The answers to that question are probably as varied as the breeders themselves, and usually a summation of the breeder's journey from cat lover to breed lover to breeder.
But have you ever been asked "WHY do you breed?" I am certain that we have all asked ourselves (usually after standing vigil over sick kittens, or cleaning up the aftermath of a particularly bad case of diarrhea) "WHY am I doing this?" We probably never actually ask ourselves why we breed. What keeps us involved with this hobby, despite the various hardships and heartaches that we have had and know that we will encounter again?
Our annual "Breeding" issue seemed to be a good venue to explore this question, and I sent out a series of messages to breeders. I cannot say that I am surprised by the answers that I received; actually, many of them mirrored my own feelings. Still, reflecting on the "why" of something gives clarity, and helps to point us in a direction for the future.
Preservation Breeding
Several breeders responded that because they cherish their chosen breed, they began breeding to preserve and to grow the breed. RagaMuffin breeder Sara Thornton (iCandy cattery) replied that "I bred and exhibited Labrador Retrievers for 25 years. I got my first pedigreed cat, a RagaMuffin, after about 21 years of the Labs. The cat show bug bit me hard. I ran into fertility issues with my small Lab program, so decided to pursue being an AKC judge and show and breed only cats. I love my young breed. It is a work of art in progress. As a veterinarian, I appreciate the health of the breed; as a cat lover, I appreciate the wonderful temperament and the sweet expression. Breeding RagaMuffins to develop consistency in type and maintain the health and good nature of the breed is a challenging balancing act."
Denne historien er fra February 2023-utgaven av Cat Talk.
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Denne historien er fra February 2023-utgaven av Cat Talk.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Checklist For What to Look For in Your Club's Next Show Venue
Show Manager To Ring One, Please
Tonkinese
When You're Well and Truly Tonked
AVOIDING The Kitten Fear Period
Young kittens seem fearless.4 As soon as those eyes open and they can get their legs under them, they are off to see the world if their mama and humans let them.
No Milk For You!
Milk Issues and Kittens
Fostering Kittens
When asked if I would be interested in fostering a queen and her eight newborn kittens, I volunteered without question.
Do You present ? Polish! OR DO YOU
IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS!
No Kitten! Cats Are Part of the Military!
Felines have graced the decks of boats and ships back nearly to the beginning of time, roaming freely on passenger ships, war vessels, and merchant schooners, keeping vermin at bay.
Feline Summer Movie Fun!
School is almost OUT! Huzzah! But raindrops are plunking against the window, the amusement and water parks haven’t opened yet, camping is out, and roasted hot dogs and S’mores are another month away.
Kittens Are Special...
...and so are some of the show rules for them:
Genetic Pleiotropy and the Risks in Breeding Recessive Mutations
Nearly everyone loves what’s rare and unique. A slight defect in the minting process of a coin can create a demand and a value well beyond the face value of the coin. The coin is functionally no different than its perfectly minted counterpart, but its scarcity and uniqueness alone make it more desirable than the rest.
