I made the decision to breed these gorgeous little babies I owe that to them. I will not simply "sell" a kitten to anyone who shows up with money. I try to take care to match personalities of the kitten to the prospective home. I also want to make sure that the decision to adopt a kitten is well thought out. Often people get pets on impulse, and unfortunately for the animal, these impulse pets often end up in shelters or pet shops.
I will not ever let my kittens end up in pet shops. Even though I know my kittens are healthy, there is no guarantee that the other animals in the shop are. Animals in pet shops are often acquired from "mills" and "brokers". Both of these sources are often of questionable nature as to the care, health and environment. This also is one of the biggest reasons for my requirement that kittens be altered as I would not want one of their babies to end up in a pet shop. And while shelters do provide a much needed service and I commend them for their efforts, I do not want to be a part of the problem of unwanted pets ending up there.
When placing a kitten I also want to be sure that the prospective family will provide a safe, healthy and loving environment. No kitten will ever leave my home to what appears to be a less than desirable home. They will stay with me until one is found. I owe this to them. It is a responsibility I take very seriously.
And lets not forget the financial responsibilities of breeding. Choosing to breed comes along with the responsibility to provide adequate care, not only food and water, but veterinary too. When you consider the costs of food, litter, vaccinations, routine care, grooming supplies....the list goes on, it can really take a toll on your wallet. Before the decision to breed is made, this must be considered very carefully. No one should enter into breeding animals under the assumption that there is money to be made. The majority of responsible breeders will agree that you do not make money breeding cats. If you are lucky, you may help defray the costs involved. But very rarely is there a profit. If money is the reason a person chooses to breed they should re-examine their motives. Breeding should be a labor of love of the breed and the animals themselves.
In general, the point I am trying to make is that the responsibilities of breeding cats (or any animal) does not end with your cats and the placement of the kittens. It does not begin with acquiring whole (un altered) breeding cats either. It starts months before acquiring your first cat and follows throughout the future generations of your cats. Before I place a kitten to possibly be used for breeding I would want to see that the person involved has done the needed research, is prepared for the realities of breeding and will take the responsibilities of breeding as serious as I do. Then, and only then, will I place a cat or kitten without the altering requirement.
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