Thinking of breeding?

Things to consider when deciding whether breeding is for you or not.

When people visit breeders to look at kittens they see the "nice end of breeding". Happy kittens bounding around everywhere.  They might then consider that breeding is an easy part time job, they can make good money from. Not true, it is an expensive hobby, often 24-7 work, and usually it costs you money, rather than make you some.

Breeders that love cats and breed for the right reasons in the correct way, do it for the love of it, with no allusions of becoming millionaires.

Breeding animals is a big responsibility to take on. It sounds obvious but, animals are alive, they can be hurt, they can die, kittens can be stillborn, deformed, have cleft pallets, heart murmurs, etc. Mums may need c-sections, (can be several hundred dollars, nearer to thousands if after hours or complications set in). Mums die, leaving breeders to hand raise litters, feeding by tube every four hours, wiping bottoms, keeping them warm. Are you prepared for the heartache of seeing kittens die, two minutes or two weeks old makes no difference to the way you feel about them. What about having to make the awful decision to euthanase. Are you prepared to keep kittens with problems i.e. heart murmurs.

Can you let them go to new homes at 12 weeks.  You have done your best to pick the best family for them, but you may still find it too hard to bear.   What about hearing a kitten you so lovingly raised, is dead. The hardest thing is that phone call or email from a grieving owner to tell you the sad news, it doesn't get easier, it gets harder each time.

Male cats have a very strong urine smell and generally "spray" to mark their territory. Some only spray a little, others spray everything - their beds, food and water dishes, every wall, etc. This means you will need to build a roomy, easy to clean enclosure for them. Some males can howl almost constantly.

Female cats can "spray" their territory just like males, so you may end up cleaning almost constantly when they are calling. Most females "howl" when calling, very loudly. This means you may have both males and females howling. How are you at sleepless nights? What would your neighbours say? Females that are allowed to call without mating can get infections in the womb which can be fatal. Can you really cope with 4 - 10 kittens bounding around the house, getting into and onto everything, with occasional accidents behind the telly or sofa. 

Breeding is not as simple as getting a male and a female and putting them together. You need to choose bloodlines carefully, checking for in-breeding, genetic faults, best type. You have to be prepared to stand by your kittens if they have a health problem. 

Now to the 24-7. Researching cat clubs, working out which one best suits. Thinking of a prefix name, joining the cat club. Cleaning litters trays, the house, feeding, washing food and water dishes, and litter trays. Changing bedding, washing bedding.  Answering phone enquiries, email enquiries, staying home waiting for visitors to see your cats and kittens, or new owners wishing to come and have a cuddle (who often don't turn up, and don't bother to ring). Book work, entering pedigree info into the computer, printing certificates, getting kitten packs ready. Staying awake when the mum is due, waking every five minutes in case you heard something (this can go on for nights if she is overdue). Being there for the delivery to watch over your baby having babies. Rushing off to the vet (can be after-hours) if something goes wrong. Taking mums and litters to the vets for post birth check-up's, again for the vaccinations, again for desexing. Filling out your club's litter registration papers, thinking of kitten names, posting off the papers. 

Forget having holidays as a family. Not many boarding cattery's will take entire cats (because of spraying.) You will need to have a trusted person house sit. Are your males territorial will they bite or scratch strangers?

What costs are there? I wont put money amounts here as they will vary, but you will get an idea from the list, and a little research will find costs.

	Joining a cat club,  yearly ongoing fees
	Registering your cattery name
	Transferring the registration of your cats.
	Building accommodation
	Food
	Bedding, toys, scratchy posts
	Worming treatment 3 monthly for adults
	Flea treatment
	Yearly vaccination
	Incidental vet visits
	Post birth vet visit for mum and bubs - drugs for mum if unborn kittens or placenta still in womb
	Kitten worming 2 weekly from 6 to 12 weeks
	Kitten vaccinations
	Desexing
	Stationery for certificates of pedigree, letters etc, stamps
	Purchase of equipment for kitten packs

Litter registration

Possible extras

	Caesarean
	Euthanasia
	Unexpected health issues
	Ongoing cost for kittens you keep

Maybe you only want to breed "one" litter, you would like your kids to see the miracle of birth, you have family and friends who will take the kittens.   Your girl may get a fatal womb infection from continuous calling, while you are trying to find someone who will let you use their male.

What about all the cats in shelters that are waiting for adoption or are put down because they aren't adopted.

You may have the option of fostering a pregnant shelter cat until mum and the babies are old enough to be desexed and go to new homes.

Think of the worst case scenario, bills more than your mortgage, deaths, no holidays, complaints from neighbours about the noise, smell, etc and then decide if breeding is for you.