Cat Breeders??

[Michiyo-Fir]

Other than show breeders...are there cat breeders that breed for anything else?? Like agility, rally, work, etc. in dogs???

Someone I know is looking for a Siamese cat, but not the very very elongated and thin boned show type...how does one find a "reputable" breeder?

She asked me since I know about dogs but....I have absolutely no clue! Someone enlighten me on the world of cat breeding!

 

[Maxy24]

This is something I've always wondered about since I am picky about cats and really LOVE the Siamese personality. But cat breeders dont seem to have many goals...at least none they can prove. I think if I were a cat breeder I'd get therapy pet certifications, do therapy work with them, and use that as proof of good temperaments. There is some cat agility I think, but I dont know if its an organized sport or anything. Only a few breeds tend to have genetic diseases, usually heart issues, so you'd want to look for health testing in those breeds.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

I would find a good person I trust and like their stock, titles or not. I would do that in dogs as well though.

 

[Fran101]

From what I've read responsible cat breeders..
-Sell their kittens at 12 weeks or older.
- Have proper registration paper work for breeds
- Have written health guarantees
-FeLV and FIV negative.
-Offers specific health guarantee against FIP.
- Kittens are S/N or on S/N contracts
- Take kittens back, for any reason

This appears to be a good place to start: http://www.breedlist.com/seekers.html

It would appear that the CFA (Cat fanciers association) is like the AKC equivalent.
http://www.cfainc.org/Client/home.aspx

and they do have a breeder refferal service http://secure.cfa.org/Search.aspx

I peeked around the whole issue when I was looking for a ragdoll kitten (we ended up not going through with it) but it would appear there really are no specific goals other than temperament and relative look. Some breeders show but not showing doesn't carry the same stigma as it does with dogs.

There are also breeders of different "types" that don't seem disliked by others.
AKA: Babydoll persian/Traditional persian. Other types are pretty accepted.. there doesn't seem to be too much beef at all.
Unlike working/show

 

[FG167]

I researched breeders on TICA but I don't know how helpful that would be...I was mainly looking for trends - aka, what to look for in a good breeder. Then I found out a friend that trains GSDs also breeds/shows Bengals and that's what we decided to get. We are getting two kittens from her a week from today. Hers are health tested and she breeds for type and also for temperament. We are a demanding household and need a VERY confident and adaptable kitten to suit and she picked them out for us

 

[skittledoo]

I've been researching into different cat breeders as well since I'm hoping to get a bengal in the future... within the next year or two is the goal range.

Fran pretty much posted some of the biggest things I'm looking for though I am looking for a breeder that health tests their cats since Bengals do have some other health issues that can pop up in the breed. Type is a big factor as well and I want a breeder that will select my kitten for me based on what would be the best fit and not just be a first serve basis with selling their kittens.

 

[Xandra]

Most of the cat breeders I've seen breed for show, are very adamant about speutering and won't allow you to let the cat outdoors.

Then you get the same stupid problems you get in the dog world with Persians that are grotesque and Siamese that look distorted (albeit still interesting looking in their own way).

If you look at "babydoll Persians" and "traditional Siamese" and such, you'll find breeders that breed for beautiful pets, but not for show, because ridiculously enough they can't compete against the bastardizations in the show ring. I haven't paid attention to the proportions of BYB-sounding (no health tests) breeders in either category but I'd be leaning toward this latter category, myself.

I don't think that really answered your question, so I'll just say that in all of my looking at cats I haven't seen any bred for some sort of activity, and many breeders don't even seem to emphasize good pet-qualities.

I'd like to see someone breed cats with lots of "rodent-drive" that were decidedly unbirdy. And were bred to be really neat pets and look some special way. I might pay $800-1200 for one bred like that.

 

[Fran101]

All the cat breeders I've seen show, are very adamant about speutering and won't allow you to let the cat outdoors.

I'd like to see someone breed cats with lots of "rodent-drive" that were decidedly unbirdy. And were bred to be really neat pets and look some special way. I might pay $800-1200 for one bred like that.

I think breeding special rodent cats would be awesome! It's a shame how many cats these days can't kill a mouse!

 

[Xandra]

I think breeding special rodent cats would be awesome! It's a shame how many cats these days can't kill a mouse!

I know right!! And to think there are cats out there who LIVE to take out rats!! And it would be great if you could get them to leave birds alone as well.

 

[Snark]

A friend of mine has a Tonkinese, of which the traditional Siamese points/blue eyes are part of the accepted breed colors. She also has a rescue Siamese mix, (he was turned into the shelter because he stopped matching the owner's decor - seriously!) and a European Burmese. She enjoys going to cat shows, and I've gone on occasion to cheer her and her cats on. Some shows do have a small agility course set up for cats/owners to run, which is scored on obstacles completed and time. It's more of a fun thing, rather than a serious competition.

The traditional applehead Siamese are now being called Thai cats and are being accepted by TICA in championship classes. I would suggest your friend go to some cat shows and talk to the competitors for breeder recommendations. Most of the good cat breeders are extremely choosy about the people buying their cats (even pet quality) and will have similar contracts as dog breeders. They don't want their cats winding up with unscrupulous people anymore than responsible dog breeders.

P.S. My friend's Tonk is a fierce mouser, all 6 lbs of her.

 

[joce]

Cat shows are amazing! Funny, but amazing!

My Siamese is from show breeding lines and not that funky traditional looking thin face.

Also had Balinese (sp) girl.


I bred as my senior FFA project. My male Siamese is 17 now. All the kittens still good and well. He's fixed now.

 

[sillysally]

I think breeding special rodent cats would be awesome! It's a shame how many cats these days can't kill a mouse!

There is actually a rescue in the area that specifically adopts out cats that are experienced mousers for barns or inside/outside pest control. I think it's a great idea-a good barn cat is hard to find!

 

[Grab]

Both of my Persians are rescues/from the pound, but if I were going to go to a breeder (which I would do) I'd look for FeLV/FIV testing, as much health testing as possible, and my comfort level with the breeder. Years ago I almost adopted a retired show cat from a breeder and that's what I looked for at the time.

 

[Laurelin]

I was going to say look for a Thai breeder or an 'applehead'/traditional siamese breeder.

 

[Tahla9999]

I guess I'm one of the few who actually like the slender Siamese look, but I have read of the health problems that occurred to achieve that look. I prefer smooth hair, slender cats in general, and I'm determine to own a sphynx cat one day.

As far as breeding standards, you have show standard as well as those breeders who health test their stock. There are people who do cat agility with their cats though.

 

[Maxy24]

I like the slender look too, in everything except the head/ears. The moderns have tiny heads with huge ears and I prefer something more proportional. But I love a thin sleek body with very smooth fur. So I dont really like most modern Siamese or most Appleheads, I like something in between.

 

[stardogs]

Why not rescue? When I worked at a shelter we had a decent number of Siamese come into the shelter - often because they were "too vocal".

 

[Michiyo-Fir]

Why not rescue? When I worked at a shelter we had a decent number of Siamese come into the shelter - often because they were "too vocal".

I've never seen a Siamese in our local shelter, it's about half tabbies and half black cats that no one seems to want

This is all just so confusing. It seems impossible to tell if someone is breeding good pets with health test or just for money or what. Since cats don't go out like dogs do and don't have activities like sports how does anyone even meet people to recommend breeders. It's a very different world compared to the dog world at least to me, but then again I know nothing about cats

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

Why not rescue? When I worked at a shelter we had a decent number of Siamese come into the shelter - often because they were "too vocal".

My mom Siamese was a vet rescue from a client who couldn't afford their bills. I found her on CL.

 

[sillysally]

Come to think of it, my best friend in school had a Siamese that her mom found outside her work. She was a gorgeous cat and lived many years, and she wasn't the very willowy body type that many Siamese are.