Breeding cats, for example beautiful purebred cats, how do you approach that? First, keep in mind that breeding cats will take a long time. You need a clean area for cat accommodation, suitable for several cats. Many litter boxes, scratching posts, places where cats can lie are also necessary, and of course all kinds of products to keep the cats in top condition and to take good care of the kittens. There is a range of necessary products for the care of kittens. The more cats live together, the more grooming will be required.
Breeding cats can be a lot of fun, but it also takes time and knowledge of the breed. You regularly have litters with kittens and that is of course enjoyable if you are a real cat lover. Many purebred cat owners start small, with a litter of kittens. You will have to get used to parting with the kittens at the beginning because it is very attractive to keep them yourself. Over time, however, it will become increasingly easy for you to part with kittens when you know they have found a good home. Breeding cats is done with cats that have a pedigree. There are also tricky aspects to breeding pedigree cats, which is often underestimated.
- Kittens are sometimes still born.
- Kittens born with abnormalities must be put to sleep, which is pricey.
- Kittens that cannot be fed by the mother must be fed by you (day and night) with a pipette, bottle or tube feed, until they can eat.
- Having cats mated to pedigree cats costs a lot of money.
- You must have obtained a dog and cat decision diploma if you keep cats (or dogs) commercially.
Breeding cats, where to start and which purebred cat will you breed?
Breeding cats should not be taken too simply. A lot is involved, especially a lot of care. Kittens are dewormed, without fleas and vaccinated to the new owner, with an official pedigree registration. Sick cats or kittens with problems go to the vet, and there are also costs involved. Because the cats and kittens live close together, viruses and parasites can be more easily transmitted to each other. Sometimes it happens that you have to put a kitten or adult cat to sleep. That is something only the vet can do. You must not kill kittens that appear to be unwell at birth. That is punishable. Putting a cat to sleep is not free and even pricey. Before you decide to breed purebred cats, it is really important that you consider the costs that a cattery entails. You may be able to agree on certain adjusted prices with a vet if it concerns many litters per year.
Making money breeding cats
Of course you also earn money back by selling the kittens, which means that the costs can be offset against each other or you can make a little profit. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that you have to incur the costs of food, vet and care equipment in advance. In general, breeding cats is not very profitable because the costs are so high. But even if money is not a problem for you, and you are purely about the hobby, you also need a space where you can keep cats. If you want a lot of litters per year, you will need several cats to mate. In addition, you should also give a cat a rest between litters. All felines need their own place and they like to be a bit higher. The room should be dry and sufficiently heated, and preferably there should also be an outdoor enclosure for the cats to move around, with branches and trees for climbing, grass to eat to get rid of hairballs, and preferably some toys .
General cat supplies
As you can see, you need a lot of equipment to run a cattery, for example:
- Scratching posts and plenty of berths.
- Products to keep your cats healthy and fit, including anti-flea agents and means to combat other parasites such as worm treatments and other necessary medication, brushes and combs.
- Country house.
- Litter trays, food bowls, anti-flea products, and so on.
- Cat bricks.
- Food bowls.
You also need enough litter boxes and scratching posts in the indoor area, otherwise they will defecate and pee on the floor and scratch your furniture, wood or wallpaper. Of course, the neighbors should not be bothered by your cattery. Cats can enjoy an outdoor enclosure even more. Finally, it is very important to determine which breed you want to breed. Choose a breed you love and want to breed with passion and enthusiasm. The breed’s character should suit your character. Therefore, first read a few good books about cats and about breeding cats. Always take good care of your animals. The goal of breeding cats is actually quite simple: you want to maintain the breed and improve it where possible. You always try to approximate or fully approximate the standard characteristics of the breed. You will need knowledge of genetics for this, which is easy to learn by reading good books about breeding cats.
Stud
If you also want to keep a male, it must be separated from the cats. When a female is in heat, male and female can be brought together for mating. Often a stud with a very good pedigree lives in another house and the cover is paid by the owner of the cat, for example. Because the stud is not neutered, you have to take into account behavior that fits with that. If you take a male with a pedigree into your home, the stud may keep spraying a little in the house to mark his territory, which is why he is often kept outside in a separate enclosure. An uncastrated male needs a lot of cats, otherwise he will become unhappy and frustrated. The stud tomcat also needs living space, so locking him up separately in a room that is too small is not an option. To breed cats you need space, time, passion for animals and a willingness to invest.
Cat association
To breed cats you must be a member of a cat association. Think of some names for a cattery and try to be original because the name is only recognized if it does not already exist. You can only obtain pedigrees if you are affiliated with a cat association. The name of the cattery will be the middle name of the kittens, you can compare this with a surname. If your queens are over a year old and have been in heat several times, they may be mated to a stud with a good pedigree. You can be advised by breeding advisers within the association. You can also join breed clubs to exchange experiences.