1. Selection Of Breeding Stock
Animals should be
- Healthy
- Of good temperament
- Of lines free from any known genetic fault
- Not displaying any generally accepted genetic fault
2. General Care of Breeding Stock
- Entire female cats must NOT roam free unless under supervision.
- Calling females must NOT roam free
- Entire male cats must NOT roam free
All cats must:
- Be groomed and handled daily
- Be given a balanced and varied diet
- Be housed in hygienic conditions
- Be provided with hygienic toilet facilities which are kept clean and disinfected regularly
- Have food and water bowls which are changed at least once daily
- Receive prompt veterinary attention if and when required
- Be vaccinated in accordance with the current veterinary advice
- Be treated on a regular basis for internal and external parasites, in accordance with the current veterinary advice
3. Minimum Dietary Requirements
Cats should be fed a varied diet except on veterinary advice to the contrary.
Guidelines are:
- Raw meat (no preservatives)
- Kidney, heart, raw liver (nor more than once per week)
- Cooked and boned fish, chicken, rabbit
- Tinned food
- Cheese, cottage cheese, egg yolk
- Dried food
- FRESH WATER MUST ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE
- Adult cats should be offered food twice per day
4. Minimum Housing Requirements
- Outdoor units must protect cats from rain, wind, extreme heat and cold and must be partially enclosed to provide sheltered sleeping area.
- Units must be escape proof and maintained to avoid injury
- The structure to be non-porous or coated with non-toxic materials to facilitate proper cleaning
- Units must be kept clean
- Cleaning and disinfecting agents should be used only in the recommended concentrations.
Where a disinfectant solutions has been applied, the area should be allowed to dry before
the cat is allowed to return, as some solutions can be absorbed through the skin/paw pads.
PHENOLS MUST NEVER BE USED!
- Minimum cage size for a single cat confined at night time only, or for no longer than 8 hours is 1200mm x 400mm x 600mm
- Minimum permanent unit size for a single adult cat is 1600mm x 1600mm x 1950mm
- Minimum permanent unit size for 2 to 4 cats is 3600mm x 2400mm x 1950mm, no more than 4 cats to be housed on a permanent basis
in a unit this size, as cats are territorial animals and overcrowding causes undue stress
- Cats housed in units within homes, garages, etc must have access to sunshine and such areas must be well ventilated
- Where cats are permanently confined to units, adequate scratching facilities and high level shelving must be provided
5. Care Of The Pregnant Queen and Kittening
- Queens shall not be overbred. A maximum of two (2) litters per twelve (12) months is recommended
- All breeders must familiarize themselves with kittening process prior to breeding a litter
- Food amounts must be increased to the queen as pregnancy progresses or as the queen requires
- Ensure an adequate supply of calcium during pregnancy and lactation
- Provide a clean, adequately sized box and bedding at least 1 week prior to expected kittening
- Assist the kittening process where necessary
- Queens must not be left in unproductive labour for more than 2 hours before seeking veterinary advice
- Once all kittens are born, replace bedding/box and change bedding at least every 2 days
- Queen and kittens must be kept in a draught free but well ventilated area
- Check the queen daily for undue bleeding and signs of mastitis
- Seek veterinary advice on sickly or deformed kittens
- Eyes should be checked daily in small kittens and if eye infections occur, veterinary treatment must be sought
6. Kitten Care and Weaning
- Kittens shall not be taken away from their mother until such time as they are fully weaned, or upon veterinary advice
- Between 4 to 6 weeks kittens may be introduced to suitable solid foods such as cereal, baby food (chicken, fish broth), specially prepared commercial kitten food
- Between 6-12 weeks kittens may be introduced to finely chopped or minced meat (not hamburger mince), chicken or rabbit, grated cheese, cottage cheese, egg yolk, tinned food
- Provide litter trays suitable for kittens, i.e. shallow as soon as kittens are mobile
- Kittens shall be fed a minimum of 3 times per day until 3-4 months of age and thereafter twice per day
- Kitten quarters shall be safe to avoid injury from falling
- Kittens shall be vaccinated in accordance with current veterinary advice
- Kittens must be treated on a regular basis for internal parasites in accordance with current veterinary advice
7. Sale Of Kittens
- No Kitten may be sold under the age of 10 weeks and preferably not until 12 weeks of age
- Kittens sold under 10-12 weeks cannot be fully vaccinated and it is the breeder's responsibility
to ensure that the new owners are provided with current vaccination records and fully informed of the requirements
- Kittens shall be healthy, fully weaned and litter trained
- No kitten with an infectious disease shall be sold or placed
- Breeder shall provide purchasers with a diet, grooming and care information
- Pedigree may be supplied but in the case of PET ONLY this may be with-held until proof of desexing is supplied to the breeder's satisfaction
- It is not recommended that cats/kittens be sold to commercial cat wholesalers or retail pet dealers
- Cats/Kittens may not be given as a prize or donation for a contest of any kind, or be advertised as a giveaway
- A breeder shall not misrepresent the characteristics of the breed, nor falsely advertise or mislead any person regarding
the pedigree or performance of any kitten on the show bench or as a pet
- Any kitten sold as breeding stock shall only be sold to a registered breeder
8. Care Of the Stud Cat
- Quarters must be a roomy as possible with the minimum size being 2100mm x 2100mm x 1950mm with an area set aside within the enclosure for the introduction of visiting queens
- Quarters shall be kept clean in order to keep odour to a minimum
- Climbing and scratching facilities must be provided, plus a high shelf for the stud to retreat to after a mating. Studs require plenty of companionship both human and feline.
On a daily basis, some time should be spent grooming and handling the stud. A feline companion such as a desexed cat mat be beneficial
- Each stud must have individual quarters
- Current vaccination certificates must be sighted before accepting a visiting queen
- Visiting queens should be examined for cleanliness and state of health prior to introduction to the stud
- Matings shall only be accepted for cats owned by registered breeders
- Queens should be permitted to remain with the stud for a reasonable time after mating and not be removed from the stud quarters before a minimum of three (3) matings have been witnessed
8. Disposal Of Stock
- It is the breeder's responsibility to desex all stock on longer required for breeding. Desexed former breeding stock may be found homes.
Creating overcrowding within the cattery should be avoided
- No cat or kitten shall be excessively passed around. They may not be leased, loaned or sold in total more than 3 times.
It is the owner's responsibility to ascertain the acceptability of the new owner's (lessee, borrower, buyer) premises and standard of care before the cat is relocated
- No person may advertise a cattery sell-out
- All breeders must be registered with an approved Governing Cat Control Body
- No person may knowingly intermate two breed groups without having applied to a recognized governing body and having been granted an experimental license to do so.
This list of FAQs is also available for download in .doc format
here