HOW TO START BREEDING CATS

If you decide to start breeding cats, it is important to think over all aspects related to this activity in advance. First you need to love these animals, since work is directly related to constant communication with them. And it is difficult to achieve success without love for your work. The financial component is also important. Firstly, you will not get kittens for sale soon, and the correct maintenance of a cat is quite expensive. Secondly, really good breeding cats and cats are not just expensive, but very expensive. Thirdly, you will have to spend money on exhibitions, mating, veterinarians. So selling kittens is not the way to get rich. This is a favorite business that brings income, which may not recoup the costs. You should not focus on promoted catteries, where kittens are recorded in the queue. The name and reputation are developed over the years, and kittens from your glorious cat will not be bought for the same price as from the champion from the Blue Blood cattery. So breeding cats is a costly, risky and long-term payback. And they need to be dealt with, weighing all the risks. But if you are a person who just likes cats, likes to mess around with kittens, and the cattery is your hobby, not a source of income, then go ahead! What if you like it so much that your hobby becomes your life's work?

Content:

How to choose a breed for breeding?

What should be done first?

Choosing a future manufacturer

How many cats will fit in an apartment?

Exhibitions

knitting

Childbirth and kittens

Once again about the important

HOW TO CHOOSE A BREED FOR BREEDING?

First of all, choose the one you like. Just keep in mind - the more exotic the breed, the more the pedigree kitten costs and the more likely it is that you will come across an animal with problems. Imbreeding is a delicate matter, and some hereditary diseases are not immediately detected. And a rare breed is either the closest inbreeding, or the purchase of a producer abroad.

There are breeds of cats in which a predisposition to certain diseases is inherited from their parents. Therefore, be sure to find out if the breed you have chosen has such a problem, whether the owners of the producers have carried out the necessary tests. For information - go to breed forums, felinologist courses on a certain breed, to veterinarians.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO FIRST?

Visit an exhibition where as many cats of your breed are represented as possible. Take a closer look at the manufacturers, talk to the breeders. Do not take money, so that there is no temptation to buy a kitten right at the exhibition! Get to know the breeders better, write down the coordinates of the ones you like, clarify the prices for kittens and the terms of purchase.

Go to the pet store website. Look at scratching posts, beds, other accessories for cats. Take a closer look at the super-premium class feed. Check prices, read reviews. Make a list of upfront expenses.

An optional, but desirable option is to take felinologist courses at a large club where there is a specialist in your breed. On the courses to find out all the subtle points. Ask veterinarians, who often conduct seminars on the basics of veterinary care at such courses, to find out the prices for treatment. Get a certificate.

If there is no desire to run away, the first stage is passed. And only now go after the kitten.

CHOOSE A FUTURE MANUFACTURER

Keep in mind that prices for pet, breed and show class kittens may be different. No need to try to save money by buying a cat “on the sofa”, and then letting it into breeding. First, it's not fair. The breeder will be dissatisfied. Secondly, “on the sofa”, even with a pedigree, they often sell not the best representatives of the breed. Perhaps the animal has hidden defects. So look for a cat not lower than the "breed" class, and a cat - "show". For breeding cats, the requirements are stricter than for cats.

If you have already “cooked” a little among breeders, then you have probably found a suitable cattery that sells quality kittens. A kitten will be able to move to a new home only after reaching a certain age and having been vaccinated. But you can reserve the baby you like by paying a deposit. And be sure to sign a contract of sale.

Kitten comes with:

a veterinary passport with a mark on the vaccinations made (it is better if there are two entries. If only one, you yourself will have to take care of the second vaccination);

metric or pedigree, if the breeder has already received it on his own. If there is only a metric, the pedigree is issued by the club in which the litter was activated. Attention! Pedigree and breeding license are two different things. The pedigree only confirms the origin of the kitten from the parents of a certain breed, but not its breeding value;

recommendations from the breeder on feeding, rearing, the best choice of doctor, etc. If possible, ask for them to be given to you in writing. It is very easy to forget something important, and it will be easier for you later.

If you want to feed a kitten with natural products, and not ready-made food, you will need special vitamin and mineral complexes that are added to cat food. They support the activity and resistance of the animal organism to viruses, normalize the balance of vitamins in the body. For example, the Radostin vitamin-mineral complex, produced in 5 types, can be used for additional care for a pet of any breed and age.

HOW MANY CATS WILL FIT IN THE APARTMENT?

Even if you have only one cat, consider giving her a separate room at least while raising kittens. A bunch of growing kids is not the best condition for a restful sleep. If you bought a cat, the presence of a separate room is mandatory at the time of mating. It is better not to disturb the cat and his bride in vain, and the cat can be very frightened if a stranger suddenly bursts into the process of courtship. It is necessary to optimally equip the “cat room”, taking into account all the rules of safety and comfort. These are beds, shelves, toys, scratching posts, walls and a sofa that are not afraid of claws, and always a net on the window. No flower pots, vases and other things that can fall loudly. Well, if your endeavor is successful, consider buying your own house or multi-room apartment. Cats will eventually fill the whole house.

EXHIBITIONS

In order not to get confused in titles, systems, methods of exhibition evaluation of an animal, it is better to join a felinological club in advance. This will help with the search for a stud cat and the act of offspring.

Exhibitions are organized by clubs of cat lovers. Animals are evaluated according to the standards of the felinological system, which is adopted in this club. There are several of them - WCF, FIFe, CFA, PCA, etc. For animals that are used or planned to be used in breeding, visiting exhibitions is mandatory. Only animals that have received a positive exhibition rating are allowed for breeding. In most systems, a cat or cat that scores three highs is given the title, documenting its high breeding value. There are various subtleties with the assignment of titles, which you should familiarize yourself with on the website of the felinological association, according to the rules of which your animal is registered.

MATTERS

Finding a mating partner is a real quest. It is a little easier with cats - the owner offers a cat for mating, the brides are brought by the owners. The cat must be healthy so as not to infect the cat, and adequate enough not to injure him. As a rule, mating is either paid in cash or one of the kittens is given away. To avoid misunderstanding, it is advisable to conclude an agreement before mating. It can contain items regarding free re-mating in case of non-pregnancy, special payment terms, warranty periods for detecting genetic defects in kittens, etc.

For a cat, the search for a suitable candidate has many nuances, from the desired color to the breed appearance of future kittens. The price of the issue also matters - the higher the title of the father, the more you have to pay. And if for the cat everything ends as soon as the cat is taken away, then for you everything is just beginning. A pregnant cat needs delicate care, she cannot take most medicines in case of illness, her diet must be perfectly balanced. The expectant mother should get everything she needs and at the same time not gain excess weight. You can answer the question of whether there is a pregnancy with the help of an ultrasound scan after the 3rd week, and find out the sex and color of the kittens only after childbirth.

BIRTH AND KITTENS

In cats, most often, childbirth is easy, with the exception of some large breeds. But even the healthiest pregnant cat can be a very problematic childbirth. Therefore, before giving birth, gather information about good veterinarians who practice obstetric care and see if they can come to you on X-day. Read about birth in cats and watch videos about this process, choosing reliable sources. Prepare everything you need for mom and newborns. And do not leave the cat unattended on the day of the expected birth.

When the kittens are about 2 months old, they should be registered with your club. The exact age of the litter activation, as well as the specifics of the actation, should be clarified at the club itself. As a rule, a felinologist examines the kittens either at the club premises or at home. For each kitten, an individual metric is issued - something like a birth certificate, and a breeding certificate for the entire litter. The breeding certificate must be returned to the club, and the metrics must be given to the buyers of the kittens.

The first vaccination is done when the kittens are still with their mother, over the age of 8 weeks. Kittens cannot be sold without vaccination!

ONCE AGAIN ABOUT IMPORTANT

A person who loves cats and has turned his hobby into a business will undoubtedly be pleased to profit from his favorite business. But in this case there are some features that you should pay attention to:

this area is quite popular in our country, there are many competitors on the market, including unscrupulous ones;

such a business requires a lot of expenses, but does not guarantee payback;

hidden defects or illnesses of a cat are often impossible to detect in advance, and responsibility for them is not provided either by the club or by the breeder;

unfortunately, a cat or a cat may be unsuitable for breeding use, get sick, die, etc. In this case, you will have to start all over again.

Breeding cats, like any other business, has its pros and cons. To get started right, think about everything you need in advance, weigh your strengths and financial capabilities. Then you minimize all risks and enjoy and profit.