WHAT A CATTERY OWNER NEVER SAYS OUT LOUD

🤔 A breeder remains silent about many things. When people admire beautiful photos of cats, they often overlook the immense work and effort that goes into it all. They see cute kittens and assume they were born perfect and plump.

So what exactly are we keeping quiet about?

☝ Every birth is a lottery. While we prepare and hope for the best, every experience can differ from what we expect. Each birth feels like the first, no matter how many you've witnessed.

😒 The scariest aspect for us is death—every death. A cat can die during labor, and we constantly bear the risk in mind. Kittens can also die—newborns and the elderly alike. This is always painful and frightening. Sometimes a mother cat may refuse to feed her kittens, requiring us to bottle-feed them every two hours—not just for a few days, but until they can eat on their own.

👍 Mating with a quality cat can be quite expensive, especially when traveling abroad is involved. But we understand the reasons behind it.

☝Kittens can get sick—from simple diarrhea to more severe infections—and treating them requires significant effort, nerves, and money.

☝ Supplementary feeding is beneficial, but imagine having to feed every three hours, day and night. We stay home smiling, anticipating their growth until we can finally enjoy some freedom.

🤦‍♀️ Everyone loves to calculate our finances: "Four or five kittens multiplied by the price—wow, that’s simple!" But no one considers the expenses we incur: tests, exhibitions, titles, mating, and endless supplies for raising kittens, such as pads, milk, litter, meat, food, vaccinations, and more. People seem to think that kittens grow up on their own without any investment.

Kittens are often waiting for new families while we continue to invest our time and resources in their care. And let’s not forget the costs of advertisements and photo sessions.

😴 Then there are the sleepless nights... We wake up at odd hours or sometimes don’t sleep at all, day after day. It’s consistent hard work with no holidays, weekends, or sick leave.

🤫 And who do you think is raising these babies? Exactly—the breeder, along with the mother cat. Plus, we deal with the tons of waste we clean from the enclosures and the endless disinfection needed, as even a tiny bit of infection brought in on a shoe can wipe out an entire litter.

😬 A breeder often finds it frustrating when people who are unaware of our work ask, "Why is this so expensive?"

😵💫 We’re always concerned about where each kitten ends up. It’s crucial to carefully evaluate potential homes instead of letting them go quickly, only to find that the cat ends up abandoned later. I take my time selecting families, and I won’t hesitate to refuse someone if I don’t feel right about them. Trusting your instincts is vital.

We remain silent about how emotionally tiring this work can be, laden with responsibility and constant pressure. We are fortunate if we have someone to lean on to help share the load.

🤐 Everyone reaches a breaking point, thinking, "That's it. I’m done. I can’t continue breeding." After experiencing stress and loss, a day or two can pass, and you realize that the desire to stop doesn't last. Breeders often feel hopelessly addicted to this vocation.

🙏 A true breeder never openly expresses the grief that comes with losing a cat. We pretend that these years are everlasting, but every loss feels like dying repeatedly. Every breeder has their own breaking point, a moment when they feel unable to bear another loss.

🥰 Of course, there are countless positives and joys in this journey, and we recognize them constantly. However, it's essential to remember that every coin has two sides. The more experience a breeder has, the more challenging their path can become.