How to Become a Cat Breeder? 10 Things to Go
Breeding cats isn’t as simple as most people realize, but it’s very rewarding. An organization dedicated to breeding cats requires substantial time and money to build. Here, we will talk about everything you need to know about how to become a cat breeder?.
Choosing a breed, learning about genetics, and management of cats is a long, slow process. Most breeders don’t break even; however, excellent rewards can be found. There is a lot of expense involved in breeding cats, including food, housing, and medical care. Therefore, please continue reading to learn everything there is to know about how to become a cat breeder.
Table of Contents
How to Become a Cat Breeder? 9 Important Points
To learn how to become a cat breeder, you should take into consideration the following points.
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Pedigree selection
The first step in becoming a breeder is choosing the pedigree you will breed. Reading up on genetics and learning as much as you can about a specific breeding pair’s breeding history will help you achieve this goal. A lot of pedigree cats cannot be further bred. These animals are sold as pets to non-breeders and are referred to as “pet quality.
Generally speaking, only very few kittens born from the mating of pedigree cats of the same breed are good enough to breed. There are relatively few, and they are expensive, which is why they are known as “show quality. In order not to breed cats that have defects, it is imperative to know how illnesses and genetic flaws affect each breed.
The health and living conditions of pedigree cats need to be maintained more carefully since they are more prone to diseases and stress. In addition to special habitats and nutrition, cats raised for breeding require special nutrition.
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Do Your Research
Do your research on cats and learn as much about them as possible, unless you already know the breed you plan to breed. Learn about how to treat the breed’s health issues as well as its genetics, husbandry, and health issues peculiar to that breed.
Educate yourself about how to prevent the breed’s health concerns. If you want to show your cat, you should first attain a neutered or spayed cat of the breed you wish to show.
You can get tips and ideas from other owners and breeders at cat shows. Cat shows are an excellent way to meet potential kitten owners before you start breeding.
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Consult Other Breeders
Finding a breeder willing to mentor new breeders and teach them how to become a cat breeder can be quite challenging. As a new breeder, it is important to have a mentor. To find the right breeder for your pet, you must first talk to well-established, reputable breeders.
Do not be afraid to ask questions. Describe how you would like to learn more. If possible, consider showing a cat that is altered before breeding. You will benefit greatly.
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A lot of investment
Don’t forget to take care of your finances. You will need a lot of money up front to start a cat breeding business. You may get into debt that you can’t reply to if you use too much credit. It is not unusual for breeders to incur hundreds of dollars in vet bills, and most pet insurances do not cover these expenses.
A majority of cat breeders consider their business to be more of a hobby, and their primary goal is to breed healthy kittens with good temperaments that will add to the development of the breed.
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Enough space
Make sure that your litter box and cats have enough space. Ideal places include a spare bedroom, an unfinished basement, or an unfinished utility room. Catteries should have both male and female cages, areas for grooming, bathing, feeding, and areas for storing food and water.
It’s best to give the kittens a quiet place to live in a room you don’t usually use, as they’ll need to be able to feel comfortable. It’s not ideal to have a loud washing machine in a utility room every day.
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Buy a Queen
Find a reputable breeder to purchase a queen. You should select a cat that represents the best qualities of the breed as your first queen. Check its pedigree to ensure that no inherited diseases have run in the family. Before buying a cat, have it evaluated by a trusted breeder. Make sure the cat is registered with the Cat Association as a cat of its breed with papers.
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Council Regulations
Learn whether there are restrictions on how many cats you can maintain on your property by contacting your local council. In some councils, breeders have been treated very harshly, and unreasonable rules have been imposed about how many cats a person can have. You are responsible for knowing what the local council regulations are and complying with them.
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Registration
Breeders must apply for a cat council prefix to become certified breeders. Each kitten will be assigned a prefix.
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Stud house
It is not recommended that a novice breeder keep a stud or an entire male cat in the same kennel with the girls because they will need separate housing.
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Examine Your Purposes
You must first fairly examine why you want to become a cat breeder if you are standing any chance of becoming an effective one. Are you doing this for the cash or for the feline(s) and the life of their breed? None; however, the most effective award-winning cat breeders ever make sufficient money to make a living from breeding. For several breeders, it is a particular hobby and a costly one at that.
Current breeders will tell those who want to become cat breeders themselves that you should be prepared to set the health of your felines above all else. Don’t do it only for currency, for you will be saddened. Do it for the right purposes, or don’t do it whatsoever.
You Won’t Make a Lot of Money Breeding Cats
Becoming a cat breeder is a fad, not an occupation move. Due to the expenses obligatory to continue a cattery, all of the cash you make from the auction of a litter of gorgeous kittens is possibly going to be in use in bills, food, goods, and additional cat breeding charges. Unluckily, you might have observed that this list of costs does not comprise the cat breeder’s pay.
Indeed, most cat breeders never manage. You must never consider breeding a trustworthy income to live on. You can ideally support your felines and cat show events by vending kittens; however, don’t depend on it. That’s why several cat breeders are hobbyists.
Frequently Asked Question
Q: Does cat breeding make any money?
The majority of cat breeders do not make any profit at all, and some don’t even make it to breakeven after paying for their supplies, medicines, and other expenses.
Q: How much do cat breeders make a year?
Depending on the location of the employer, Cat Breeders may earn anywhere from $20,430 to $75,210, with a median salary of $39,380. Those in the middle 60% of the Cat Breeder profession make $39,380, while those in the top 80% make $75,210.
Q: At what age should a cat be bred?
It is best to breed your cat when she is between 18 and 24 months old and healthy.
Conclusion: How to Become a Cat Breeder?
In short, running a successful cat breeding business is very difficult. Several factors have to be taken into account, and you have to be patient. Make sure you learn all you can about cat breeding before entering the business. If you are interested in becoming a cat breeder, then you should read our guide on how to become a cat breeder.
