To become a breeder.... - where to start?

Hi Everyone!

I am new on this website and I'd like to say hi to everyone. My name is Gina, I am 26, married, owning two beautiful DOS cats and two dogs (all from shelter.)
My husband and I have great love towards animals, particulary for cats. It is a dream for both of us to become cat breeders. It is not about gaining money and we are aware it is not as easy as it sounds. We don't want to start it right away because we want to get ready, to learn more from you who do it long ago.
The question is - where should we start? Can any of you give us advices or maybe a 'must to read' list, any tips and ideas, etc? Also, what 'paperworks' and legal documents we need, etc? We want to be responsible and caring breeders and give the best both to our felines and the future customers too.

Thanks a lot for reading and help!

Gina

Originally Posted by rubys

Hi Everyone!

I am new on this website and I'd like to say hi to everyone. My name is Gina, I am 26, married, owning two beautiful DOS cats and two dogs (all from shelter.)
My husband and I have great love towards animals, particulary for cats. It is a dream for both of us to become cat breeders. It is not about gaining money and we are aware it is not as easy as it sounds. We don't want to start it right away because we want to get ready, to learn more from you who do it long ago.
The question is - where should we start? Can any of you give us advices or maybe a 'must to read' list, any tips and ideas, etc? Also, what 'paperworks' and legal documents we need, etc? We want to be responsible and caring breeders and give the best both to our felines and the future customers too.

Thanks a lot for reading and help!

Gina

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Welcome to the forum!
The best thing for you to do, is look at all the different breeds first, read about them, learn all you can about how they came about, their traits, qualities, the breed standards, etc etc.
After you narrow it down to a breed or two you'd like to work with, talk to as many breeders as you can that work with that breed. The ideal thing would to be to find a mentor...someone who is dedicated, knowledgable and most importantly willing to share what they know with you.

Well, the best place to start (to me) is finding out what breed you want to work with. After that, visit local cat shows/catteries and see if you still like the breed in person and talk to the local breeders about them. Anyone selling you a cat should be willing to mentor you through the cat fancy process.

Many breeders will ask you to show and grand an altered (spayed/neutered) cat first to prove that you're deidcated to breeding for the breeds best interest and not just to "do it." Showing is a big part of breeding for most catteries, it earns your cats titles, gives them public exposure, and shows that you're working to the breed standard.

If you'd like any other help, please feel free to get a hold of me, not everyone is willing/able/happy to mentor others but I remember being the new kid on the block and having no one that would let me in the group or show me the ropes.

Welcome to the site!!!!

Ditto what everyone else has said - choose your breed, learn as much as you can about them, talk to breeders about them, don't forget to bring up any health issues and other pertinent genetic matters ... and then read, read, read all you can get your hands on!

I remember being new as well. It wasn't a happy time and I banged my head against a LOT of brick walls. But, stay the course. If you are truly dedicated to your chosen breed then you will be a fine breeder. Set up your cattery with one primary objective - Do No Harm - and the specific purpose/goal of betterment of the breed as a whole always in the forefront of your decisions.

I agree with what everyone else said. And welcome to the site and the interest of breeding as well. I am a new cat breeder myself, but have been studying for some time. You will want to make sure you pick a breed that you will have passionate about. Talk to as many breeders as you can, read as much as you can. get as hands on as you can..and make sure you know what genetic baddies can come up in your breed especially.

Pm me anytime

Originally Posted by rubys

Hi Everyone!

I am new on this website and I'd like to say hi to everyone. My name is Gina, I am 26, married, owning two beautiful DOS cats and two dogs (all from shelter.)
My husband and I have great love towards animals, particulary for cats. It is a dream for both of us to become cat breeders. It is not about gaining money and we are aware it is not as easy as it sounds. We don't want to start it right away because we want to get ready, to learn more from you who do it long ago.
The question is - where should we start? Can any of you give us advices or maybe a 'must to read' list, any tips and ideas, etc? Also, what 'paperworks' and legal documents we need, etc? We want to be responsible and caring breeders and give the best both to our felines and the future customers too.

Thanks a lot for reading and help!

Gina

Click to expand...

Gina....I'm not a breeder...but as someone in the rescue community, I think it is important as a breeder that you ensure that your pet quality kittens are spayed/neutered and that as a part of your contract, you require that if someone can no longer care for their cat, they return the cat to you. I do not mind breeders at all as long as they take measures to ensure that none of their cats or the kittens from their cats ever enter the shelter system. Good Luck,

Katie

Originally Posted by TNR1

Gina....I'm not a breeder...but as someone in the rescue community, I think it is important as a breeder that you ensure that your pet quality kittens are spayed/neutered and that as a part of your contract, you require that if someone can no longer care for their cat, they return the cat to you. I do not mind breeders at all as long as they take measures to ensure that none of their cats or the kittens from their cats ever enter the shelter system. Good Luck,

Katie

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Well said.

Yes that is well said TNR1, but people will lie and scam, so please also consider taking the responsibility onto yourself to spay/neuter before they leave your care. Many people will breed purebred cats that aren't registered no matter what their contract says.

Originally Posted by TNR1

Gina....I'm not a breeder...but as someone in the rescue community, I think it is important as a breeder that you ensure that your pet quality kittens are spayed/neutered and that as a part of your contract, you require that if someone can no longer care for their cat, they return the cat to you. I do not mind breeders at all as long as they take measures to ensure that none of their cats or the kittens from their cats ever enter the shelter system. Good Luck,

Katie

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Don't worry, Katie. If this new person finds a mentor, there will be no question that this is part of the contract. BTW, in your community, does your shelter neuter/spay before placing out kittens and take them back if the owner can no longer keep them?

Barb A.