What do you think of Cat Breeders?

karenbi

Norbertsmum wrote: »

Not heard of the Snowshoes breed before so had a google, Wiki says:
"Despite having existed for 45 years, Snowshoes are rare due to the difficulty of reproducing exactly the coat markings. These are based on recessive genes for the color points and on the co-dominant but variably-expressed piebald pattern gene, making it difficult to predict the appearance of offspring."

So I guess there are a lot of kittens born who don't make the grade because of colouring? Doesn't that make breeding a bit hit and miss?

My worry is would there be enough buyers for the poor little 'by-products' who are born the wrong colour.

Tell me about it! It's the fun bit but also explains why there's very few people doing it. It wonderful watching their colours developing from snow white to differnet colous and patterns. Snowshoes without the masks and feet are still really popular (we have people from all over Europe and even the US wanting them) and you get some amazing alternate patterns-Peanut looks like someone has run a white paint brush down her chocolate coloured face. It's not a perfect Snowshoe pattern but she looks amazing. 2 out of five in my litter were not "perfect"- they were reserved within days of the perfect patterns. PLus a pattern is just the colour of their hair. If I ever struggled to find good homes for each one I'd stop... xxxx

Fire_Fox

sleepymy wrote: »

No, you could only argue that about human slaves. Having to work to support yourself is nothing like being deliberately impregnated and having your babies taken off you sold for money.

You could be talking about dairy cows: hope you are vegan!

karenbi

sleepymy wrote: »

If they were spayed it wouldn't be a factor, it would also protect them from the stress of their seasons not producing litters. Why ask what people think if you're just going to move the goalposts to suit your own view?

Hope it didn't appear that I was moving the goal posts! I really appreciate the opinions of others- it reminds me that things aren't simple or straight forward. If I felt that each of my choices in life was beyond reproach I wouldn't think any further about them.

My personal feeling is that I have never seen my cat so happy as when she was pregnant and when she had kittens. It was so wonderful and natural. I'm not sure I would be protecting her from anything stressfull. She isn't stressed in season- just horny. A pretty natural state for most of us..

Your point about neutering is also valid. Being neutered can be a happy state for cats that aren't going to have babies, but may of us keep uneutered animals- dogs and horses being good examples.

Unbred cats come into season every 3 weeks. This means that they could have 3 litters a year. For a cat to always be in season and never bred would be strange but no sensible person would let a cat have three litters a year (except those aforementioned kitten farms). Although Gretel may think she wants another litter I'd rather she was fit and healthy.

sleepymy

Fire_Fox wrote: »

You could be talking about dairy cows: hope you are vegan!

Why, yes I am