Business lawyer > Starting a business > Business ideas > Breeding cats as a business: advantages and disadvantages, rules of care, ways to make a profit
Today, many people are concerned about the question of how to combine their favorite hobby and earning money to meet their needs. Because of this, many different business ideas have emerged, distinguished by originality and creativity. Breeding cats is considered one of the most profitable and at the same time interesting types of entrepreneurial activity, but for such an activity to truly bring profit and pleasure, several important aspects must be taken into account.
Business benefits
Like any type of entrepreneurship, cat breeding as a business has its advantages and disadvantages. Understanding the pros and cons of this type of activity is extremely important, since it is quite possible that future success will depend on it.
Main advantages:
Breeding cats
- Profitability. There are many cat breeds, the cost of which starts from several tens of thousands of rubles. With the right approach to business, you can earn a very high income from breeding elite pets, which in turn allows you to expand your business, thus increasing your profits.
- Availability. To start breeding cats, there is no need for significant initial investment. In the early stages of work, it is enough to purchase the necessary items to care for cats. You should also take into account the regular costs necessary to purchase food and preventive examinations from a veterinarian.
- Payback. Since you don’t need significant amounts of money to start breeding cats, your investment will pay off very quickly. To increase the investment several times, one brood is usually enough. However, this is provided that the animals are purchased at the optimal cost for the owner.
- High demand. Without a doubt, almost everyone loves cats. That is why they are often chosen as a pet. The desire to have a purebred animal arises in every family, which means that a cat with a pedigree will always be in demand.
- Minimum risk. Breeding cats is not an easy task, but it is absolutely doable, especially if you have the appropriate experience and knowledge in this field.
The right approach to work will allow you to make a profit by selling animals, regardless of the economic situation or other aspects that largely affect other types of business.
Undoubtedly, breeding cats is a good opportunity to earn money while doing an interesting activity.
Nursery equipment
Before you make money on cats, you will have to invest a lot in the business. In addition to building a room where you will keep animals, you will have to spend a certain amount on purchasing the most necessary equipment. You need to make purchases in large brand stores offering high quality products. The minimum list for 10 pairs of animals will be as follows:
- exhibition carriers (4) – 12,000;
- mini-houses (20) – 34,000;
- aviary cages (4) – 4,000;
- rugs (20) – 18,000;
- combs, nail clippers, trimmers (8) – 4,000;
- toilets (20) – 2,000;
- feed (15 kg) – 5,000;
- bowls (50) – 25,000;
- toys and accessories – 5,000;
- toilet filler – 1,000;
- shampoos, brushes, washing containers – 2,000;
- playground (2) – 16,000.
That is, the cost of purchasing equipment will cost around 128,000 rubles. At the same time, it is important not to skimp on the quality of equipment and food, because the level of demand for them will depend on the health and appearance of your pets.
Disadvantages of the "cat" business
It should be noted that the idea of breeding cats also has negative sides. In this case, a lot depends on the desire of the entrepreneur himself, and how much he loves animals. Some cat breeds have a very capricious and whimsical character, which creates many difficulties in everyday life.
The main disadvantage of the cat breeding business is the significant time investment. In addition, the breeder will need a large supply of strength and patience.
High competition
Kittens require constant care, which includes not only regular feeding, but also bathing, litter box training, and proper upbringing. The possibility of diseases that will require costs for medications and specialist services should not be excluded.
Another disadvantage of the “cat” business is high competition. Breeding purebred animals for further sale is not a new type of business, but it has gained significant popularity due to the appearance of breeds that were previously extremely rare. On the other hand, competition is fully compensated by the high demand for pedigree animals, and therefore does not cause significant difficulties.
In general, cat breeding as a business has certain disadvantages, but if you have the necessary qualities and knowledge, the difficulties that arise can be overcome without any damage.
Participation in exhibitions
When breeding cats, the presence of an exhibition title is taken into account. If your pet has never taken part in exhibitions, then the club may prohibit it from being untied. Attendance at this event is paid and requires preparation. Despite this, cat shows allow you to find new clients and increase the value of kittens due to the prestige of their titled parents.
Despite the fact that love in business is far from the most important thing, you still shouldn’t forget about it. Every breeder must sincerely love all his charges and not be lazy in spending his time and energy on gaining new knowledge about the peculiarities of breeding work.
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How to start breeding
Where to start is a very important question that is asked by everyone who has decided to start breeding purebred cats. To create a functioning business, you need to complete several basic steps to ensure good profits in the future.
Stages:
- Breed selection.
At the first stage, it is extremely important to choose a suitable cat breed that will be in greatest demand among buyers. Currently, Siamese cats, Sphynx cats, and Persian cats are very popular. In addition, Scottish fold and Siberian cats are in demand. There are also rarer breeds, but their cost is much higher, which makes selling a kitten much more difficult. Bengali - Learning the basics. The cat breeding business does not begin with the acquisition of animals. First of all, you should study thematic publications and literature, become familiar with the main aspects of breeding cats and caring for them. It is best to obtain information directly about the selected breed.
- Choosing a location. If breeding cats for sale is carried out in an apartment, it is best to allocate a separate room for this activity. In such conditions, up to 8 cats are allowed at a time, but no more. In a private breeding house, it is recommended to build special enclosures that are suitable for animals at any time of the year.
- Selection of equipment. To keep several cats at the same time, you need to purchase more than just separate bowls and litter trays. You need to take care of nail points, small houses, hygiene and cosmetic products. It is also recommended to buy several special combs.
- Purchasing cats. It is best to buy animals from specialized nurseries, and only if there is a pedigree. This is more expensive than buying from hand, but only in this case can you be sure of the cleanliness of the chosen pet. The best option is to buy kittens, as they adapt to changes much faster.
To successfully start a cat breeding business, you must complete the steps described above and then carefully care for the animals.
Buying pets
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Having decided on a breed for a cat business, you need to study all its features. You should know everything about the characteristics of this breed, proper care and nutrition. Only after this does it make sense to buy an animal from a good breeder. It’s good if you have a specialist with you who can help you make your choice.
Kittens purchased for breeding must have a good pedigree, all vaccinations and the necessary documents.
Maintenance and care
After acquiring cats, careful care is a necessary condition for the success and profitability of breeding.
Contrary to popular belief, purebred animals can be very whimsical, which makes their maintenance much more difficult, especially in a residential apartment.
Aspects of care:
- Feeding.
Obviously, for elite cat breeds, the daily diet must be appropriate. For feeding, it is necessary to use only special food, preferably of natural origin. It is not permissible to give cats any human food, regardless of its taste. If you have problems with nutrition, you should consult a felinologist. Cat care - Hygiene. For an animal to be healthy, the place in which it lives must be clean. It is necessary to constantly change the filler in the trays and monitor the purity of drinking water. It is recommended to bathe cats at least once every 2 weeks to prevent the appearance of unpleasant odors.
- Preventive examinations. You should visit the veterinarian at least once every 3 months. This is necessary to prevent various diseases that can cause the animal to die. In addition, visits to the veterinarian should be made if an animal is suspected of having worms.
- Games. To be healthy and beautiful, cats need to move. Toys alone are sometimes not enough, and therefore the owner of the animal himself can join the game. Pets definitely need to devote time, otherwise constant boredom will negatively affect the cat’s mental health, which can lead to poor appetite and various diseases.
- Transportation. Often there is a need to transport purebred cats. This can be done exclusively in special mini-transport containers, selected taking into account the size of the animal. When carried inside a container, the cat must have clean water, food, and a place for a toilet.
Undoubtedly, proper maintenance of purebred cats is a very important element of breeding, and therefore it should be treated with the utmost responsibility.
Equipment
Immediately after installing the enclosure, buy all the necessary equipment for its arrangement:
- Cat litter. Devices with grilles are easier to clean
- Fillers for cat litter. Wood-based fillers absorb odors better
- Cat's house. Cats love secluded places
- Toys. Cats like to play with moving objects
- Scratching posts. Sharpening claws is also fun
- Combs. Relevant for breeding Persian and other breeds of cats with long hair
- Shampoos. Buy grooming products according to breed type
- Stern. Consult your veterinarian before purchasing
You can save money by building houses yourself and making scratching posts. For cats, any box with a wooden base is suitable, where you can hide from daylight, and you can sharpen claws using a wooden ledge upholstered with soft fabric. It is better to purchase feed and fillers in bulk. The cost of the initial purchase batch is from 15,000 rubles.
Mating
At the age of 7-8 months, cats can already bear and give birth to kittens. The most reliable evidence is the animal's first heat. It should be noted that the period of puberty depends on the animal’s temperament, and can reach 11-12 months.
It is recommended to carry out the first mating at the age of at least 1.5 years. At this age, the animal’s body is fully formed, and therefore the likelihood of an unsuccessful pregnancy is minimized. Mating at an earlier stage seriously harms the cat and should therefore be avoided.
Partner for a cat
It is best to look for a suitable partner for your pet in advance. This can be done through connections in special clubs, at exhibitions or through private advertisements. Before mating, both animals must be checked by a veterinarian and dewormed. It is also not recommended to bathe or wash your pet, so as not to interrupt its natural smell.
Directly during mating, it is necessary for the animals to be in a calm atmosphere, preferably in a separate room. You should only return to the premises to change the contents in the trays or feed them. The duration of mating is usually from 3 to 5 days. If a cat behaves aggressively towards a partner, it is necessary to isolate them from each other.
In general, breeding of purebred cats should be carried out taking into account several important factors.
Profitability
In general, the amount of investment often depends on the number of individuals, as well as the characteristics of the breed. If you plan to purchase about 15 females, then the total investment can be 1,600,000 rubles. Income, if you sell the offspring of your pets for 40,000 per kitten, the profit will be 2,700,000. Thus, the income after a year and a half will be 800,000 rubles.
If you are willing to invest effort and money in this business, and also have extensive knowledge in this field, you have a chance to recoup all your investments. However, these investments are risky, since the profit may not correspond to the wishes of the nursery owner due to the lack of guarantees.
Pregnancy and childbirth
After successful mating, healthy cats become pregnant. Its duration (depending on the breed) is from 6 to 8 weeks. While carrying kittens, the animal should be cared for with the utmost care, and the diet should be monitored even more carefully.
During pregnancy, it is best to isolate a cat from other pets. She should be allocated a separate closed place where she can relax more in a calm environment.
When carrying kittens, a cat's appetite often worsens. You should be concerned if the animal does not eat anything for more than a day. In addition, attacks of vomiting, lethargy, and inactivity are not excluded. Over time, the negative symptoms disappear, and the appetite increases significantly due to the growth of the kittens.
Brood
It is recommended to give your pregnant cat food that is maximally enriched with vitamins and other beneficial substances. This is necessary not only to obtain a healthy brood, but also to preserve the health of the mother herself.
You can determine the approaching birth by the behavior of the animal. Before the birth of kittens, cats experience a nesting phenomenon, in which she independently prepares the most convenient place for future parental activity. In addition, the pet regularly licks itself in the genital area and becomes restless. There is an increase in mammary glands.
During childbirth, it is best not to disturb the animal in any way to prevent injury to the kittens. The cat independently licks newborns and feeds them. Kittens are born in turns, and therefore the duration of labor directly depends on their number. On average, it can take up to 6 hours for one litter to be born.
During childbirth in a cat, it is not recommended to interfere in any way with the process, or try to eliminate pain in the animal with the help of analgesics.
Water
For chicks that have just been born, water is very important, and in large quantities. Before filling the drinker, you need to boil it and cool it to room temperature, add a drop of potassium permanganate. The correct solution should turn out pale pink. Drinkers are filled with this water.
Chicks need water within an hour after birth. They just don’t know how to drink on their own yet. A person must teach the chick to drink. You need to take it carefully by the back, supporting the head and bring it to the drinking bowl. If conventional trough drinkers are installed, the water in them should be changed twice a day. To avoid water splashing, install vacuum drinkers.
Kittens for sale
To make a good profit from selling kittens, you need to take care of the pedigree. This document is a kind of passport for the animal, which indicates that it is purebred and comes from purebred parents.
Registration of pedigrees is carried out, as a rule, in specialized clubs for breeding cats. The document indicates the name of the kitten and its parents, date of birth, gender, coat color, and other information. The certificate is signed by the breeder and certified with a stamp.
There are various ways to sell a kitten. The most popular is placing an advertisement for sale on the Internet. This method allows you to post all the necessary information about the animal, including photographs, and quickly find buyers.
Another popular method often used by cat breeders is exhibitions. Obviously, they are necessary not only to show curious viewers their pets, but also to find buyers who are willing to pay a decent amount of money.
By the way, a pet’s victory in various exhibitions is a significant plus for its “elite” status, which in turn increases its value and competitiveness.
There are many ways to quickly sell the offspring obtained from mating, but it is best to sell kittens in specialized clubs or at exhibitions.
Breeding cats is the ideal combination of a profitable business and an interesting hobby that does not require significant investment. At the same time, such a business idea, if implemented correctly, allows you to have high incomes with minimal risk of failure.
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Choosing a future manufacturer
First of all, choose the one you like. Just keep in mind - the more exotic the breed, the more the breeding kitten costs and the greater the chance that you will come across an animal with problems. Inbreeding is a delicate matter, and some hereditary diseases are not immediately detected. A rare breed means either very close inbreeding or the purchase of a manufacturer abroad. There are breeds of cats in which a predisposition to certain diseases is inherited from their parents. Therefore, be sure to find out whether the breed you have chosen has such a problem and whether the owners of the breeders carried out the necessary tests. For information, go to breed forums, felinologist courses on a particular breed, or to veterinarians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkYjXOQgKxo
Keep in mind that prices for pet, breed and show class kittens may vary. There is no need to try to save money by buying a cat “for the sofa” and then letting him breed. First of all, it's not decent. The breeder will be unhappy. Secondly, “for the sofa”, even with a pedigree, they often sell not the best representatives of the breed.
If you have already spent a little time among breeders, then you have probably found a suitable nursery that sells quality kittens. A kitten will be able to move to a new home only after reaching a certain age and having been vaccinated. But you can reserve the baby you like by paying a deposit. And be sure to conclude a purchase and sale agreement.
The kitten comes with:
veterinary passport with a note on the vaccinations done (it is better if there are two records. If there is only one, you will have to take care of the second vaccination yourself); metric or pedigree, if the breeder has already obtained it on his own. If there is only a metric, the pedigree is issued by the club in which the litter was registered. Attention! Pedigree and permission to breed are two different things. The pedigree only confirms the origin of a kitten from parents of a certain breed, but not its breeding value; recommendations from the breeder on feeding, training, the best choice of doctor, etc. If possible, ask them to be provided to you in writing
It is very easy to forget something important, and it will be easier for you later.