Things You Should Know Before Becoming a Cat Breeder

You love your purebred kitty, and you know other people would as well. She’s got beautiful fur, clear eyes, an ideal disposition, and maybe she’s even won a show or two. But before you begin imagining the adorable kittens you could breed and sell, it’s important to learn about the reality of becoming a cat breeder.

You Won't Get Rich Breeding Cats

Becoming a cat breeder is more of a hobby than a smart career move. Because of the expenses required to keep up a cattery, all of the money you make from the sale of a litter of adorable kittens is likely to be taken up in medical bills, food, supplies, and other cat breeding costs. Unfortunately, you may have noticed that this list of expenses does not include the cat breeder’s salary.

In fact, most breeders never break even. You should never consider breeding a reliable income to survive on. You can theoretically support your cats and cat show activities by selling kittens, but don't count on it. That's why most breeders are hobbyists. And what an expensive hobby it is!

Become an Expert on Your Chosen Breed

You may know a lot about your cat: her likes, dislikes, her favorite toys. However, knowing the traits, potential health issues and temperament of your breed as a whole is very important toward becoming a reputable breeder with lots of knowledge.

It is important that you learn as much as you possibly can about your chosen cat breed before you think about opening your cattery. You need to be able to know about how to select foundation cats for your breed, paying special attention to bone structure, coat, and genetic history. You need to be knowledgeable about the bloodlines you are looking at or hoping to use. Contacting many breeders and asking to talk about the breed, breeding in general and any tips or help they may offer will serve you well in establishing credibility and a useful network of people you can rely on for help and advice in the years to come.

A common suggestion for those interested in becoming a cat breeder is to actually purchase an altered cat and show him/her. This is for experience and to get a 'taste' of what it is like to be in the show halls, to prepare and groom your cat and see if you like it or if it's something you want to do.

When it comes time to purchase a cat for breeding, don't expect to just get any cat from any breeder. No one wants to sell a whole (unaltered) cat to an unknown person who has not even shown a cat before. It's quite difficult to find a breeder willing to mentor new people and help them learn how to do things right, let alone give them tips and support. It's very important to talk to people who are already well established, reputable breeders for your chosen breed. Let them know you want to learn, ask questions, a lot of them. And be open minded about showing a premier (altered) cat before starting to breed. It really is in your best interest.

Be Prepared to Devote a Lot of Time and Money

In order to be a first-rate cat breeder, you need to devote yourself full time to your cattery. Daily tasks such as cleaning, grooming and feeding will be not just an option, but mandatory in maintaining healthy cats and a healthy environment for your cats. In addition, you will need to consider that it will be quite likely you won't be able to take vacations or make long-range plans. Sudden health issues, having pregnant cats or very young kittens, will likely derail any plans you will be able to make.

The expense of breeding cats is also a limiting factor for many people. You will have the initial investment of purchasing cats with breeding rights and of setting up a proper cattery space. Then there will be numerous health care expenses for your cats. An emergency C-section, for instance, can cost in the neighborhood of $1500+. There are also expenses related to proper food, grooming, and general care.

Prepare Yourself for the Emotional Toll

While the time and money requirements are significant, many cat breeders find they are unable to handle the emotional toll. You must be prepared to see your cat die due to complications with giving birth or some other related concern. Kittens also frequently die or are born dead. Unfortunately, these are common issues to any cattery.

Another emotional hardship associated with breeding cats is figuring out what to do with the kittens you are unable to sell. You must be prepared to keep these kittens yourself or find homes for them.

An Expensive Hobby

In essence, cat breeding makes a rewarding, though very expensive, hobby. It is not a good source of income, nor is it easy work. Becoming a cat breeder consumes a great deal of time and money and is unlikely to provide any kind of return on investment.

However, that said, the joys and rewards are many. Enjoying your gorgeous show cats every day, sharing them with others and the pride of having a winning cat at the cat shows is something that simply can't be explained without experiencing it for yourself.