How To Become A Purebred Cat Breeder?
Getting Started In Purebred Cat Breeding: Training
The person who wishes to start a domestic cat breeding but does not have a certificate of competence – a document which was required before 01/01/2016 – must imperatively follow a training course. This is not a diploma but it allows you to obtain a certificate. The person concerned must contact an establishment authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture so that, at the end of this training, a certificate of knowledge be released to him. It is the Regional Directorate for Food, Agriculture and Forestry which is in charge of establishing this “open sesame”.
This training is very interesting because it allows you to acquire a lot of knowledge. The topics covered concern pets in general and cats in part, which allows you to learn more about:
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- their interview,
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- their physiological needs,
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- their biological needs,
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- Feline behavior.
Nevertheless, to be a purebred cat breeder knowledge must be even more advanced because in order to guarantee compliance with the standards of each feline breed, it is necessary to have a specialization as recommended by the Official Book of Feline Origins (LOOF).
Finally, a other training is essential for the feline breeder when he has to transport cats in a vehicle. It takes place over two days and allows you to hold what was previously called the CAPTAV and is now called the Certificate of Competence for Drivers and Conveyors. This is another sesame that validates the ability of the person concerned to convey live animals.
Purebred Cat Breeder: Essential Specialization
Supervised by strict legislation, the activity of feline breeding is certainly a passion, but it is demanding, because the breeder must be able have serious knowledge in specific areas, namely:
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- The standards and particularities of the feline breed that he wishes to raise in order to be able to select breeders which must, of course, be perfectly compliant,
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- genetic selections,
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- genetic diseases,
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- The different solutions for preserve the health of small felines throughout their life,
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- The proper management of pregnant cats,
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- The farrowing,
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- The management of nursing cats,
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- The care and education of kittens but also their handling,
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- The grooming of kittens and adult cats,
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- transportation of cats,
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- Competitions and exhibitions…
The purebred cat breeder must also be able to popularize the feline breed at the heart of its activity by all means of communication whatever they may be. If he opts for assignment of his animals, he must know how to welcome interested people, then give new adopters all the useful advice so that they can take good care of a purebred cat.
To be destined for this type of breeding therefore requires a great mastery an immense knowledge on this vast subject, a personal investment and a great respect for animals.
Being A Purebred Cat Breeder: Legislation
In our country, feline breeding is divided into two categories: on the one hand the family breeding which is characterized by a unique annual range and the professional breeding which has two litters per year at least. But whatever the type of breeding, as soon as you have a breeding cat of which at least one kitten is sold, you are considered breeder by French law.
You should therefore know that the law considers anyone who raises domestic cats as a professional, even if the activity is exercised as a hobbyist. In our country, the breeding of these animals is authorized provided that the texts which frame this activity are strictly respected. These texts concern:
- The protection of pets,
- The information document,
- The conditions for the transfer of animals,
- The transfer certificate.
Anyone wishing to become a purebred cat breeder therefore has every interest in becoming familiar with decree 2008-871 (dated 28/08/2008) and decree AGRG 1231259A (dated 31/07/2012) as well as the various subsequent legal texts as well as their possible annexes in order to all about the rules which govern the status of feline breeder.
Becoming A Purebred Cat Breeder: Formalities And Procedures
The formalities and procedures incumbent on a breeder of domestic cats should in no case be neglected.
Concerning therefore the formalities it is up to the interested party to:
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- Contact the CFE, Business Formality Center of the Chamber of Agriculture. This is the single point of contact coordinating the formalities.
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- Declare your activity using the downloadable CERFA form.
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- Provide the consent of a health veterinarian.
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- Its tax office,
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- The DDSV, i.e. the Departmental Directorate of Veterinary Services,
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- The MSA (Agricultural Social Mutual Fund).
In this way, the breeder will be able to obtain a number Siret and be declared to the following organizations:
For information, the DDSV reports to the Departmental Directorate for the Protection of Populations.
Raising cats, whether purebred or not, is above all a activity chosen by passion. You can practice full-time or alongside your profession. In any case, one does not choose to be a breeder in order to have a lucrative activity. If that’s the only goal, then it’s better to move on and look for another career path.
It’s necessary spend a lot of time with cats, whether for their education, their care, the maintenance of their living space, their various games, toys and accessories, their litter boxes because hygiene does not tolerate letting go. Ditto for their education and socialization.
It is also of course necessary to monitor their state of health every day, to deworm them, to have them identified, to be vaccinated, not to forget the vaccination reminders, to take them regularly to the veterinarian for monitoring as soon as pregnancy or a health problem is suspected. It is also useful to find out about the different dates of pedigree cat shows and shows and therefore spend time preparing your little felines so that they can participate. It remains to take care of the conformity of his racy cats and their pedigree…
