I am not even going to start hounding you on the millions of animals euthanised each year in shelters or die on the streets. No one ever thinks this could happen to a litter they breed. I am going to tell you what makes a responsible breeder and the major effort that goes into ensuring the best, healthiest critters possible. Breeding is not just putting two cute cats together and sixty-three days later you have cuddly kitties. Responsible breeding requires work. It is not to be jumped into headfirst.

Know the pedigrees. Just because two cats are great specimens does not mean they are compatible. Not all hereditary problems are a simple Dominant/Recessive gene thing. Some require a combination of multiple gene sequences before being expressed. So, two cats could have parts of these sequences and if bred, the problem could be expressed though there is no sign in either cat's background of the problem. Two great cats also may not produce great kittens. A responsible breeder will research pedigrees and to find the best possible matches. This can be a big undertaking.

Know the cat. A responsible breeder will test cats for things like hips, thyroid, eye problem, FeLV (Feline Leukemia), FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or Feline AIDS), PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease), blood groups, and whatever problems are common to your specific breed. If something is suspected, the cat should not be bred. All our cats at Chloeadores must test negative for all of the above before breeding. For further information on these diseases and other feline health issues, you can refer to the following sites:

http://www.catvirus.com

http://www.felinecoronavirus.com

http://www.gla.ac.uk/companion

(Our thanks to Dr Diane Addie for her permission to quote these sites here)

Accept the risks. Breeding is not all happy. If you own a female, you must be willing to wait until she is physically mature to breed. To breed too soon is like a teenage human having a child. They are not physically ready or emotionally. To breed too old is like a woman having her first child later in life. Cats of both genders must be fully mature and in top shape before breeding.

You must be willing to be in close contact with your vet from the moment of mating. There is so much that can happen and that you should know. There are nutrition concerns-pregnancy and nursing is taxing on the female body. There are risk factors-some breeds are prone to birth complications and almost always require medical intervention.

Accept responsibility for kittens. Kittens need to be with Mom for 8 weeks. This means eight weeks of poop, piddle, and then the fun of a litter of kittens playing with food as they grow. They will require vet exams and at least one set of shots before going to homes. Vet costs, feeding, time to socialize and clean up after, postnatal care of them and Mom all can be expensive.

I have only touched on responsible breeding. There are volumes devoted to responsible breeding. There are volumes devoted to responsible breeding. Whether you own a male or female, you must act responsible. Do not breed haphazardly. Do not think about breeding to get a cat just like your cat - it won't happen. Do not breed if you cannot devote the time and money to do it responsibly. If you cannot ensure good, loving homes for your kittens (they do not get dumped at shelters or given to just anyone), do not breed.

Do give some serious thoughts before you take any steps to breed. Love of cats and a soft fuzzy feeling when you hold a kitten is not reason enough. However, if you have fully considered it, and do have the money, the time and complete commitment to the process, then here are my very best wishes for you!