Absolutely certain.
I have been considering it for a couple of months now, but had to
think carefully because of the financial ramifications.

I honestly didn't realise how overcrowded the cat world is.

I guess over in the UK we don't think about these things so much
because most of our Shelters have no kill policies, don't they?

I was so busy living in my personal space thinking of the good that I
was doing for the local cat-community, that I didn't take the time to
look at the wider issue here.

In ways I am a little sad about it because I loved what I did.

However, when it came to the weighing up which do you prefer bit?(IE:
breeding kittens, or helping out our local flea-Bags, there isn't very
much to consider really)...

I will miss some aspects of it, but on the whole, I know already which
of the two gives me a better buzz.

Both Tazy & Biffy are booked in tomorrow morning to have the snip.
(My poor vet thought I had taken leave of my senses & told me to
reconsider -But there is nothing to reconsider.

The breeding cats have more than made their contribution, & I now feel
that it is time to allow them to do what they would preferred than I
would prefer.

That was part of the reason for my posting regarding
"Can you train a Tom Cat not to pee everywhere?"

I had a friend asking me the same question & I wanted to know too?
I would love to be able to bring our boys indoors, but if it isn't
possible, we will have to try stud pants out I suppose. Either way,
they are too precious friends to abandon now that they are coming into
retirement.

You are spot on about the 3legged flea-Bags, with one eye & probably
an entire colony of ticks & tape worms, & it would seem that I had
better invest in a trap too as It seems that we sorely need one;I
borrowed the last one that I used to trap Lucy(fur!).

Lucy(Fur!) has tuned out to be a wonderful delight. I am so pleased
that some of you talked me out of homing her...I think Tilly, my
daughter would have left home (aged 10!), had I gone through with it,
lol:o)
She sits in the front garden waiting for Tilly to come home from
school every day & often tries to follow her there in the morning's
think that Lucy(Fur!) has established the fact that she is now second
in command;second only to Lilly, who believes she is a goddess,
herself..Lilly is a seal point birman, but should have been born a
3legged dominant flea bag  herself...

So one era ends, as another one begins I guess.
Think of me tomorrow though...
not for giving up breeding, just for the worry of them being knacked.
I hate it when they have to go under anaesthetic:o(

Hope you like the updates, Lucy is lovely!! >"o"<

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/sheelaghmadden/LucyFurUpDate

I think Sheelagh was sharing a quote.
I could be wrong.

you could have given us some warning of what we were going to see,
that is just dreadful! where was that taken? out the back of a rescue
shelter i assume, one where they kill unwanted animals after a certain
time.

I feel so sad, what have any of these animals done to be treated like
this and then have their little lives snuffed out, all any of them
wanted was to have a safe home and a warm lap to curl up on and to
give lots of love and friendship in return, I feel so pathetic and
rubbish now

bookie

Thank you for the photo Phil.
I am ever so pleased that you did post it. If there was any doubt in
my mind regarding giving up breeding, you put them to rest.

After looking at it several times, & allowing the children to view it
too, it certainly put my mind into perspective.

I found it shocking & horrifying, & felt that I had to sit down &
consider its content before posting again.

I wish that there was a bit more of this shock factor over here to be
honest. Although I found it disturbing, it was abundantly clear that
we don't see the full picture over here. Whether it is because we have
quite a high no kill policy in the UK, or whether it is because they
feel that the content is too disturbing, I am not sure - what was
clear, was that it made both dogs and cats appear to be disposable,
which is a terrible thought and an even worse sight.

At any time in the last few months, you could have landed that photo
on me & I would have deserved it fully-Yet you chose not to, for which
I truly am grateful.

You allowed me to draw my own conclusion from debate & simply
honesty. It might have taken me a little while to reach this point,
but even a blind a.s can see that I was a hypocrite.

I tried to justify selling pedigree cats, claiming that I was doing
it in the name of helping our community cats, (which was/is truth, I
was, but it doesn't retract from the fact that It hypocritical when
you get down to brass tacks, does it?)
Better to learn late, than never I guess, hey?

I might have less cash to help them, but I still feel that we have
something to offer the local feline population, even if it is simply a
night out of the cold, or shelter for mother cats and her kittens
which may only need socializing before re homing them.

One big plus side to giving up breeding, is that I am going to have
some free cat pens to put to use if we need them to house sick older
cats, injured one's, or mother and kittens should they require them
too
.
I have a very good vet, who never questions what I do (other than when
she thinks I have taken leave of my senses, lol!!)... Who always
treats our sick felines in their time of need, then allows me to
settle my bill as soon as I am able to... & we have a wonderful society
over here that helps the not so flush spay & neuter any cat that you
bring to them at half the original cost. I only have to pay around $30
to do a male, & slightly higher for a female $40.Because I take quite
a few of them to her, she gives me a bit of discount too which is
helpful.

Educating the people is fundamental in cases such as my own. I was
wondering - Do you have a web site at all?
If so, I think that us newy's in the group might benefit from seeing
it, if only to educate us about the truth of today's disposable
society?

Looking at the photo that you posted was truly heart breaking & also
frankly shocking too!!

It made my decision all the easier, but accumulating information when
you are trying to embark on rescuing, is very hard to find, so If you
could give any pointers, they would be more than appreciated please?

Any information would be helpful come to that, from all of you if you
have the time to post it, or e-mailing, please?
I know it is not going to be easy, but the most things that are
worthwhile do take time and patience, don't they?
I have one more litter of kittens to rear, and then all of my breeding
days are over.
It is far too late in the day to regret that now, so I shall allow
her to have her kittens, and then take her to be spayed as soon as she
is dry.
Tomorrow, I am having the boys neutered, the following day the girls
are going. I worry about the anaesthetic, but it is far less worrying
than multiple litters.

Thanks for sharing the photo with us. However shocking it was, it was
better to see the truth than talk about it in ignorance
S

Congratulations! This is a hard decision to make, but you did make the
right one, spread the word to other breeders you feel may be in need
of advice! After seeing some of the sad posts on here, this makes me
smile, you are a great *mom* congrats!

I am really happy to hear this, too.

-

I hope so.

My stud cats were neutered today, & my queens are due to be spayed
tomorrow..all except one who is due kittens any moment now.
It wasn't an impulsive decision.I have devoted a hell of a lot of
thought towards it, not least because it was my livelihood!!

It was a big decision to make, but I don't regret it at all.
In the UK, I am able/allowed to be unemployed whilst my kids still
attend school, so it would make sense to combine my passion with some
schooling whilst I can, because it would government funded.
As long as I can make a case that I want to do the education to enter
gainful employment at the end of it, then I get eduction funded for
me. It makes sense to use the time I have left, to do something
useful, because I am more than just a mother, & I have a life to live
after my kids finish their schooling & leave home

In a way, the skills that I learnt as a breeder are simply a prelude
to my new career as a rescuer.
I would say that on average, I am brought around 8 mothers & litters a
year, so those skills won't be wasted.
I have so much more to learn, but I look forward to the challenge....

I have also been doing my homework & found out that there is a course
that I can get on to fairly near by, in Cambridge(UK), as an Animal
technician.

The first year is devoted to animal husbandry in general, then in the
2nd year, you get to choose a specific species to concentrate on from
there .
However, in this instance I would be accepted with a reference from my
previous employer & also a reference from the shelter that I work for
too.
I would also be required to study English, Maths, & Biology to Gcse
standard(leaving school equivalent exams@ year 11) in the first year
also.

It is a lot to think about, but I would like to do it.
I have no illusions about how hard it would be, & I wouldn't be able
to start until September of this year either.

It gives me the chance to think about whether I could cope with the
work load & also whether I could dedicate myself to so much study
too.If I do go for it, then I think that I would get all the family
support that I would need...

OTH,If I decide that it is too much, then I will just go as far as the
shorter course in husbandry for 2 years.
It would be enough to allow me to become a veterinary nurse or some
other job within the same industry..

I couldn't really ask for a better job.It would combine a career with
my hobby too, & be a job that I could walk straight into as soon as I
want to after completion.

I have had a mixed response from fellow breeders.Some think I am mad,
others are supportive..But in the end, it is what I think that
matters, & I think I have made the right decision here.
I copied and pasted the link photo that Phil posted on here, regarding
not enough room in the world for so many cats, & I had a really
interesting result..

Mostly I got got good feed back, but a few people thought that I was
trying to emotionally blackmail them?!!!
I didn't do it for that reason at all, I did it to show them that what
we were doing was wrong.
As they say, you live, and you learn.
Plenty to think about, hey?

Thanks for the support
S;o)

Thank you Rhonda, Cyber,Jedichica, &Lynne-In fact all of you... I
appreciated your sentiment & words of encouragement

I've just picked both boys up from the vets & they are awake, but not
very energetic as yet..but like fine other than that.

My vet has used surgical glue to close them up.
No going back now, but I don't regret it for one moment..
Both of the boys are indoors until I feel satisfied that they have
peed , opened their bowels, & are drinking and eating too...

I am now also watching my mother Ragdoll like a hawk because she has
been in & out of her birthing box all morning.
Her kittens are due today, so I am hoping that she has them.(Belle)

I'm sitting here nibbling my finger nails..
This is a little bit too much excitment for me,lol

What an eventful day it will have been if she does!
S;o)