Starting as a new pedigree cat breeder can be really stressful. Of course, you want to do the right thing, and breed in the most ethical practices. This usually starts you off on the search to find information, and even a mentor. As a newbie, you could run into the struggle of finding a mentor that isn’t completely controlling of you and what happens in your cattery.
When I first started as a pedigree cat breeder, I found myself in the same situation. I met a woman at a cat show who offered to take me under her wing. I soon found out just how bad she wanted to control my cattery, including how my males were housed, what cats I bought, what they looked like, who they came from, who they mated with. These are all personal choices you should make as a cat breeder. Your mentor should be there to guide you, not control you.
In your search for information, you may also find yourself in Facebook Groups full of other cat breeders of all experience levels. They can be a great place to get help and advice, but are also filled with incredibly hateful, mean and unsupportive breeders that are not looking to help you. I have seen too many instances of new breeders getting their ass reamed for asking a simple question to help deal with a hard situation. This is terrible for your mindset as a new breeder and I’ve seen many breeders QUIT as a result of vicious behavior from other breeders in these groups.
This experience is common; you may even be facing the same problems when trying to learn about pedigree cat breeding.
Find A Supportive Group Of Breeders
Instead, you need to find a group that will openly and freely help you address any situation you may run into, and that you will be safe to ask the hard questions and be met with people who are genuinely looking to help you and guide you through this journey. You need to surround yourself with support and kindness, which is exactly what you’ll find in the No Judgement Zone Pedigree Cat Breeder Community. It’s a place where breeders can find encouragement and reliable advice without fear of judgment.
In this podcast episode, I’m going to give you some of the best advice you could possibly get as a new breeder on the scene.
