No purebred cat is “just a pet”.
Behind every purebred cat is a BREEDER. I’m using capital letters to differentiate a breeder from a pet factory or kitty mill. A reputable breeder does not breed cats without a legit pedigree, which does not protect the integrity of the breed. No, I will not give you a kitten for cheaper without a pedigree! Pedigrees are records of the lineage that document bloodline and allow one to research any possible health issues present in the bloodline. When you tell a Breeder you don’t care about the pedigree, what you’re really telling them is that you couldn’t care less about the health of the cat. To me, that shows you just want the cheapest pretty cat you can find. When you decide to buy a cat from a reputable and quality breeder, this breeder is responsible for the health of every cat; both cats owned and every cat they’ve sold.
When you tell a Breeder you don't need the pedigree, what you're really telling them is that you don't have respect for all the Breeder's hard work and sacrifice. This breeder will skip holidays, miss sleeping, spend savings, and most of their personal house space has been turned into the best living space for their cats. The truly passionate breeder who loves what they breed, puts their whole heart and soul into it. Not only in their kittens that are sold, but also in each client who owns a piece of their heart and is now a member of their extended family. This does not take into account any kitten/cat who might get sick or need extra help to thrive. Breeders worry about their babies after they leave and will take one back whenever necessary without question.
A passionate breeder will get their hands dirty, often covered in everything accompanied with birthing. Because that’s what this life is about. In the middle of birth and death is life. The wheel that keeps turning. A breeder pays for general tests, blood tests, DNA tests, echos, x-rays/scans, analysis, emergency c sections, CPR, vaccinations, registering litters, applying pedigrees, deworming, microchipping, evaluations by specialists as well as neuter/spay before leaving their home. These procedures are done on all of the kittens and parents at some point.
A Breeder is a second mother when a bio mom fusses oversupplying necessary food and supplements for the newborn. Babies need constant nourishment from day 1 until the day they go home to their new families. For this long duration, kittens are fed special kitten formula, high-quality kitten foods, and proteins. A Mother's love always surpasses the amount of money she spends on nourishment for her babies.
Last but by no means least, a breeder chooses the family blessed enough to spend their life with one of their kittens. Yes, you read that right. A true breeder CHOOSES who they sell/give their babies to because they are not making money off the sale. There is no compensation that can offset the investment a Breeder has made so they need to be confident it's the right fit. Every time. Many times saying no more than saying yes. A good Breeder will have different criteria for those wanting to carry on their bloodline. Why? Because breeding is not a responsibility to ever be taken lightly, it’s a lifestyle choice set aside for ONLY a few devoted people willing to sacrifice.
Because a cat is never “just a pet” it’s the Breeder’s legacy, a little boy’s best friend, a little girl's protector, an elderly person's therapy, a member of the family, someone’s whole world!
~A tribute to reputable Breeders who have also become my friends throughout these years. Thank you for everything you do.
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