I'm sorry you have misunderstood me, these are pedigree cats which are loved
pets, I bought  Min, my Oriental Blue from a woman with 20 yrs. experience
of breeding Orientals with the sure intention of breeding from her. I am not
some irresponsible cat owner who just lets her cats breed and add to the
already overpopulated cat world. Mins breeder is well known and highly
respected in the "cat world" here in the UK. I show my Havana and now Min
also. I know what I am doing. I am just new to breeding - that's all.

I have kept cats for 20 yrs. just moggies who were always neutered at six
months, until a few years ago when two died of old age (14 and 12 yrs
respectively) and I fell in love with Orientals. I used to foster for the
Cats Protection League too. I show and now intend to breed, responsibly. I
am a member of several UK cat clubs (Havana & Oriental Lilac, Coventry and
Leics, Transpennine Siamese and Oriental, Humberside, and Lincolnshire) and
my kittens will be registered with the GCCF. Both my cats have excellent
pedigrees, with Grand Champions and Champions in their genes, both are
registered with the GCCF.

Please read postings properly before you sound off. I am not an idiot. This
is pedigree cats of great value we are talking about. There are people out
there who want kittens an I will make them sign contracts affirming that
they will return the cats to me should they not be able to keep them at any
time, plus do vetting of prospective buyers, including home visits where
practical. I have been a devoted owner of cats for years. I am simply new to
having breeding queens around, that's all. I have asked Mins breeder what to
do and she suggested knitting a jacket for her. I cant knit for toffee,
hence why I posted this request for advice.

In vetting prospective owners I will ascertain for example their lifestyle
and other pets at home, Orientals should not be lone cats, nor left for long
periods of time alone. All these things have to be checked out when selling
Oriental kittens.

Please please, don't jump up on your soapbox to someone like me who is new
to the group and is a totally devoted and knowledgeable cat owner. I may
well even know more about cats than you do. For example I travel 20 miles to
a vet for my cats rather than use the local one because the others are
better.

In peace and goodwill,
Samantha

Thankyou Carola - that is really handy piece of advice!

However, see my reply to JacqueO, Min is a very lovely pedigree and she may
well like having one litter a year for a few years until she retires from
breeding. Then she will be a much loved pet for the rest of her life.

Thanks again,
Samantha

Dear Sherry,

thanks for your reply, but see my first reply for a fuller explanation.

Further, I didn't explain but I am also involved with the genetic
development of the pure Havana line and will also be breeding to those ends
in the future, along with several other enthusiasts of this breed from the
Havana and Oriental CC. Mins breeder has been breeding Orientals for over 20
years and she is very supportive of my plans to breed from Min, as are many
other members of the club. She is also in the Cat Clubs and is a very
respected person on the breeding and showing scene here. At Mins first show
she was next to her sister, her mum and half sister were there also being
shown by the lady who bred her. Some people do want Oriental cats, I love
them, and wholly intend to be a responsible and loving owner, shower, and
breeder of these delightful pusscats for many years to come. With my boy
Havana - he was *not* on the active register when I got him, and he was
neutered at six months old. Min, my Oriental Blue was bought with the open
intention of breeding and is on the GCCF *active* register and was sold to
me as such.

She may be infertile and never mother kittens, she is too young to try yet.
If so, fine, she will always be a dearly loved pet and the boss of the whole
household - as she was from day 1 when we got her! I am the sort of person
who gets pet sitters in when I go on holiday, I don't buy a house unless it
is a suitable location for my cats to enjoy. I have a large sunny enclosed
area where they can go out - it cost a fortune - but they are happy. I don't
have kids and am utterly devoted to cats. I used to foster for the CPL and
have rehomed many unwanted cats over the years. I am just new to breeding,
we all have to start somewhere. Orientals are popular, but if no-one wants
my kittens then they will stay with me, and god forbid if anyone ever
mistreats an animal around me. Mins mother has had 32 kittens over her
lifetime, she is a champion and is in great shape. She roams the hills of
Derbyshire when not calling - as her breeder lives out in the countryside. I
am sure her kittens all have super homes as her breeder is very particular.
I had to give references before she sold to me and upon buying my first
pedigree cat I was vetted with great scrutiny by the breeder. I provided
photos of my previous cats lolling on the bed and details of my vet and such
like to prove I am a responsible loving pet owner.

Look, there wouldn't be any pedigree cats if all breeders banned all buyers
from breeding from their kittens. I am well known in the cat world here and
people are very happy with what I am proposing to do. I just wanted some
constructive advice to help protect my little girl from some neck hold
bites - which are entirely natural in the cat species - and yes, I do bathe
the area with saline. Its just nature taking its course.

Will people please stop jumping down my throat for asking a very straight
forward question?

A little exasperated now, and probably never post to this highly judgemental
group again. Despite that I also have quite a lot of experience and fun
anecdotes to share too.
Sam