So, now you have your cat, or you've at least made up your mind to purchase a purebred British Shorthair. Most people who develop a serious interest in cats will, at some point, consider going into business as a breeder.

 

Should you?

 

Probably not. Breeding purebred British Shorthair cats should be undertaken by only the most serious and dedicated cat fancier. It is an expensive and labor-intensive hobby. You wont be able to find stud services in UAE and so will need to own your own male. The license, veterinary bills, vaccinations, registration, premises, premium cat food, advertising expenses, and so forth, and you can quickly calculate how little a breeder actually profits from raising a litter of kittens.

 

Even after writing off allowable expenses on their business fees, most professional breeders consider themselves lucky if they break even. Obviously, if people don't do it for the money, there must be other rewards. To serious breed-ers, the real profits in breeding are intangible achievements, such as a Best in Show rosette, regional and national awards, and the respect of fellow cat fanciers who recognize their contributions to the British breed. If these kinds of goals and rewards do not interest you, leave breeding to the professionals, and have your pet British Shorthair spayed or neutered. We, as professional breeders work very hard to improve the breed and it tears our hearts to see the breed going backwards. 

 

Beware of people who fancy the idea of breeding cats and selling the kittens to make a quick profit. These are backyard breeders who know little about feline genetic's and even less about the concept of responsible pet ownership. Don't deal with one of these.

 

Then there are people who have the misguided notion that breeding their cat just once will allow their children to learn one of life's profound lessons by witnessing the miracle of birth. Unfortunately, this notion only adds to the pet overpopulation problem, even if you take the time to find good homes for the kittens. The real lesson to teach is how important it is for all of us to take responsibility for the animals already in this world. Instead of breeding more kittens that may end up homeless in shelters, teach kids how proper health care, spaying, and neutering can reduce the suffering that more than eight million surplus, unwanted pets endure each year.

 

Concentrate instead on being the best-educated cat owner you can be. Share your knowledge with others. Read books about cats. Subscribe to cat magazines. Visit cat shows. Volunteer at your local animal shelter. Set a good example as a responsible cat owner, and others who know you will follow and learn. 

 

However, if you decided that you want to become an expert and cat breeder, please contact your breeder and your local club. They will share helpful information with you, suggest the line, introduce you to feline genetics, bring you into cat showing, help you choose the right breeding cats, and put you on the right path.

To Breed or Not to Breed?