Kitten Diary Conclusion, Part 2
When we entered into this adventure, I warned my readers "Don't try this at home." People think all too often that breeding cats is easy. "Just get two purebred cats, and put them together, then watch the money roll in."
Ev Russell has been around long enough to know the fallacy of this line of thought. And, like other conscientious breeders, she is not in it "for the money." Indeed, most breeders spend more money on food, supplies, veterinary expenses, and the large outlay in cat showing fees and expenses, than they ever can be recompensed by kitten sales.
Reputable breeders breed for the love of the breed, and to respect and further the breed standard. Ev told me:
We make an attempt to breed the best examples of the breed, hoping to reproduce or even better the standard of the breed. This includes the outward appearance, of course, but more importantly, the health of each and every new kitten is paramount. Sometimes, like life, a curveball is thrown at us that we are totally unprepared for. Because we give so much of ourselves into these little ones, so much is lost when we lose them.
I can only repeat my original warning: "Don't try this at home." There are too many homeless and unwanted kittens in the world to throw even more into the mix. Don't even think about breeding your mixed breed cats - get them spayed and neutered instead.
And if you are crazy about a particular breed and think you might want to breed them, find an experienced, reputable breeder to mentor you, and learn everything that is possible to learn about the breed. Take a year or more doing your homework; attend cat shows and meet other breeders.
When the time is right, buy one cat from your mentor and live with him or her for at least six months, to see if you're really as enthusiastic about the breed as you first thought. Then, and only then should you seriously think about breeding cats. Prepare yourself for heartache, because I guarantee you, it's going to happen, sooner or later.
We'll leave you now with those thoughts, as we bid "farewell" with fondness to darling little Sprinkles and her sister and brother at the Rainbow Bridge.
Ev Russell has been around long enough to know the fallacy of this line of thought. And, like other conscientious breeders, she is not in it "for the money." Indeed, most breeders spend more money on food, supplies, veterinary expenses, and the large outlay in cat showing fees and expenses, than they ever can be recompensed by kitten sales.
Reputable breeders breed for the love of the breed, and to respect and further the breed standard. Ev told me:
We make an attempt to breed the best examples of the breed, hoping to reproduce or even better the standard of the breed. This includes the outward appearance, of course, but more importantly, the health of each and every new kitten is paramount. Sometimes, like life, a curveball is thrown at us that we are totally unprepared for. Because we give so much of ourselves into these little ones, so much is lost when we lose them.
I can only repeat my original warning: "Don't try this at home." There are too many homeless and unwanted kittens in the world to throw even more into the mix. Don't even think about breeding your mixed breed cats - get them spayed and neutered instead.
And if you are crazy about a particular breed and think you might want to breed them, find an experienced, reputable breeder to mentor you, and learn everything that is possible to learn about the breed. Take a year or more doing your homework; attend cat shows and meet other breeders.
When the time is right, buy one cat from your mentor and live with him or her for at least six months, to see if you're really as enthusiastic about the breed as you first thought. Then, and only then should you seriously think about breeding cats. Prepare yourself for heartache, because I guarantee you, it's going to happen, sooner or later.
We'll leave you now with those thoughts, as we bid "farewell" with fondness to darling little Sprinkles and her sister and brother at the Rainbow Bridge.