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Wishing to be a breeder. Advice and friends greatly appreciated :)

post #1 of 5
8/23/11 at 1:20am
Thread Starter 
Hello
I am thinking a lot about breeding Bengals someday. Probably not for a few years, but after I can save up and have a place that is big enough to, I would love to. Before I do though, I would like to ask some people who breed them regularly some questions.
What sorts of rules do you have for people who adopt/buy(whichever word you prefer) Bengals from you? As in, do you allow them to breed, perhaps for a fee?
How much do you charge? What would you think of somebody who charged less even if they didn't get any money back, or even went negative money wise just because they like the breed?
What would you recommend for a breeder as far as what to feed the cats, and how they raise the cats and/or kittens?
What if the breeder were to keep the kittens until they had them spayed or neutered unless otherwise agreed upon by the adopter/buyer? Would that be good or bad? or would it be better to have a contract?
Is having one male and one female ok? (depending upon if the queen likes the stud?) Of course would be bought from different breeders to ensure different lineage... or would it be better to buy from same breeder, different queen/stud?
Do you have a contract when you sell/adopt out the kittens? What sort of stuff do you put in it?
I am thinking of having a questionnaire given to the person wanting to adopt and maybe judging if they can adopt my kittens. I don't want my kittens going to a home where they might not stay. There are many obvious reasons people get kittens without thinking about it, and I want to ensure my kittens go to homes where they will be cared for and will be kept for their whole lives (when reasonably able to).
What other things is there to think about with breeding?
I have thought of the usual stuff. I know there is a lot money wise to consider when breeding. Including if something were to go wrong with a pregnancy.
I may have more questions, but I do hope you might be able to answer some for me. I am very serious about wanting to breed them someday because I love the breed and want to keep these beautiful cats in the world, especially near here
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post #2 of 5
8/23/11 at 7:16am
I don't breed Bengals, and I see you're in US so my replies may be very different from what others may say, but here are few opinions of mine (the red parts).
Quote:
Originally Posted by saphire View Post
Hello
I am thinking a lot about breeding Bengals someday. Probably not for a few years, but after I can save up and have a place that is big enough to, I would love to. Before I do though, I would like to ask some people who breed them regularly some questions.
What sorts of rules do you have for people who adopt/buy(whichever word you prefer) Bengals from you? As in, do you allow them to breed, perhaps for a fee?
First you will have to know what quality the kittens are: pet, show, breeding. You only sell kittens with breeding rights (more expensive than a show or pet quality kitten) to other reputable breeders, not just random person who is willing to pay for it. Remember, it's your reputation as a breeder on the line if they end up being backyard breeders, kitten mills, or if they breed without knowledge and the results are poor. Your cattery name will be there in their pedigree. And as funny as it may sound, 'googling' people can reveal much about them what they are not telling to you. Specially the phonenumber and e-mail address..

How much do you charge? What would you think of somebody who charged less even if they didn't get any money back, or even went negative money wise just because they like the breed?
In this country people breed cats out of the love for the breed. They barely make it even, and if any complications occur, end up loosing money. It's usually the 'business' breeders who might even get some money out of it, it's their profession, and the amount of cats needed would be very high. (You don't find this kind of breeders over here). Here the prices usually start from 850€ for a pet quality Bengal. Snow colors and silvers tend to be a bit higher than brown.

What would you recommend for a breeder as far as what to feed the cats, and how they raise the cats and/or kittens?
The same stuff any good cat owner feeds to their cats, whether they're purebred or not. High quality wet & dry foods, some raw. Kittens should be handled a lot so they get used to it from the start. Specially the paws, so it's easier to clip their nails. It's also good to remember to introduce them to everyday household noises like the vacuum cleaner and washing machine. Biting and scratching not allowed, don't play with them by using your hands/feet, always use a toy.

What if the breeder were to keep the kittens until they had them spayed or neutered unless otherwise agreed upon by the adopter/buyer? Would that be good or bad? or would it be better to have a contract?
That is the ideal thing to do. If possible, get the kittens spayed/neutered before they go to their new owners. If that is not an option, then make the buyer sign a contract where they agree to spay/neuter the kitten ASAP (for example no later than 5 months old). Usually in the latter cases the breeder keeps the registration papers until the buyer can prove the kitten has been neutered/spayed.

Is having one male and one female ok? (depending upon if the queen likes the stud?) Of course would be bought from different breeders to ensure different lineage... or would it be better to buy from same breeder, different queen/stud?
I think it's ok, specially if you're just starting. I only have one queen and one stud at the moment (lost my other stud before I even acquired my first own queen, I'm doing this a bit backwards..). It's good to start slowly so you don't get overwhelmed. Buying the cats from different breeders doesn't always guarantee they are from different lines, so you have to study the pedigrees carefully before making the decision. I have to do that even when importing cats from another country, as the colors I'm trying to work with aren't the most common ones. Had to turn down many cats because of too high inbreeding (IMO. Someone could have chosen differently and said they are linebreeding). Some breeders have several different lines, so it's also possible to get both cats from the same breeder.

Do you have a contract when you sell/adopt out the kittens? What sort of stuff do you put in it?
Always make a contract! Whether it's for selling kittens or leasing a male etc. always have everything written down and signed. This will save you from lots of trouble and possibly help you if something unexpected occurs. I use our Finnish Cat Association's (FIFé member) sales contract as a base even though I breed in TICA. The sales contract should obviously state which kitten in question is being sold, is he/she pet/show/breeding, what has been checked by the vet (parents and the kitten), who is selling, who is buying, price, conditions like the spaying/neutering agreement etc.

I am thinking of having a questionnaire given to the person wanting to adopt and maybe judging if they can adopt my kittens. I don't want my kittens going to a home where they might not stay. There are many obvious reasons people get kittens without thinking about it, and I want to ensure my kittens go to homes where they will be cared for and will be kept for their whole lives (when reasonably able to).
What other things is there to think about with breeding?
It's good to have someone who you can turn to if you feel like talking about what's going on (it can be emotionally hard when losing kittens for example). I highly recommend having mentors and breeder friends.They can be helpful in good and bad situations. Go to shows, know what you are doing, study, browse cattery websites and see what others have to offer. Use a reservation fee, this usually eliminates at least some of the non-serious buyers as you keep the deposit if they back out. If you back out, they get it back.
I have thought of the usual stuff. I know there is a lot money wise to consider when breeding. Including if something were to go wrong with a pregnancy.
I may have more questions, but I do hope you might be able to answer some for me. I am very serious about wanting to breed them someday because I love the breed and want to keep these beautiful cats in the world, especially near here
I hope this helps a bit.
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post #3 of 5
8/24/11 at 12:26am
I am not a breeder either, and I am sure one will be along to answer you, but from this forum and other places I understand htat the best way to start is to own one or two pet cats of the breed you like, to get to know them, then graduate to a show quality cat and get to know some breeders by going to shows. You learn a lot that way about the points to look for when breeding, lines of pedigree etc. Then find a breeder who will be a mentor to you and help you over all the initial learning period. I think you have to be totally dedicated to a breed to become a breeder and do it because you want to better the breed and preserve its best points. I believe very few people make any real money from it if they are ethical breeders. But good luck with your ambitions.
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post #4 of 5
8/24/11 at 12:38am
You had also seen the contemporary thread "any breeders here?" containg a similiar question - and lotsa answers.


Welcome to the Forums!

Good luck!
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post #5 of 5
8/24/11 at 12:41pm
I breed dogs but a lot of the stuff is similar in what you're asking so I'll answer as well.

What sorts of rules do you have for people who adopt/buy(whichever word you prefer) Bengals from you? As in, do you allow them to breed, perhaps for a fee?

I do charge more for breeding rights, mainly to protect the lines that I have worked so hard to create/maintain.


How much do you charge? What would you think of somebody who charged less even if they didn't get any money back, or even went negative money wise just because they like the breed?

What you charge will largely depend on your area. As an example, I can sell my puppies around here for $800-1000 pet price - my friend that lives about 12 hours away from me would be lucky to get $500 for the same quality pup.

You should not breed to make money, often breeders are just breaking even if that. Think about the cost of raising the parents, testing, vet bills, food costs, showing costs, the cost of raising the litter, etc. It gets very expensive.

What if the breeder were to keep the kittens until they had them spayed or neutered unless otherwise agreed upon by the adopter/buyer? Would that be good or bad? or would it be better to have a contract?

Contracts are necessary in breeding any animal to protect both yourself and the buyer. Parts of your contract should include spay/neuter, health guarantee and showing (if selling to a breeder).

If you have a vet that will do early spay/neuter than that is the best way to go - people have a way of forgetting about contracts that they have signed and it can be a real pain getting them to have it done or taking them to court.

Another option that we've used before was to overcharge on the initial price and then when proof of spay/neuter is given, they get money back - we use $100 because it's high enough that they want it back but low enough on the initial purchase price that it doesn't make us seem like our prices are too high.

We also have a clause in our contract that if a puppy sold on pet contract is bred the owner must pay us a fee of $500 per puppy PLUS a $2000 fee for breech of contract.

You will have to have contracts checked over by a lawyer to make sure that everything is legal and will stand up in court, should it go that far.

Is having one male and one female ok? (depending upon if the queen likes the stud?) Of course would be bought from different breeders to ensure different lineage... or would it be better to buy from same breeder, different queen/stud?

I would suggest finding someone to mentor you on this. I don't know much about cat breeding, but a mentor as a beginner in breeding anything is a very useful resource. They will help you match pairs to get the best possible outcome and guide you through the process. They can also help you establish yourself as a reputable breeder.

Do you have a contract when you sell/adopt out the kittens? What sort of stuff do you put in it?

See above for my answer.

I am thinking of having a questionnaire given to the person wanting to adopt and maybe judging if they can adopt my kittens. I don't want my kittens going to a home where they might not stay. There are many obvious reasons people get kittens without thinking about it, and I want to ensure my kittens go to homes where they will be cared for and will be kept for their whole lives (when reasonably able to).

We have a questionnaire that must be filled out before we will even consider you. If it's not filled out and you refuse to answer the questions through a phone call, you don't get one of our animals.

We also have a clause in our contract that if for any reason the animal cannot be kept it must be returned to us. If not, there is a $500 breech of contract fee. The last place I want to see one of my animals is in a shelter and I feel that it's my responsibility to make sure they don't end up there.
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