5 Things Every New Cat Breeder Should Have From Day One

One of the questions I was asked in a recent Q&A post on my socials was what top five products, platforms or tools have been life changing or time saving in my cattery, and what I think every breeder should have from day one.

I love this question because the honest answer is probably not the answer a brand new breeder expects. When you’re first getting ready to breed cats, it’s easy to think about kitten toys, cute blankets, lovely photos, your website, your kitten packs and all the exciting parts. And yes, those things matter. But after more than twenty years of breeding British Shorthairs, my real day one list is much more practical.

These are the things that save your house, your time, your brain and sometimes your whole day. They’re not fancy. They’re not glamorous. But they’re the things you’ll be very glad you had ready before you needed them.

Waterproof Mattress Protectors For Every Bed

My number one thing is a waterproof mattress protector for every single bed in your house. Trust me on this one. At some stage, if you breed cats long enough, a cat will pee on a bed. It just happens.

The first time it happened in our current house was because I accidentally shut one of my cats in the bedroom. She couldn’t get out, so she peed on the bed. It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t because she was naughty. It was just one of those things that happens when you live with cats, and the more cats you have, the more likely these little moments become.

A good waterproof mattress protector means the mattress is protected and you’re not dealing with a disaster that could have been avoided. New breeders often think this sort of thing won’t happen to them, and I understand that. I probably thought the same thing once too. Then breeding cats teaches you differently.

So before you buy the extra cute kitten blanket, buy the mattress protectors. Future you will be very grateful.

A Really Good Enzyme Urine Cleaner

The second thing I’d get is a really good urine cleaning spray, and it goes perfectly with the first one. Breeding cats will pee on things. They just will. They might pee in their housing area, they might pee near doors, they might pee on soft furnishings, and if you have entire cats free roaming in your house, you need to be ready for accidents.

The one I use here in Australia is Trueeco’s dog and cat cleaner. I absolutely love it. It’s one of those products I’ll keep buying because it actually does what I need it to do. If you’re outside Australia, look for a good enzyme cleaner because the enzyme part matters. You don’t just want to make the area smell nice. You want to break down what’s actually there.

My best tip with enzyme cleaners is to use enough product. People often spray a little mist over the top and expect magic. If an area has been peed on, and the surface allows it, you need to really saturate the spot. Always colour test first if you need to. Then I like to put a towel soaked in hot water over the area and let it sit for as long as possible so the enzymes can do their job properly.

It’s not the most glamorous breeder advice, but it’s the kind of advice that’ll save you a lot of frustration.

Some Way To Separate Your Cats

The third thing every breeder needs is some kind of containment or separation set up. When you first start, especially if you only have one or two cats, it’s easy to think everything will be fine. And it might be fine for a while. Then very quickly you realise you need safe ways to separate cats.

You might need to separate cats because a queen is calling. You might need to separate a stud. You might need a quiet space for a pregnant girl, a mum with kittens, a new cat coming into your home, a cat recovering from the vet, or two cats who have decided they’re not in the mood to be best friends today.

This doesn’t have to be expensive at the beginning. It might be a spare bedroom, a large soft pen, a proper cat pen, a cattery room, a sectioned off area or a bigger set up if you’re ready for that. The point is that you need something before you’re desperate for it.

When you don’t have a separation plan, you end up scrambling. And cat breeding already gives you enough moments where you’re thinking fast. Having a safe containment option ready makes life much easier.

Real Support From People Who Understand Cat Breeding

My fourth thing is my New Cat Breeders Club, and I’m including it because I’ve seen the difference it makes.

When you’re new, you don’t just need information. Information is everywhere. You need help knowing what matters, what to do next, what’s normal, what’s not normal, and how to make good decisions when something is happening right in front of you. That’s where proper support changes everything.

I think about one of my members, Kim. I first met her at a cat show in Queensland. It was her first show, and at that stage she didn’t have cats. She was there looking, learning and trying to work out what she wanted to do. Like so many new breeders, she was nervous and unsure, and she wanted to do things properly.

Recently, she sent me a photo of her beautifully groomed Ragdoll winning Best Longhair Exhibit. The difference in her confidence was amazing. That kind of growth doesn’t come from one random answer on the internet. It comes from learning, asking questions, watching other breeders, getting feedback and staying connected to people who understand what this is really like.

So yes, I think every new breeder needs good support from day one. You can learn the hard way, or you can learn with people around you who can help you make better decisions sooner.

Strong Hard Case Cat Carriers

The fifth thing is a really good set of cat carriers. I had just dropped kittens off at the vet for desexing when I filmed my answer to this question, and they were in one of my larger hard case carriers.

I have smaller carriers, larger carriers, carriers that suit kittens and carriers that suit stud cats. I know people love soft crates and they can be useful, but for car travel and vet trips, I love a strong hard case carrier. I want my cats safe, secure and contained properly.

Good carriers are one of those things you buy once and keep using for years. I have carriers I bought around eighteen years ago that I still use now. If you buy good ones at the beginning, especially strong ones that are sturdy and flight approved, they’ll last you a very long time.

And when you’re breeding, carriers are not optional. You’ll use them for vet checks, kitten vaccinations, desexing appointments, emergencies, shows, collecting cats, transporting kittens and all the normal parts of cattery life. It’s worth buying good ones from the start.

The Practical Things Matter Most

When people think about starting a cattery, they often think about the pretty parts first. The photos, the kitten packs, the announcements, the names, the excitement of that first litter. And those things are lovely. They’re part of the fun.

But the things that make breeding cats easier are often much more practical. Protect the beds. Be ready for urine accidents. Have a way to safely separate cats. Get support from people who understand breeding. Buy carriers that’ll keep your cats secure.

You don’t need to buy everything on day one. You don’t need a perfect set up before you start. But you do need to think ahead, because cat breeding has a way of showing you what you should have prepared earlier.

And if you’re a new breeder and you want help setting things up properly from the beginning, that’s exactly what I help with inside the New Cat Breeders Club.

Facebook Post

Sara asked me what my top five life changing or time saving products, platforms or tools have been in my cattery, and what every breeder should have from day one.

My first answer was probably not what people expected. Waterproof mattress protectors. For every bed in the house. I’m not being dramatic. If you breed cats long enough, at some stage a cat will pee on a bed, and you’ll be very glad the mattress is protected.

The rest of my list is just as practical. A really good enzyme urine cleaner, some kind of containment or separation set up, breeder support from people who understand what this is really like, and strong hard case carriers that’ll last for years.

The cute kitten things are fun, and of course we all love those. But these are the things that make day to day cattery life easier, cleaner and much less stressful.

If you’re a newer breeder, what’s one thing you bought early that you’re really glad you had?