Finding Your Perfect Mentor: How to Choose the Right Guidance as a New Cat Breeder

Starting out as a new cat breeder can feel overwhelming. Everywhere you look, people say you need to find a mentor before you can even begin. But how do you know who to trust? And do you really need one at all?

I want to share my personal take on how to choose the right guidance, what a mentor (or coach) really looks like in cat breeding, and how to avoid the traps that can make your first years in the cat fancy so stressful.

Do You Really Need a Mentor as a New Cat Breeder?

This is one of the biggest myths in the cat fancy.

I’ve been breeding British Shorthairs in Perth, Western Australia since 2004 and I’ve seen so many new breeders tie themselves in knots trying to find a mentor because they’ve been told they can’t do anything without one.

Here’s the truth: you do not have to have a mentor to become a good breeder. You can learn, make decisions, and build your own breeding program without one. A mentor can be wonderful if the relationship is healthy, but it is not a requirement for success.

If you want to hear my full take on why I don’t even consider myself a mentor, you can read or listen to The Truth About Why I Don’t Consider Myself a Cat Breeding Mentor (it’s a podcast episode that has helped a lot of new breeders feel a huge weight lifted off their shoulders).

What Makes a Good Mentor (and What Doesn’t)

Let’s get clear on what a good mentor or coach looks like.

A good mentor should:

• Share their experience openly without using it to control you

• Coach you to learn how to make your own decisions

• Celebrate your wins, even when you choose a different path than they would

• Encourage you to set your own goals and work towards them

A bad mentor (or a controlling breeder) might:

• Make you feel small or incapable

• Tell you what you “must” do with your cats

• Hold your breeding cats as leverage to make you follow their way

• Make you scared to make decisions because of their reaction

If any of that second list sounds familiar, it’s a red flag.

Watch Out for “Free Cats and Favours”

One of the biggest traps I see new cat breeders fall into is accepting a “free” cat or a favour from someone they look up to.

It sounds generous. It feels exciting. But often there are strings attached that keep you tied to that person’s rules and decisions for years.

I recently made a video about this called New Cat Breeders: Beware of 'FREE' Cats and Favours! where I share real stories and the red flags to look for. If you haven’t seen it yet, I strongly suggest you give it a watch before making any big decisions.

Where to Find the Right Support Instead

What you need in the early stages is support, knowledge, and a safe place to ask questions. That’s why I created my New Cat Breeders Club.

Inside the club, we have:

• A private, drama‑free community

• Access to me through messages and voice notes

• People who have been where you are right now, cheering you on

• Resources and training to help you become confident and independent

It’s not about me telling you what to do. It’s about helping you figure out what you want to do and supporting you as you grow into the breeder you want to be.

How to Choose the Right Guidance for You

If you are looking for someone to guide you, here’s my simple checklist:

• Does this person make me feel more confident and capable?

• Do I feel free to make my own choices without fear?

• Are they open about their own mistakes and experiences?

• Are they genuinely happy when I succeed, even if I do things differently?

If the answer to those is yes, you’ve found a good influence to have in your corner.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to feel pressured to have a mentor. There are many paths to becoming a successful breeder. What matters most is that you surround yourself with positive, encouraging people who help you grow.

If you’d like a supportive space to start, have a look at The New Cat Breeders Club. It could be exactly what you’ve been looking for.