Introducing the Concept of a Cattery
A cattery is an establishment where cats are bred, housed, and cared for either while their owners are away or for the purposes of selling the kittens (Merriam-Webster). According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a cattery is specifically “a place where cats are taken care of while their owners are away or where cats are bred for sale.”
There are many reasons one might want to start a cattery business. For cat lovers, it provides the opportunity to work with felines full-time. Breeders can focus on improving cat bloodlines. A cattery also allows people to generate income through cat boarding, breeding, and kitten sales. Catteries help connect kittens and cats with new owners.
Some key benefits of operating a cattery include working in a cat-friendly environment, the chance to educate about cat care, participating in the breeding process, making a living caring for animals, and providing an important community service.
Legal and zoning requirements
Before starting a cattery, it’s important to review your local laws and regulations. Many cities and counties have specific rules about cat breeding facilities. For example, according to Cedar Hills, UT municipal code, cats must have at least 4 square feet of floor space in runs at a cattery.
Most areas require a zoning permit or license to operate a cattery, especially a commercial breeding facility. As noted in the Riverside County, CA code, a Class II cattery (7-15 cats) needs a minimum lot size of one acre in certain zones. Be sure to research the specific rules in your municipality to ensure proper zoning and permitting.
It’s wise to contact your local zoning office early in the planning process to learn about requirements and get the proper approvals before constructing or opening your cattery.
Cattery Design and Layout
When designing a cattery, you’ll need to decide if you want an indoor, outdoor, or combination setup. According to How to Design a Cattery, even a small cattery requires at least four separate spaces – one each for queens, studs, kittens, and isolation. Larger catteries may have additional spaces like a nursery, exercise area, and quarantine.
For indoor catteries, the ideal size is at least 10 square feet per cat, with added vertical space through platforms and perches. Materials should be easy to sanitize like sealed concrete, vinyl, or stainless steel. Ventilation and temperature control are critical. Outdoor catteries allow more space and natural airflow but require strict precautions against weather, pests, and unauthorized access.
According to Choosing a Layout For Your Cattery, basic cattery requirements include dividing walls, surfaces that are impervious to fluids, adequate drainage, lighting, ventilation, sanitation areas, isolation capabilities, and storage. The layout should optimize workflow while keeping different groups of cats separate. Work with an experienced cattery builder to design the optimal layout for your needs and local regulations.
Startup Costs
Starting a cattery requires significant upfront investment. There are several major startup costs to consider:
License and Permit Fees – Most areas require a business license and permits to legally operate a cattery. These fees vary by location but often cost several hundred dollars. There may also be fees for zoning permits and inspections. According to catbreedersensei.com, licensing costs are typically $150-500.
Construction Costs – Constructing appropriate housing and facilities for the cats can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on the scale and amenities. Proper ventilation, heating, cages/condos, litter boxes, and more must be accounted for. Quality materials and builders are essential as well. cpdonline.co.uk suggests budgeting £20,000 for construction of a medium cattery.
Initial Veterinary Care and Supplies – Before acquiring cats, their housing must be stocked with all necessary supplies like litter, toys, brushes, food bowls, beds, scratching posts, etc. Several thousand dollars worth of supplies will likely be needed upfront. Vet exams, vaccines, spay/neuter, and any other medical care needed for incoming cats are also startup costs to budget for.
Care and handling
Caring for multiple cats in a cattery requires a thorough daily routine to ensure all cats receive proper nutrition, grooming, and health monitoring. Cat breeders should establish set times for feeding, cleaning litter boxes, administering medication, grooming, and monitoring cat health and behavior.
Cats at a cattery should be fed a nutritionally balanced commercial cat food diet according to each cat’s needs. Kittens will require more frequent small meals, while adult cats may only need one or two meals per day. Provide clean, fresh water at all times. Schedule mealtimes when staff are available to monitor cats eating and refill water bowls.
Litter boxes should be scooped multiple times per day and dumped, disinfected, and refilled with fresh litter regularly to prevent disease transmission. Boxes must be large enough to accommodate all cats. Have at least 1.5 boxes per cat.
A grooming schedule helps manage shedding and matting. Longhaired cats may require daily brushing. Trim nails as needed. Check for fleas/ticks during grooming. Monitor cats’ overall health including eyes, ears, skin, behavior, appetite, and litter box use. Isolate any sick cats.
Maintaining diligent care routines keeps cats comfortable and healthy in a cattery environment. Staff training is key to success.
Choosing breeding cats
When choosing cats for your cattery breeding program, the most important factors to consider are breed, temperament, pedigree and health. You’ll want to select purebred cats that conform closely to the breed standard in terms of appearance, personality and behavior. Look for cats with an even temperament that are friendly, confident, and tolerant of handling. Some key traits to avoid in potential breeders are aggression, extreme shyness, and anxiety.
Research the cat’s pedigree to ensure there is no history of genetic health problems in the lineage. Opt for cats with long-lived ancestors free of inheritable conditions like heart disease, cancer or joint problems. Acquiring cats from reputable breeders can help assure a healthy pedigree. Before buying, have a vet thoroughly examine each cat to rule out issues like parasites, infections, and congenital disorders. Choose only cats certified to be in excellent health with good conformation.
Beyond health and temperament, select cats exhibiting optimal qualities for their breed. Consult breed standards to understand the ideal features, like coat length and texture, body type, ear shape, etc. Seek cats with excellent examples of the breed characteristics you hope to propagate in their kittens. Pay attention to small details that contribute to a cat closely matching the ideal look and personality of its breed.
With robust health testing and careful selection focused on breed, pedigree and temperament, you can identify ideal queen and tom cats to launch your cattery breeding program.
Cat Breeding and Kitten Care
Proper care of mother cats and kittens is crucial for successful breeding. Mother cats should ideally be between 10-14 months old before their first litter according to the guidelines by the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) https://cfa.org/cat-care/newborn-kittens/. It’s recommended to allow cats to go through at least 3-4 heat cycles before breeding. Once the queen is pregnant, proper nutrition and health monitoring is essential.
For birthing, the queen should be provided with a quiet, comfortable nesting area. Most cats prefer privacy for delivering their litters. It’s important to monitor from a distance and allow nature to run its course as long as no complications arise. Once the kittens are born, the mother will bite through the umbilical cord and lick the kitten to stimulate breathing https://www.vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/breeding-and-queening-cats.
In the first few weeks, kittens are completely dependent on the mother for feeding, warmth and grooming. They should nurse frequently and gain around 7-10 grams per day. The mother’s milk provides all the nutrition kittens need in the beginning. Kittens should be kept warm with environmental temperatures around 90°F. Regular weight and health checks are important to ensure the litter is thriving.
At 3-4 weeks, kittens will start to wander from the nest and can begin weaning. High-quality kitten food, milk replacer or gruel can supplement nursing. By 8 weeks, kittens should be fully weaned and eating solid food well. Early socialization and handling help kittens adjust to humans.
Following best practices for breeding, birthing and proper kitten care helps set litters up for success while supporting the health of mother cats.
Adoption process
A cattery should have a rigorous adoption screening process to ensure their kittens go to good homes. According to https://catrescues.org/how-to-adopt/, potential adopters should complete an application, provide personal references, undergo vet reference and home checks, and sign an adoption contract agreeing to provide proper care.
Adoption contracts should clearly outline the adopter’s responsibilities and allow the cattery to reclaim the cat if not properly cared for, according to the American Humane. Policies should include spay/neuter, id chips, and annual vet visits.
Pricing cats can be complex. Factors include breed, pedigree, show potential, alter status, and market demand. Prices typically range $500-$1500 for purebred kittens, with retired breeding cats under $1000, according to The Cattery. Catteries should use websites, social media, ads in breed magazines to advertise available cats.
Business management
Proper business management is key to operating a successful cattery. This includes aspects like record keeping, marketing, networking, and ongoing education.
Detailed record keeping is essential for tracking finances, expenses, breeding, medical records, and more. Software programs like Excel help organize all of this data. Monthly profit and loss statements also provide insight into the financial health of the business. It’s advised to consult an accountant to setup proper bookkeeping and tax filing processes.
Marketing and networking are imperative to promote the cattery and find potential cat buyers. Strategies include an engaging website, social media presence, online ads, attending cat shows, partnering with local pet stores and vets, and word-of-mouth referrals. Membership in professional associations like The International Cat Association (TICA) also builds credibility.
Education is an ongoing process for cattery owners. Attending seminars and conferences, reading books and publications, and connecting with mentors in the industry will help expand knowledge. Key focus areas include cat health, latest breeding practices, business operations, and new regulations. Investing time and money into continuing education will directly improve cattery success.
Sources:
https://cpdonline.co.uk/business-guides/setting-up-cattery-business/
https://catbreedersensei.com/product/successful-cattery-business-management/
How Many Cats to Start a Cattery?
When starting a cattery, many factors go into determining the ideal number of cats to begin with. The recommended minimum number is between 4-6 breeding cats according to A guide to entering the world of breeding & showing cats. This provides enough genetic diversity for a small breeding program and allows you to establish your cattery’s reputation.
Over time, there is certainly opportunity for growth. As your cattery becomes established, you may wish to expand your breeding program and facilities. Many successful catteries house 20 or more cats. However, it’s advisable to start small and grow gradually once your operations are running smoothly.
Finances must also be considered when determining your starting cat numbers. Costs like housing, feeding, veterinary care, and help for cleaning and socializing can add up quickly per cat. While more cats allow for greater litter production, expenses scale as well. Starting with 4-6 cats allows you to establish your cattery while keeping startup costs manageable according to How to Open a Cattery.