How Do I Become a Cat Breeder?

One of the most common questions I get asked is, "How do I become a cat breeder?" The interesting thing is that most people who ask that question aren't really asking how to become a cat breeder at all. What they're usually asking is how to breed kittens. They love their cat and would like to have kittens from it. They love a particular breed and think it would be wonderful to have kittens running around their home. Or they've discovered a breed they absolutely adore and have started imagining themselves as a breeder. The reality is that breeding kittens is only a small part of becoming a cat breeder. If you want to become a pedigree cat breeder, you're actually joining a hobby, a community, and a way of life that extends far beyond your first litter.

What Does It Really Mean To Be A Cat Breeder?

One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that people think cat breeding starts when kittens are born. It doesn't. Long before the kittens arrive, there are associations, pedigrees, registrations, cat shows, breeding decisions, health considerations, housing arrangements, and relationships with other breeders.

That's what being a cat breeder actually looks like. The kittens are obviously an important part of it, but they are only one piece of a much larger picture.

For me, the difference between somebody who breeds kittens and somebody who is a cat breeder is purpose. Within the cat fancy, we're breeding towards something. We're preserving breeds, improving breeds, learning about our cats, participating in our hobby, and hopefully leaving our breed a little bit better than we found it. That's very different from simply putting two cats together and selling whatever kittens happen to arrive.

How I Became A Cat Breeder

My own journey into breeding cats didn't start with a breeding cat. It started with a pet cat. My much loved grey and white cat had passed away and I wanted another cat with a similar look. I'd always admired British Shorthairs, so I purchased a solid blue British Shorthair female named Poppy. At that stage, I had absolutely no plans to become a breeder. In fact, the arrangement with the breeder was that I would have Poppy desexed and provide proof that it had been done. Once that happened, I would receive her paperwork.

What changed everything wasn't breeding. It was cat shows. While I was waiting to bring Poppy home, I became curious about pedigree cats and started attending cat shows. I ended up showing my domestic cat, Minky, and later I started showing Poppy as well. The more involved I became, the more fascinated I became with the cat fancy itself. I loved learning about different breeds. I loved watching judges assess cats. I loved meeting breeders and becoming part of a community that shared the same passion for cats.

Eventually I realised I wanted to become part of that world in a bigger way. I spoke to Poppy's breeder, paid the difference between a pet cat and a breeding cat, had her transferred onto the breeding register, and Poppy became my first breeding cat. Looking back now, I'm very grateful that things happened in that order because I had time to understand the hobby before I started breeding.

What Is The First Step To Becoming A Cat Breeder?

If somebody asked me what they should do first if they want to become a cat breeder, my answer would be simple. Join an association.

You don't have to stay with that association forever, but you do need to join an association if you want to become part of the cat fancy. That's where you'll learn how registrations work, how pedigrees work, how cat shows work, and how the hobby itself operates. It's also where you'll apply for your breeding prefix, which is essentially your breeding name.

My prefix is Cuddleton. Every kitten I breed has Cuddleton at the beginning of its registered name. Once you've obtained your prefix, you're no longer somebody thinking about becoming a breeder. You're actually taking the first steps towards becoming one.

This is also where many new breeders discover that becoming a breeder involves a lot more than buying cats. If you're still learning how registrations, pedigrees, and the cat fancy work, you might also find my article on registration helpful because getting that foundation right will save you a lot of problems later.

Do You Need Breeding Cats Before You Join An Association?

This is where many people get things backwards. They assume the first step is buying a breeding cat. In reality, joining an association first often makes the process much easier.

Good breeders are generally reluctant to sell breeding cats to people who are not already participating in the hobby. If somebody contacts a breeder and says they'd like to breed cats one day, that's very different from somebody who has already joined an association, obtained a prefix, attended a few cat shows, and clearly demonstrated they're committed to becoming part of the cat fancy.

Joining an association first shows that you're serious. It also means you'll have a much better understanding of what you're looking for when you eventually start searching for breeding cats.

How Do You Get Your First Breeding Cat?

This is often the stage where people discover things aren't as simple as they expected. New breeders often assume they'll decide what breed they want, contact a breeder, pay the money, and bring home a breeding cat. Sometimes it works that way. Often it doesn't.

You'll get knockbacks. Some breeders won't reply. Some won't sell to new breeders. Others won't have anything available. That's completely normal and it's something every breeder goes through at some point.

One thing I strongly believe in is the concept of starter cats. Too many people become obsessed with finding the perfect cat. They want the imported cat, the rare colour, the latest trend, or the cat with the most impressive pedigree they can find. In reality, what most people need is a good cat that allows them to get started and gain experience.

Your first breeding cat doesn't have to be the most expensive cat in the country. It just needs to be a cat that helps you begin the journey.  A good video to watch about this is Can’t Find Breeding Cats? on my YouTube channel.  

Do You Need A Cat Breeding Mentor?

A lot of people assume they need to find one perfect mentor who will teach them everything. While mentors can be incredibly valuable, I think people sometimes put too much pressure on finding the right person.

The reality is that when all of your learning comes from one person, you often end up learning only one way of doing things. Sometimes that's fine. Other times you discover years later that there were other approaches you could have considered.

That's why I generally encourage people to learn from multiple sources and keep an open mind. If you'd like to read more about that, I talk about it in detail in my article, How Do I Know If My Cat Is Ready to Breed? and also in my article about whether new breeders really need a mentor.

Why Community Matters More Than Finding The Perfect Mentor

One of the reasons I created the New Cat Breeders Club was because I wanted new breeders to have access to more than just one person's opinion. The club brings together breeders from different countries, different breeds, and different stages of their journey. People share ideas, experiences, successes, mistakes, and lessons they've learned along the way.

When you learn from a community rather than a single person, you get exposed to a much broader range of experiences. You might learn about housing from one person, feeding from another, showing from somebody else, and breeding decisions from someone completely different. Over time, you develop your own way of doing things rather than simply copying somebody else's.

What Successful New Cat Breeders Do Differently

When I think about successful new breeders, I think about people like Kim. When she joined my New Cat Breeders Club, she already had breeding cats, but she was still very much at the beginning of her journey. She hadn't shown her cats. She was struggling with housing, feeding, access to quality breeding cats, and selling kittens. Most importantly, she lacked confidence.

Over time she started attending shows, asking questions, learning from other breeders, and becoming more involved in the hobby. Recently she sent me a video of one of her cats being judged by an international judge who absolutely loved the cat, praised its presentation and quality, and awarded it Best Longhair Cat in Show.

What impressed me most wasn't the ribbon. It was the transformation in Kim herself. She had gone from being nervous and uncertain to becoming a confident breeder who was genuinely enjoying the hobby. That's what success looks like to me. Not necessarily winning the biggest awards, but developing the confidence and knowledge to enjoy what you're doing.

Should You Go To Cat Shows Before Breeding Cats?

Absolutely.

You don't need to own a show cat. You don't need to have a cat entered. You don't even need to know anyone. Just go.

Cat shows are one of the fastest ways to learn about the cat fancy. You'll see different breeds, meet breeders, watch judging, and start understanding what breeders are working towards when they make breeding decisions. You'll also discover that most people are far more approachable than you probably expect.

The other benefit is that you'll start building relationships long before you're asking people to sell you breeding cats. That makes a huge difference. People are much more likely to help somebody they know than a complete stranger who appears out of nowhere wanting a breeding kitten.

My Step By Step Guide To Becoming A Cat Breeder

If somebody asked me for a roadmap, this is what I would recommend.

• Choose the breed you're interested in.

• Join a recognised cat association.

• Apply for your breeding prefix.

• Attend cat shows and become part of the cat fancy.

• Meet breeders and build relationships.

• Learn as much as you can about your chosen breed.

• Find your first breeding cat.

• Join a supportive community.

• Continue learning as you go.

Most importantly, start slowly. You don't need imported cats, a purpose built cattery, a fancy website, or a social media following to become a cat breeder. Those things may come later. What you need first is knowledge, experience, relationships, and a genuine interest in being part of the hobby.

Final Thoughts

If you want to become a cat breeder, don't start by buying cats. Start by becoming part of the cat fancy. Join an association, obtain a prefix, attend cat shows, meet people, and learn how the hobby works. Once you've done that, you'll be in a much better position to find the right breeding cats and build a breeding program that suits your goals.

The breeders who seem happiest and most successful are rarely the ones who rush out and spend a fortune trying to build everything overnight. They're the people who take their time, learn as they go, and allow their breeding program to grow alongside their experience. That's certainly how it happened for me. I thought I was buying a pet cat. Instead, I found a hobby that has shaped more than twenty years of my life.