Question for Breeders

How do you get into Breeding cats? I contacted a woman a while back about getting an Egyptian Mau. I really want to breed and show them, but I know it will require a lot of learning of genetics and such. How do you go about learning that kind of thing? I would really love to show and breed cats, but I'd have to wait till after college. How would I go about getting started?

Get some books on breeding cats and read everything you can on that breed on the internet. Also study the process of breeding and breed standards. Attend as many shows as you can to fully understand the breed and talk with breeders of Egyptian Maus. Its even better if you begin by showing an altered cat which will really help you understand the standard. This will also give you more credibility when it comes time to purchase a breeding cat.

Also make sure you are financially ok to do this as it can get costly if an emergency c-section is needed. Also make sure you have facilities. Females in heat can be worse than males when it comes to spraying. But every female is different. A majority of males spray but some don't either, this might have to do with the comfort of their location or genetics, among other things. If you want to house a stud then he will need seperate facilities that are easily cleaned. Its easier to start off without a stud and then use stud services which usually requires a kitten back or the cost of a kitten.

Also get a mentor. The breeder you purchase the breeding cat from should be willing to help you get going with any questions. See if you can join a mentoring program with Egyptian Mau's if they have them. Also look into breeders associations, again I don't know anything about Mau's so not sure whats available. These are usually networks of people that you can talk to with questions and keeping up with the latest news on the breed. Also being a part of an association can help with credibility.

Well I'm not even sure I have the lady's email address anymore. I'll take a look. As for getting books, the library here doesn't have a single book on cats except behavior of cats. I just now put in an application to the CFA for a mentor, hopefully in my area.

I ordered "Breeding Pedigreed Cats" by Carolyn Vella and John McGonagle, Jr. online. I also am showing my somali in premiership. I joined the yahoo somali breed group maybe there is one for the breed you like. I did pick up a mentor off the group and I also have one I met at my first show and I have a mentor through the CFA mentor program. I am taking my time learning this way and seems to be working out well for me. Showing in premiership is where you will probably learn the most. You will meet breeders this way and you will also learn alot about the breed. Hope this helps some.

Oh and the Egyptian Mau is not the only breed I'm interested in breeding and showing. The Bengal is the other. Actually I wanted to breed and show Bengals before I even heard of the Egyptian Mau, but now its hard to choose which one I like more.

Do a comprimise - go for silver bengals.

Hope is a silver Savannah but looks a whole lot more like a Mau than a Savannah. Everyone at the cat show thought she was a Mau. Her dad was a silver bengal outcross used to bring the silver into that savannah line.

I could, but I love the brown coloring of a bengal. They look so beautiful.

Hi Soka, I'm a Mau breeder! Have you considered bronze Egyptian Maus?

Well, I will be honest with you, if you want Maus and Bengals, you will have a very difficult time finding Mau people to work with you as most Bengal/Mau breeders want to breed Maus and Bengals together. I personally don't allow my cats to breed with anything other than other Maus, but I am one of the few that is not against letting you put the kittens with a Bengals (for instance, my cattery is Neko Mau, I would allow a cat with a Neko Mau parent to breed with bengals, but not any cats with the Neko Mau prefix where I was the breeder).

If you'd like to, you can look in my profile and send me an e-mail with any questions you have.

I think she is trying to figure out which to breed, not necessarily to breed them together.

I knwo many breeders who work with multiple breeds. Its a lot more work and you end up with a lot larger cattery so its something you usually work into slowly.

Maybe I misunderstood then. I was taking it as she would like both as she couldn't decide which she likes better.

Also, if you aren't aware yet Soka, Bengals are not allowed in the CFA, so depending on your area, you might have trouble finding regular TICA shows to attend. I would visit local registry websites to see which show schedules fit your lifestyle best. If it is possible for you, and you only wish to breed one breed, I would recommend visiting anyone and everyone you can with those types of cats and weigh out the pros/cons of each. If, by chance, you're a member of TICA, you would have found my article on the Mau in the Trend (issue before last). Cat shows are a good place to begin (in your area, CFA would likely have a Mau or two at every show, and TICA almost always has Bengals at every one).

I hope that helps get you started in the right direction. I still leave my door open if you have any Mau questions.

First of all do a LOT of reading about the breed. Learn the history, background, genetics (if you want), any genetic problems, etc. Learn what is a top quality cat in the breed - what to look for. Learn the standard inside and out.

And after you know your breed well, then start learning about breeding cats in general - what you need, problems, etc. You can find all this out in books - there are many good breeding/genetic books on the market. The breed ones might be a little harder to find, but check for these books on Amazon.com.

Attend cat shows in your area and watch the judging, talk to other breeders/owners of the one you like. Get to know the "lines" - what are good ones and ones to avoid. While learning history, you will learn these catteries with the better cats.

Most establish breeders do not like to sell breeding cats to a "novice". They have invested time, money, and want the best for their cats. Many novices think they want to show/breed and find out its more work then they thought and so get rid of the cats and the original breeder has no clue as to where their cats are or if they are being bred by someone else and where those kittens are.

So if you really want to breed, start at the shows and get to now the breeders/owners. THEN purchase a cat TO BE ALTERED and show that cat. You will have a chance to really get to know the breed and find out if showing/breeding IS what you want. If you are successful in showing that cat and have established a reputation as a good owner, then you can seek out your breeding cats. Start with a breeding female - not the males as they will most likely be caged and harder to handle at times. You also want to get a "mentor" to help you with breeding and how to tell pet quality from show quality.

You have to know something about genetics and lines so you know what cats to put together. You don't just breed your cat to any old male of that breed - you want the best male and female being bred to produce quality cats and IMPROVE the lines - not just to breed mediocre cats for money.

This process can take as long as 5-10 yrs. I showed cats (alters) for 5-8 yrs before I got my breeding female. I knew the breed inside and out. It was another 5 yrs before I got a breeding male. I would prefer to keep a breeding female and send her out to a stud then to keep the stud as its a lot more to take care of a stud. Whole males will spray and you can't let them be running around the house with whole females. You need to plan your breedings. Females shouldn't have any more then one litter a year unless its a litter of only 1 or 2 kittens - but you still should have about 9-10 months of time between pregnancy/delivery, recovery.

And if you want to be a good breeder, you will have a contract for the owners to spay/neuter the kittens by a certain time. YOU should be responsible for EVERY kitten born of your females - that is a responsible breeder!

Thanks for all the advice. It definatly seems like a lot of work, but I'm willing to do it. I think I've decided to go with the Egyptian Mau. There is only one problem with finding a mentor. It seems I just can't find any mentor in my area.

I've been talking to my fiance about my interest in showing and breeding cats and she is more than happy to learn herself and wants to show. I told her I wanted to show Egyptian Maus and she's very excited, although she'd be happiest showing Russian Blues.

I will tell you that the EM's and RB's are not popular cats and you don't see them often at the shows. They are out there, but a little harder to find. Good luck in your future show/breeding.

Thanks GoldenKitty. Well I tend to like unpopular things, lucky for me.

Maus are absolutely beautiful. If I chose a shorthair cat to breed it would be out of them and Devon Rex.

While book reading is helpful I find you need to talk with people and find out experiences and what not. Attend as many shows and seminars as you can.

I'm currently looking for cat shows in my area. There is only one show coming to Richmond, but I'm not sure when it is, I'll have to go back and check. Other shows are about 2 or more hours away.