07/23/2025
Same. Very well said.
Responsible breeders do this for the love of the cats.
I don’t think a lot realize the sacrifices we make. Yes, it’s a choice, but it’s the same as other advocations that require extra sacrifice.
Being an ethical breeder means missing out on a lot of life... but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
People often see the cute kittens and think, “That must be so fun!” And yes—there is joy, there is love, and there are beautiful moments. But what many don’t see is the toll it takes behind the scenes.
My life revolves around my cats. Not in a casual, “they’re part of the family” kind of way—but in a they dictate everything I do kind of way. I plan nothing without thinking about them first. I miss holidays, family dinners, girls' nights, weddings, concerts, and vacations. I’ve lost touch with people who didn’t understand why I “couldn’t just leave for a few hours.”
When a queen is near delivery, I’m by her side—sometimes for days. I sleep on the floor beside her, nap in between contractions, bottle-feed newborns around the clock, and sometimes cry in silence when something doesn’t go as planned. There are vet visits at 2am, heartbreak when a kitten fades, loses you can't get over and exhaustion that no amount of coffee can fix.
I have canceled birthday plans, missed funerals, skipped milestones—because someone needed me here more.
But this is the life I chose. Not because it’s glamorous or easy, but because I care. Because I believe in doing this the right way. Ethical breeding isn’t about producing pets—it’s about preserving the integrity of a breed, giving every kitten the best possible start, and sending them into the world happy, healthy, and loved.
So if you’re working with a breeder who says, “I can’t talk right now” or “I can’t leave home today”—believe them. Know that it’s likely because they’re giving everything they have to the lives in their care.
It’s not always pretty. It’s often messy and overwhelming. But when I see the joy on a family’s face as they meet their new kitten for the first time, every missed moment, every sleepless night—it’s all worth it.
This is not a job. This is my heart.
