How To Spot A Bad Cat Breeder

How To Spot A Bad Cat Breeder

I hate to say it, but there are a few breeders out there that have despicable breeding practices and are just plain evil. Yes, this is a strong statement to make, but you must know that not all people who claim to be “professional breeders” are as they seem. There are some people out there that are only concerned with the fast buck and who cannot even provide the basic essentials and needs of their animals. The good news is that these types of people are easy to spot and can be avoided. 

Most of these bad breeders that I am referring to do not think that they are being non-caring or poor breeders, they are just uneducated and uninformed as to the proper etiquette and lifestyle that a professional breeder is supposed to maintain. At some point in their life they saw a moneymaking opportunity with selling pets and decided to take advantage of it. You can spot a lot of these types of breeders, or what I call backyard breeders, who sell in major newspapers and on Internet ads. They will make claims of pure pedigree cats available but their prices will be insanely low. 

What these people do not realize is that most of these cats that they are selling are being provided to other uneducated people who are just looking for a nice pet (at a cheap cost) but will end up giving this pet away or placing the animal in a shelter.

Kittens and adult cats that are sold at cheap dollar will also end up obtaining some sort of illness or virus because they are not being raised in a proper environment by pet owners who have passions for their animals. Keep in mind that these are not bad people or bad pet owners, they just do not understand the scope of what it takes to raise a healthy cat, or any other animal for that matter. 

Below is a list of red flags that should give you the signal to walk away from a breeder: 

1. The breeder has no participation in showing cats. Your odds of getting a high-quality purebred are much higher if you are dealing with the breeder that takes pride in showing his or her cats. This proves that the breeder has a commitment to their passion. 

2. The breeder lacks particular knowledge of the breed. This should be common sense but some people do not ask the right questions and cannot discover whether the breeder is truly educated about the bloodline or not. If the person does not know the history, the standard, or other information about the breed then they should be avoided. 

3. The breeder denies your request to meet the other cats from the litter or allowing you to see where the animals were raised. This is a big red flag that should go up in your head when you request these items. Should a person refused to allow you to see the litter or the grounds in which they are raised, then it is obvious they are maintaining a dirty environment and/or are in possession of diseased and sick cats.

You should choose another breeder immediately.

By Teri Champigny

Cat Breeds

Cat Breeds

The many breeds of cats vary greatly in appearance. Cat breeders have developed numerous breeds by se­lectively mating animals with certain desirable and distinctive characteristics. These characteristics appear consistently in the offspring of purebred cats. A pure­bred cat is one whose mother and father belong to the same breed. The offspring of cats that have mated ran­domly are known as crossbreds or alley cats. 

Many people prefer the special features of a certain breed of cats. For example, such purebreds as the Abys­sinian and the Birman are among the most beautiful and unusual animals in the world. But crossbreds may be just as beautiful and lovable as purebreds. 

Certain associations officially recognize cat breeds and establish standards for the ideal characteristics of each breed. However, different cat associations recog­nize different breeds, and breed standards also vary somewhat. In the United States, cat breeds are com­monly divided into two major groups: short-haired breeds and long-haired breeds. 

Short haired breeds. 

Most cat associations in the United States commonly recognize 10 short-haired breeds. They are the Abyssinian, American shorthair, Burmese, Havana brown, Japanese bobtail, Korat, Manx, Rex, Russian blue, and Siamese. 

Abyssinian is a slender, muscular, medium-sized cat with a long, tapering tail. Aby cats, as they are some­times called, have a rounded, wedge shaped head and large, pointed ears. Their almond-shaped eyes may be green or gold. These cats are known for their melodic voices and their agouti coat pattern, which is common in wild animals. Each hair of an Aby's soft coat has two or three bands of alternating light and dark colors. The coat may have red and chocolate bands, or reddish-brown and black or dark brown bands. 

Abyssinians have been bred in Ethiopia (formerly called Abyssinia) for thousands of years. Many people believe the quiet, graceful Aby is descended directly from the sacred cats of ancient Egypt 

American shorthair, also called the domestic shorthair, is the best known breed of cats. American shorthairs resemble many alley cats but are purebreds. The American shorthair is a muscular, medium to large sized animal. Its large head features full cheeks; a broad, squarish muzzle; large, round eyes, and rounded, medium-sized ears. The coat and eyes may be any color. The breed probably developed from cats originally brought to the American Colonies by Europeans. The British shorthair is similar to the American shorthair but is stockier and has a thicker coat. 

Breed Organizations 

Recognition and acceptance of a breed usually must come from an established group of cat fanciers. Groups of breeders and other persons interested in showing cats have formed organizations to establish rules for shows and standards by which cats can be judged at the shows. They also keep stud books and validate the registration papers needed for purebred cats. In most countries there is only one organization that acts as the governing body. 

In the United States, there are many, each of which sets its own judging standards and rules. The two largest of these are the Cat Fanciers' Association, Inc., and the American Cat Fanciers Association. In Canada the governing body is the Canadian Cat Association. 

In most parts of the United States there are many organizations to which persons interested in cats may belong. Some of these are affiliated with national associations, but many arc strictly local clubs that invite the participation of anyone in the neighborhood. Membership in the large clubs usually consists chiefly of breeders and owners of purebred cats. Such organizations serve as clearinghouses for disseminating information about specific breeds, giving members’ advice about breeding methods, and helping establish standards for breeds. 

Most of the organizations conduct shows in which competitions for champion ships are held. Cat fanciers take their animals to vie with others in their breed or class for top honors. No purebred cats may also be shown in the household-pet class. These cat shows are extremely popular, and in a large one there may be more than a thousand cats entered for competition.

How Funny Cats Deal With Human Beings

How Funny Cats Deal With Human Beings

Cats are fascinating creatures. If you have read the famous Just-So story by Rudyard Kipling, entitled 'The Cat That Walked By Himself', you will appreciate the diversity of the feline character. One minute they are full of love - rubbing all over you and purring, and the next minute they are untouchable, cool and aloof. Here's what funny cats think about humans!

When you get sick, your human will take you to a vet. This is a nasty person who works in a place that stinks. When you see the cat carrier being taken out of the cupboard, run and hide in the garden. Your owner will catch you but you must put up a good fight when she or he puts you in the carrier.

On the way to the vet, meow as loudly as possible. If you can, put your claws through the carrier's bars and scratch the human. When you arrive at the vet, push yourself as far back in the carrier as you can. Also splay your legs out. They will really battle to get you out.

When you return home, your owners will try and give you medicine. Bolt when you hear the pill bottle rattling. When they try to force your mouth open, wriggle out of their clutches. Somehow they will get the pill in, but you've still got a trick up your sleeve - throw up on chair. For an even better result, a Persian rug would be preferable.

Waking up a sleeping human is a great game. Leap onto the bed and trample all over him or her while purring and meowing sweetly. If this doesn't work, try something more drastic. Clatter the blinds, knock over some pictures or sharpen your claws robustly on the bed. You will eventually win!

When your owners have guests, you must quickly detect the person who hates cats. Hop onto this lap as fast as you can. The guest who proclaims a love for cats should be completely shunned. Be aloof and unfriendly as they make stupid sounds to call you over. If this person continues, you might have to sharply nip his or her ankle. Be sure to follow every guest into the toilet and stare intently at them.

Finally, there will be times when you want to express your love for your owners. You can do this by presenting them with a disemboweled rodent, garden snake or a rodent. The expressions on their faces will show their appreciation. See just how funny cats can be! Lovers of all things cat and humorous, should spend a while enjoying a funny cat video.