Mentorship

So you want to breed cats? Are you dreaming about the money you'll swim in, all the fat healthy babies and happy pet owners you'll have? Well, this article might come as a bit of a wake-up call.

Breeding cats is tough. There's just no two ways about it. It's not a gravy train that you'll get rich on that's for sure. It's the glamorous scooping of litter-boxes, medicating sick kittens, running to and fro to cat shows, (If you are breeding you really should show so that you know your cats meet the breed standard.) "What, another trip to the vet?!", trying to remember where you put that litter registration, screening buyers and dealing with the fall-out when things go wrong or your perfect pet family decides "kitty" just didn't fit their lifestyle.

Now, of course, there are wonderful things to breeding too (Or there wouldn't be so many of us involved in it.) but you have to think about why you want to breed. Is it for the love of the cats and a passion for the breed? Are you prepared for the hardships that can come with breeding? (It's hard to take that long needed vacation with kittens to take care of!) "Hmmm, steak for dinner or do I need more premium cat food, cat litter and maybe a toy or two?" Yup. Macaroni and cheese for dinner tonight! If you can handle choices like that and you still think you want to plunge into the every exciting, never dull, often heartbreaking life of a cat breeder then the very first thing that you have to do is find a MENTOR.

What is a mentor? A mentor is an established breeder willing to step up and hold your hand through every step of your new venture. A mentor is someone that will share her/his knowledge freely; what food to use, when to breed, how to pick out the best breeding cat, how to set up a show cage and, of course, you mentor is the person you can call when your first queen goes into labor at 3:00 AM and you are wondering if she is okay with every little funny face she makes.

I've been breeding for six years now (Showing for seven of those years) and I can honestly say that without my mentor I would not still be breeding. She steered me away from more pit falls that I can even count. She introduced me to other breeders and opened up a network of friends I would not have had without her. She's been more than just a mentor and for that I am forever in her debt.

So how do you find a mentor? The same way you find your first breeding cats. You talk to breeders. You ask questions. You find someone you are comfortable with and someone hopefully that is close enough for you to visit so you can see how their cattery is operated.

How do you treat your mentor? Every time you call you should always be asking "Is this a good time to talk?". Never take for granted that they are just sitting by the phone waiting for you and have nothing better to do. Take them seriously. Be respectful. Be serious about learning from them. Remember, they've been through all the things you are going through. And remember too, that cats are living creatures and that when things go wrong, your mentor may not have all the answers. Don't expect her/him to solve all your problems. Be willing to learn and grow as well.

Breeding can be amazing and rewarding. Starting your program with a mentor can ensure that you see more of that side of the coin. Good luck and happy breeding.