October 3rd, 2008 at 10:54am
Under Breeder's
By Patricia Craggs
What should I be looking for in a cat breeder and which
questions should I be asking them to make sure that they are the
best for my needs?
Make a list of cat breeders in the areas you are willing to
travel to.This information can be gleaned from the internet,
telephone directories,local papers, pet magazines and cat
groups.If you are set on a particular breed, then a quick phone
call to each will eliminate those that offer other breeds.To
further shorten your list,ask other cat owners for their
recommendations and experiences,both positive and negative.
Once you have your shortlist, you need to visit each cat
breeder and ask questions.Reputable cat breeders should be happy
to answer your questions and show you around their premises. If
not, you have to ask yourself if they are hiding something.
Most,however are passionate about cats and will love talking
about them.
Recommended Questions To Ask Each Cat Breeder;
Does the breed have any congenital defects to watch for? If
so,how do they avoid breeding them into their stock. If the
answer is that the breed is perfect, with no congenital defects,
be wary! No breed is perfect and a reputable breeder should tell
you about any possible faults.
Do they offer a health guarantee if the kitten turns out to be
in bad health?
How long have they been breeding cats? How many breeds do they
have? Do they show their cats? The answers to these questions
should give some indication of their expertise. Concentrating on
a couple of breeds,along with showing the cats, means that they
are more likely to be careful about the bloodlines than breeding
lots of different breeds.
How large is their breeding business. Try to avoid someone who
is overwhelmed and stressed by trying to breed too many cats at
one time,or who is just in it for the money and so uses
mass-production.
Does the breeder give adequate care and attention to the
kittens? Ask for a tour to see the kittens’ living conditions.
Are they handled so they are used to humans?
Have the cats been tested for infectious diseases? A reputable
breeder should have records to support his answers. Any cat can
become ill but it is how the breeder deals with it that is
important. Sick cats should be separated from the healthy ones.
Asking these questions should give you an idea of the honesty
and integrity of the cat breeders and help you with your choice.
When you have made your choice of breeder and kitten, it is a
good idea to have a vet do an independent health check.A breeder
with nothing to hide should not object - especially if you are
paying!
About the Author: For information on cat care, cat gifts and
products, visit All About Cat Care at
www.all-about-cat-care.com
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: www.isnare.com/?aid=128538&ca=Pets
By Fred
April 24th, 2008 at 01:50pm
Under Breeder's+ Breeds+ Cat Health
By Matthew Yoho
Cat breeding is an expensive undertaking both as far as the
money it costs and the time it takes. It’s important to realize
that cat breeding is serious business and cannot be done well
without a lot of effort.
The first thing you need to do if you want to get into cat
breeding is learn everything you can find about your chosen
breed. Research the breed, it’s origin, it’s history, and it’s
Cat Fancier Association breed standard.
Becoming a cat breeder is a huge commitment. Cat breeding is
not easy. Make sure you are ready to make this huge commitment
before you take the cat breeding plunge!
Health is the most important consideration when selecting cats
for breeding. You also must consider coat color and pattern.
It’s important to have a thorough knowledge of your breed so you
know exactly what you are looking for.
Breeding a male and female cat usually produces kittens in
about 65 days. But it is not that unusual for cat pregnancies so
don’t necessarily be concerned if the pregnancy goes past 65
days.
It’s very important that the mother cat is fed very well during
her pregnancy. Of course you want to be consulting with your
veterinarian during this very important time. Some feel it is a
good idea to restrict the movement of the mother during her
pregnancy not only to lower the chance of injury but also to get
the mother cat used to her more sedentary lifestyle she’ll be
living once her kittens are born.
After the kittens are born be sure that they are gaining
weight. You should be able to see the kittens gaining weight. If
they are not gaining weight there is something wrong. You should
know ahead of time how to tube feed a kitten and you should have
that equipment available in case something is going wrong. The
problem will most likely correct itself in a few days but if it
does not you may need veterinarian assistance.
Weigh your kittens every day at the same time. Do not weight
them in the morning one day and in the evening the next. Pick
one time like 10 AM and weigh them at that one time every day to
be sure you are getting an accurate reading. Little or no weight
gain one day to the next is a sign of a problem. Kittens should
be gaining weight every day!
After the 3rd week kitten food should be made available.
Sometimes kittens ages 3 and 4 weeks will become curious about
their mother’s food and may try to eat it themselves.
Handle your kittens from an early age so they become more
socialized. This will make them better pets and also better show
cats.
No kittens should leave your home prior to 12 weeks. They
should never leave your home before inoculations are complete.
Hopefully you’ve got some better idea about cat breeding basics
from this article and you have a clear idea of whether you want
to become a cat breeder and if you do, you should have some
basic cat breeding knowledge now.
About the Author: I’m a long time serious cat lover. I’ve
always loved cats. Although I am not a cat breeder myself I know
some people that are cat breeders and I’m very interested in cat
breeding and the different types of cat breeds.
www.mycatwearsclothes.com.
Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: www.isnare.com/?aid=109189&ca=Pets
By Fred
