Being a Breeder takes a lot of dedication, patience and love as well as heartache and isn’t for everyone -  as anyone who has done this awhile can tell you.  There are a lot of tears and heartaches involved, but it can be very rewarding too if you’re willing to put in the work, money and time.  As I said before, I usually only breed 2 girls at once.  This gives me a “backup” mom if one should have problems or too many kittens, while still allowing me to spend the time socializing and spoiling the kittens the way I want to. I have a kitten room, where they are born and stay, until they've had several vaccines, away from the cats that are going to shows and may bring home something nasty. Kittens are caged until they’ve had their first set of vaccines and have learned how to use the litter pan a bit, then they have the entire room to play in. There are plenty of scratching posts and toys to play with, a big picture window, as well as carriers to sleep in, which helps get them used to them so they travel better.  Once they get a bit bigger, they are allowed to be out and about the house...learning some manners, how to mooch for food (believe me, they learn that one REALLY WELL!) about dogs and visitors.

Once kittens are 8 weeks or so I will start letting people over to visit and possibly  to pick out a kitten.  I prescreen all my homes and this is not a "have money, get kitten" situation.  I get to know my prospective families, often asking for information on a what they are looking for in a new kitty, home environment, other pets, where the kitten will stay, how long it will be alone during the day, etc.  as well as references.  If you are not close enough to stop by and see the kittens in person, I will send over pictures and personality profiles and try and help to match you with the perfect kitten.  I want to make sure that you end up with a kitten that will fit in well with your home and family and one that you will be happy with for life.  I do encourage people to come by if at all possible, as a lot of people change their mind about what they want when some little kitty climbs onto their lap and says "I'm yours!".  You'd be amazed at how many people think they want a shorthaired fold and end up with a little longhair straight ear, cause that's what they bond with or just as common end up taking more then one...there's something about those folds, they're just addicting, even the straight ears.

        Kittens are kept until they are 15-16 weeks. There are several reasons for this...the best one being that it's important to their health and social development! Folds are slow to mature. My kittens nurse until they are 12-13 weeks (although I've seen a few 4 month olds try to tackle mom and snag a free meal). During the ages of 8 – 12 weeks kittens are learning important social skills, helping to make them a better pet and establishing good litter pan habits. Just as important, a majority of my babies go into homes that already have other cats, and I want to make sure that they have the best immunity possible. A kitten's body can not maintain immunity until they reach 4 months, so I hold onto them until I know that they've had all their vaccines and are as protected as possible.

        I also make sure that they are altered before leaving home as it is less traumatic to the kittens and they heal faster.  I do not sell breeding cats, except to established breeders, someone who comes highly recommended or someone who’s showing and I’m willing to mentor. I do not allow declawing of my kittens.  The kitten rooms have plenty of scratching posts, to play on and to develop good scratching behavior and they get their nails trimmed weekly, from the time they're 6 weeks, so that they are used to all that by the time they go to their new homes.  I am a groomer, owning my own business -All Around Town Mobile Grooming so I make sure that I groom the kittens weekly so that they get used to it and most really relish the attention. 

Before baby goes home, I will give you a care sheet.  This includes instructions on everything from food, litter, to grooming and making the first few days home easier on everyone.  There are instructions on introducing the kitty to the other pets in the house and ways  to make the baby feel more comfortable.  There is a list of things you will need, including the right kind of food, litter,  proper grooming tools, toys etc.  You will want to have all of this ready for the new arrival before their homecoming.