Whatt's it like?

jessienkitty

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I just want to say that i admire all of you breeders.i too one day in the far future want to be a breeder (like after i finsih highschool and Vet school and get my career started) but i have a few questions. i would look this up online but i wanted some personal answers.


1. What do you breed?
2. How long have you been breeding?
3. what is the best breed to breed?
4. how much research goes into breeding?
5. what are the expenses like?
6. what is it like breeding the cat that you breed?
7. what are the best/ worst things about breeding
and lastly
8. Do you guys think it is worth it?

hope you guys don't mind all of the questions!
thanks alot!
 

wellingtoncats

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1. What do you breed? Persians and Exotic SH
2. How long have you been breeding? since feb 1996
3. what is the best breed to breed? whichever breed you wish to improve. For me it's the flatties.
4. how much research goes into breeding? depending on your sources. I've got my Nana who has been breeding cats since she was my age.
5. what are the expenses like? it's pricey, but worth it.
6. what is it like breeding the cat that you breed? heart breaking at times but very pleasing
7. what are the best/ worst things about breeding worst is death and the best are seeing your stock do well
and lastly
8. Do you guys think it is worth it? of course, always striving to meet the standard.

Breeding isn't something that shouldn't be taken lightly. Unless you feel a deep passion for improving a particular breed then breeding isn't for you.

 
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jessienkitty

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wow, thanks Sam. I do want to breed some day but i am so scared that i am going to screw it up so that is why i have decided to wait until i am a Vet. right now i know NOTHING about breeding.
i'll learn.
thanks!
 

gayef

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1. What do you breed?
CFA Old-Style Siamese

2. How long have you been breeding?
Cats, 3 years. Other husbandry interests included Tennessee Walking Horses for 11 years.

3. what is the best breed to breed?
This is a matter of personal preference.

4. how much research goes into breeding?
A lot. Actually, I find that pedigree research is what I spend most of my research time doing. Finding a bloodline which looks promising and then chasing it to more about the cats from that line. Are they still alive? If not, what did they die from? How old were they when they died? Do they have living relatives? Where are they and are they used for breeding?

5. what are the expenses like?
It depends upon many things, but the number of cats who participate in your program will be a determining factor. If you have to purchase pedigrees and do other ancestral searching, that is a large expense at $60 a piece for one cat's 6-generation pedigree.

6. what is it like breeding the cat that you breed?
Overall, I enjoy it. The cats bring such a positive energy and life force into my home that it is difficult not to find pleasure in it. However, there are many time-consuming and difficult obstacles so those can allow one to be a little less joyful about it. Keeping a whole male in your home is a definate negative from a cleaning perspective, but not having your own male opens up a whole new set of problems. There are a lot of circumstances where you are sort of damned if you do and damned if you don't. That can be frustrating.

7. what are the best/ worst things about breeding
The best thing, for me, is always seeing the joy my kittens bring to their new families. But, there is more to my program than simply producing kittens for placement. The knowledge that I am trying to achieve a goal which has many positive benefits for my chosen breed is the number one thing I find as a motivator.

The worst thing is when the kittens go to their new homes and I miss them. I have been, so far, very blessed with easy, no-problem litters of kittens. So, until the day comes where issues do crop up, missing the babies horribly is the worst.

and lastly
8. Do you guys think it is worth it?


I will admit there are times when I question why I continue. But those times are less frequent than the times I find it enjoyable.
 

goldenkitty45

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Even tho I no longer breed I'll still give my experience




1. What do you breed? Russian Blues (initially) and then Cornish Rexes

2. How long have you been breeding? (RB's for a year), Cornish (8 yrs)

3. what is the best breed to breed? (no "best" breed - some are easier without a lot of genetic problems (Manx/Scottish Folds are probably the most difficult)

4. how much research goes into breeding? YEARS! A good breeder spends many years learning about the breed before they place any 2 cats together. You usually start with a show cat in the altered class and learn from there.

5. what are the expenses like? Depends on how much you are willing to spend or are you the type to "cut corners". Most breeders barely break even in expenses if you add in the cost of showing (to prove your cats worthy of breeding), food, shots, etc. - this is the cost of a litter for 4 months, and any outside stud service expenses. Plus the initial expense of buying your foundation cats.

6. what is it like breeding the cat that you breed? Rewarding and seeing the quality and how well they do in shows. Proud to say most of my rexes were show quality (even tho a lot were placed as pets cause the owners didn't want to show them) because I did my research and was picky as to who my females were bred to.

7. what are the best/ worst things about breeding Best - the joy of watching them grow and seeing healthy, happy kitties go to loving homes. Worst - losing kittens or having to spay a female that had probems. I had a very lovely top quality calico rex who just didn't like being a mom and her kittens died. She did well in the show ring but not as a breeding cat.

and lastly
8. Do you guys think it is worth it? Yes, if you spend the time to get to know your breed and are genuinely interested in improving the breed for the love of the breed - NOT for a money making project!
 
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jessienkitty

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omg thank you so much guys! this is awesome!
 
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